We live in a rapidly changing technological society that takes good design and the work of artists for granted. Society depends on artists and designers to enrich and enliven the lives of people whether as participants, as consumers, in art galleries or selecting well designed items for everyday use. In short, Art & Design helps learners become more aware of and be responsive to the world around them.

What can studying Art and Design achieve for young people?

The learning experiences in Art & Design present challenges to use imagination and develop specific knowledge and skills within a climate of creativity and innovation.

To achieve success, learners must demonstrate commitment and perseverance in developing and presenting their ideas and expression. They will make their own art and design work using a variety of different media and incorporate different visual elements such as colour, line and tone. They will also evaluate and appreciate how art impacts on society by talking and writing about artists and designers work and sometimes about their own work in context. Learners will be challenged to work both independently and in cooperative learning teams where they will develop their team-building skills.

Broad General Education: S1 - S3

S1

Course Overview Duration - 1 periods per week

Expressive Unit – DRAWING AND PAINTING - August-October S1 pupils will begin by working on an Expressive unit that develops basic drawing skills and teaches colour theory. They will learn how to mix secondary and tertiary colours and tints and shades. Pupils will complete the process in groups learning the importance of collaborating with others to create work. Pupils will also develop their media (paint) handling skills.

Design Unit – GRAPHIC DESIGN

October - December

In this unit, S1 pupils will be working on the Design area of the course. They will develop their knowledge and understanding of the Design process to create a piece of graphic design and apply it to a stamp face. Pupils will be given the opportunity to personalise the project with their own visual stimuli or pupils could use department resources to create a cities of the world theme.

Expressive Unit – ILLUSTRATION

December - March

Pupils will undertake their second expressive unit in the area of ILLUSTRATION. There is a focus on developing observational drawing skills in this unit and pupils will learn to analyse the work of the illustrator/artist Michael Craig Martin. Pupils will be expected to complete integrated critical work and relevant homework tasks as before.

Expressive unit - SCULPTURE

March - May

In the final phase of S1 pupils will work in 3 dimensions using clay. Pupils will learn how to create a thumb pot to use as the base for their clay head and will learn how to create features and to successfully join them to their clay out to create a final clay pot head sculpture. Pupil will consider the process they have gone through and give constructive criticism on their own and others work.

S2

Course Overview Duration - 3 periods per week

Expressive unit - PORTRAITURE

August - December

S2 pupils will begin by working on an Expressive unit that allows them to apply observation and recording skills developed in S1 (Still Life) to a new context. (Portraiture) They will learn how to work with a new media/technique (charcoal).

Design Unit- HEADWEAR (3D)

October - December

In Term 2, S2 pupils will be working on the Design area of the course. They will further develop their knowledge and understanding of the Design process (looked at in S1 Stamp design) to create a piece of headwear. Pupils will be given the opportunity to personalise the project with their own visual stimuli /brief. Pupils will discuss and write about examples of headwear and will evaluate their own design ideas/outcomes.

Expressive Unit - BUILT ENVIRONMENT (3D)

January - March 

Pupils will undertake their second expressive unit in the area OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT. They will complete the same process of Research, Development and Outcome as previous and will work with simple materials such as cardboard and paper to create 3d buildings/structure.

Design Unit - GRAPHIC DESIGN

March - May 

S2 pupils will be working on the Design area of the course at this point of the year. They will further develop their knowledge and understanding of the Design process (looked at in S2 Headwear) to create a piece of headwear. Pupils will be given the opportunity to personalise the project with their own visual stimuli /brief. Pupils will discuss and write about examples of headwear and will evaluate their own design ideas/outcomes.

S3

Course Overview Duration- 3 periods per week

Expressive Unit – STILL LIFE

August - October

S3 pupils will begin by working on an Expressive unit that allows them to apply observation and recording skills developed in S1 (Still Life) and S2 (Portraiture) to a more personalised theme. Having mind mapped/carried out discussion of ideas, they will select their own subject matter in relation to their theme and will learn how to further develop their observed drawing and media handling skills. As part of classwork and the homework programme, pupils will also study/analyse the work of the historic art movement, the Scottish Colourists.

Design Unit- BODY ADORNMENT (3D)

October - December

In Term 2, S3 pupils will be working on the Design area of the course. They will further develop their knowledge and understanding of the Design process and will focus on the research and initial development stage. Pupils will be given the opportunity to personalise the project with their own visual stimuli /brief. Specific related homework tasks will be issued throughout the Design process with a particular focus on critical work to build confidence/improve literacy skills.

Expressive Unit – STILL LIFE

January - March

Pupils will undertake their second expressive unit in the area OF STILL LIFE. S3 pupils will continue working on the Expressive unit they started in Block 1. The focus will be on the development stage and pupils will focus on their use of composition As part of classwork and the homework programme, pupils will also study/analyse the work of the historic art movement, the Scottish Colourists.

Design Unit - BODY ADORNMENT (3D)

MARCH - MAY

In Term 3, S3 pupils will be working on the Design area of the course. They will further develop their knowledge and understanding of the Design process and will focus on the development stage. Pupils will continue to refer to their own visual stimuli /brief/ created in block 2 and will use the initial idea as a starting point. Specific design related homework tasks will be issued throughout the Design process with a particular focus on critical work to build confidence/improve literacy skills. This will also be addressed during class time where pupils will continue to look at jewellery/body ornamentation by contemporary designers.