Art and Design

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Art and Design at Fairley House has an expressive, creative ethos, which is supported by lively and dynamic teaching at all levels of study. The department aims to stimulate and foster individual development through a wide range of activities including drawing, painting, textiles, printmaking, 3D modelling and construction.

The artistic pursuits we follow are highly versatile and open gateways into creative careers, business and wellness. We promote an inclusive and inspiring atmosphere of enquiry where students can feel relaxed to produce work they are truly proud of.

Additionally, we have a wide range of artistic activities on offer to all students including after school clubs, workshops with visiting art specialists, outside speakers and trips. By investigating the work of other artists, designers and craftspeople the students engage with artistic theory, and how they can incorporate it or expand on it in their own work.

We are adamant there are no mistakes in art, only different forms of creative expression and we seek to unleash the creativity within each and every pupil at Fairley House School.

Our aims are to:

promote creativity and free expression
develop students’ fine motor skills
deliver transdisciplinary lessons
endorse students’ handling of different artistic materials including mixed-media
teach students’ how to translate their artistic ideas into physical output
develop and extend students’ practical skills and their verbal and visual literacy
encourage creative risks, observational skills and to use observation from life
give students’ confidence, enthusiasm and a sense of achievement
teach students’ to recognise other people’s art and other artists’ methods, and to use them in their own work
inspire students’ to develop their own ideas, from design to the end product
increase students’ understanding and appreciation of art, artists, craftsmen and designers
develop imaginative and original thought and experimentation
assist pupils in submitting entries to prestigious student art competitions including the ISA and Royal Academy (RA)

Students in Key Stages 1 and 2 investigate colour, pattern, shape and form, incorporating a range of materials to create their own drawings, paintings, 3D models and collages. They are taught different drawing techniques, learn the basic principles of line drawing and shading and develop skills in representing form with different equipment, including charcoal and ink. They learn the basic principles of perspective in landscapes and how this affects objects depicted in relation to each other, as well as the proportions of the human form.

Students learn about theories of colour and colour mixing, including mixing tints and shades, and how colour can be used to express emotion. They use colour in different mediums, including pastels, felt tips and pencils, and experiment with applying watercolour and acrylic paint. They learn how to create simple repeat patterns and use different materials to produce block prints, including lino cuts. They create 3D forms using air-drying clay and other modelling materials.

For each project, students investigate the work of an existing artist or a group of artists. They are encouraged to look closely at the works and to describe what they see within it, and how it resonates with them. They learn to justify their views and opinions when critiquing the work of well-known artists and decide how, or if, their work will follow, develop or reject artistic styles they have seen. We want to unleash the creativity within the student body of Fairley House and it is important to expose students to different ways of looking at, or expressing, the world so they can truly deliver their own artistic vision.

Following the Art and Design curriculum at Key Stage 3 students have the opportunity to experience various methods of observational drawing, still life painting, portraits, mosaics, pattern making, masks, clay work, rubbings, collage, lino printing, wire construction, abstract art and papier maché.

We currently offer Fine Art, 3D Design and Textiles as GCSE qualifications.