Art has the power to enrich our lives and offers pupils unique opportunities to develop and explore their own powers of imagination and creativity. The Heath Lane Academy Art and Design curriculum is designed to expose pupils to the core principles of art; drawing and painting, beginning with the skills and techniques required to create an accurate observational outcome in a range of media. Mastering accurate observation, using both primary and secondary sources, is at the core of the Heath Lane Art and Design curriculum. Once observational skills are mastered students can adapt, explore and experiment with them in diverse and creative ways as they move through key stage 3.
Once pupils have begun to develop their artistic skills and techniques, they then explore how they can convey ideas to an audience through their work, taking their first steps towards becoming their own artist. Pupils develop skills and techniques in a diverse range of materials, increasing the artistic challenge and scope for creativity with each cycle of the curriculum.
Throughout Years 7,8 and 9 pupils are introduced to key artists and art movements, from pre-historic art to the work of contemporary artists. Pupils develop an appreciation for the ways in which art has evolved, being both influenced and an influencer on society and culture.
For those pupils who wish to follow Art and Design into key stage 4, we offer two GCSE pathways: the Edexcel GCSE Art and Design qualification, which offers both a Fine Art or Photography endorsement. Both courses have been selected to allow pupils to continue their creative journeys that they began in key stage 3. Pupils are required to build on their knowledge, artistic vocabulary, awareness, skills and techniques to produce their own portfolio of proportioned and emotive pieces of artwork in response to a given stimulus.