Art & Design
Art & Design "GCSE Art and Design provides students with a wide range of creative, exciting and stimulating opportunities to explore their interests in ways that are both personally relevant and developmental in nature" AQA Subject Details.
As a school we currently have schemes in place to enter our young people for both GCSE & A-Level qualifications via AQA and WJEC. Small class sizes allow for an extremely personalised and focused teaching environment which lends itself well to the subject and serves to give our pupils the best possible chance of success. The outcome of the subject is directly linked with the time and effort invested by the learners. I am proud to say that many of our young people who might have been expected to struggle academically have attained excellent results because of their hard work and engagement. Finally, whilst the both A-Level and GCSE qualifications are assessed in part through formal examination, the process is relaxed with pupils able to plan and prepare in advance. Many of our young people have had extreme anxiety when it comes to examinations and this process serves to reduce those anxieties and gives them the best possible chance of success.
“I chose to take AS art because it is a subject I enjoy, and I like the fact it can be tailored to my interests – lessons are enjoyable and entertaining”
The course of study that we offer is open and flexible providing opportunities to engage young people in the subject through a large variety of possible mediums and topics. Many young people are surprised to discover how their interests in things such as: computer gaming, cosplay, comics, movies, nature, fishing, mountain biking, skateboarding and music all have a place within this curriculum.
Woodlands is not simply a school but a caring environment and through this subject there is an opportunity to build up and explore their self-esteem, confidence, and self-identity. Our students take genuine and obvious pride in their artistic achievements and their continued development and progression is evident within their portfolios which are painstakingly presented to the best possible standard for assessment. Communication, self-reflection, and self-expression are key elements of the subject each of which are important to the development of any healthy young person.
To summarise Art & Design at Woodlands offers:
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A personalised curriculum drawing from your own interests and passions.
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Small class sizes for extremely focused, attentive, and personalised teaching.
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A chance to develop and refine your skills regardless of your level of experience.
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An opportunity to work with a variety of different mediums and techniques.
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A safe and respectful environment in which to develop confidence and self-reflect.
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A chance to build and create memories and artwork for yourself, family, or others.
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A flexible curriculum with a more relaxed assessment process that gives plenty of preparation time and guidance.
"It is an important part of my pedagogy as teacher that the pupils can engage meaningfully with the subject and to this end significant time goes into discovering their interests and the ways in which these can be integrated into their course of study. Asides from the basics some of the techniques and materials offered include mask making, plaster, sculpture, resin, airbrushing, spray painting, encaustic, jewellery making, digital art, photography, miniature painting, game design, prop making, environmental art, up-cycling, and concept art."