Ercall Wood Academy

“Art has the role in education of helping children become like themselves, instead of more like everyone else.” – Sydney Gurewitz Clemens.

The following will provide a summary of the programme of study for Art. Each module will have a ‘Theme/Topic’ which will be linked to the knowledge and key concepts and processes, as identified within the National Curriculum, as well as the fundamental British values and the Learning Community Trust values of Believe, Achieve, Succeed.

The Importance of Art, Craft & Design

Before a child talks, they sing. As soon as they stand, they dance. Before they write, they draw. Art is fundamental to human expression.

We believe that through a range of diverse interactions with a huge variety of Art, Craft and Design will open the student’s eyes to the highly visual world we are surrounded by. Reading & interpreting imagery; having personal emotional reactions to Art, Craft and Design; developing creative problem solving skills and the pure joy of making using their hands, using a wide range of materials and techniques; are all part of a child’s experience and learning through a visual and tactile means.

Creating Art at Ercall Wood Academy will enable students to realise that everything they encounter has been designed by someone, whose ideas began with a pencil and paper. Seeing the differences between Art, Craft and Design is paramount to their understanding of the subject. Art is creating for personal enjoyment & well-being; Craft is making using traditional making techniques and Design is created to fulfil a purpose in any form. All of these are still in high demand today resulting in the creative industry being the second largest in the UK.

 Curriculum Aims

Learning in Art contributes to achievement of the curriculum aims for all young people to become:

• Students imbued with curiosity for understanding the visual world; by knowing and understanding the origins of Art styles and being able to interpret these independently to develop knowledge. Through this starting point they are able to be curious in their approach to their own making with justifiable reasoning.
• Students who are generous of spirit, are able to appreciate the importance of self-expression and are kind when participating in critique and can consider the differences within the Art world.
• Students who show wisdom in their life choices; by understanding the importance of Art, Craft and Design within our history and how the world and its events has shaped the creative processes for many years.
• Students who are passionate about their future and their place in the world; by knowing how the skills learned within Art, Craft and Design has shaped the world they live in, the resources they have and the things they see as beautiful, meaningful and practical. As a result, they develop a passion for observing, creating, recording, experiencing and developing their imagination through a range of personal responses.
• Students with the courage to follow their dreams and pursue a huge range of creative career opportunities.

Art embodies some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality Art education should engage, inspire and challenge students, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of Art, Craft and Design. As students’ progress at Ercall Wood Academy, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of Art. They should also know how Art both reflects and shapes our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.