Introduction
At Samuel Ward Academy, our Key Stage 3 Art and Design curriculum is designed to equip young people with the creative skills needed to thrive in our contemporary world.
By fostering innovation, self-reflection, and an awareness of their environment, we empower students to grow into confident individuals prepared for the dynamic opportunities and challenges of modern communication, technology and industries.
Central to this mission is the importance of observation, which serves as a foundation for interpreting, understanding, and expressing ideas in powerful and meaningful ways.
- The Role of Drawing: Students are immersed in drawing as a fundamental skill, learning to observe, interpret, and represent the world with precision and imagination. Drawing becomes a medium for commentary, reflection, and exploration of both their inner thoughts and the diverse world around them.
- Creative Work and Personal Development: Students are supported in fostering metacognitive skills to produce innovative work, encouraging them to explore their unique ideas, reflect on their experiences, and document their creative journeys.
- Skill Development with Autonomy: Students are empowered to develop autonomy and self-evaluation skills as they become proficient in visual art, craft, and design techniques, celebrating the diversity of their artistic expression.
- Critical Thinking and Artistic Language: Students are guided in analyzing and evaluating creative works with a focus on using the language of art, craft, and design, promoting self-awareness, and confidence in their ability to contribute meaningfully to creative discourse.
- Cultural Awareness and Inspiration: Students are encouraged to deepen their understanding of artists, craft makers, and designers, reflect on the historical and cultural significance of diverse art forms, and recognize their potential to contribute to this legacy.
- Creative Independence and Empowerment: Students are nurtured to cultivate creative independence, equipping them with the metacognitive and self-promotion skills necessary for further study and lifelong artistic growth.
In a world where traditional academic learning has evolved to include adaptability, creativity, and critical self-awareness, we recognize the urgent need to empower young people with the skills they need to thrive.
Our curriculum champions the development of these essential competencies, ensuring that students leave Samuel Ward Academy ready to engage meaningfully with the complexities and opportunities of the modern world.