Art and Design Department

About the Department

Art and Design Studies in S1 and S2

Most pupils will have had Art teaching in primary school. All S1 and S2 pupils are taught Art and Design through the 5-14 programme of work. A range of media is used to tackle Expressive work exploring observation, communication, mood, colour and composition. A design process is taught to allow pupils to respond to simple design briefs and to solve problems. Critical activity involves the student in the use of language skills as they appraise art and design work. In addition all pupils receive a 13 week course in Design Studies as part of the S1 and S2 rota system.

Art and Design in S3 and S4

• For full details, see the Art page in the S3 Coursing Handbook

If a pupil decides to take Art and Design in S3/4 they will attempt a National Qualifications course. Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2 are for students who are creative, and who have always enjoyed Art classes and Design Studies in S1 and S2. The course offers students the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings in a range of media to create designs, to solve problems, and to appreciate the work of artists and designers.

Art Academy

• For full details, see the Art Academy page in the S3 Coursing Handbook

The Art Academy is an exciting new opportunity for talented artists, which give pupils a chance to take more Art to enhance their skills, particularly in drawing and appraisal of Art and design work.. It is an enhanced course option for And Design and will focus on drawing skills and Art appreciation. The aim will be to introduce a variety of drawing media and subject matter that will develop pupil skills to improve candidates‛ prospects for Intermediate 2 and Higher courses. Those students that opt for the above combination will be supplied with specialist drawing materials.

What is studied on this course?

Students will find the course refreshingly different in that they will study ‘units’ of work over two years. They will work on two Expressive Units: expressing creative ideas in drawing, painting, and craft work. They will also work on two design units, solving design problems. Related Art & Design Studies are also done in years 3 and 4, where students learn to write about artists and designers and their work. The work will be assessed by teachers in school. For Intermediate 2, a written exam is marked externally by the SQA. To gain a course award, an Expressive Unit, a Design Unit and Art & Design Studies Unit must be completed.

Art and Design in S5 and S6: The Next Steps

• For full details, see the Art and Design page in the S5/S6 Coursing Handbook

The National Qualifications studied in S4 allow pupils to progress to Higher or Advanced Higher in S5 and S6. The courses will be of great interest to students who have enjoyed Art and Design. The course offers a much wider range of activities than ever before. For instance, students could study:

• landscape
• portraiture
• still life within the Expressive unit
• hat and shoe design
• puzzles
• graphics within the Design unit.

In this way they will develop existing skills and develop new ones. Students will have the use of traditional materials such as clay and charcoal, as well as having continued access to the latest computers, peripherals, software and the Internet. Throughout the study of this subject, students will become aware of the important part that Art and Design plays in our lives.

National Qualifications offer the opportunity for all students to achieve their potential at all levels. Some students will progress to Advanced Higher in S6.