The fundamental aim of the Art Department at Rushmoor School is to raise art making standards by helping pupils to develop enquiring minds and learn the technical skills they need to express themselves confidently, creatively, with feelings and imagination. Each pupil’s individuality is highly valued and fostered in the Art Department. Small class sizes are the key to successful outcomes and to allow each pupil achieve his full potential. Pupils are expected to work hard, embrace new challenges and learn how to use their successes and failures to their advantage.
Art is taught as a separate specialised subject from Year 4 through Year 11.
In Key Stage 3 pupils work mainly on developing their art making skills especially in the areas of drawing, painting and photography. They have opportunities to explore their own ideas through open ended sketchbook tasks and they learn how to analyse of the work of other artists.
At GCSE level pupils consolidate their technical skills and add to their repertoire by experimenting with a broader range of mediums and techniques including printmaking, collage, photography, sculpture and mixed media. At this stage they are encouraged to make their own choices and adopt a more independent approach to their studies. They are nurtured through the process of developing strategies for managing both success and failure and learn to embrace the fear of taking risks.
In order for pupils to have first-hand experience, we take pupils out to visit museums, galleries and important exhibitions. Workshops and visits to artists’ studios are included whenever possible.
By providing a broad range of teaching and learning experiences in Art through a wide variety of mediums and cross curricular activities the department seeks to raise student aspirations, confidence, self-belief and achievement.