Thurston Community College

Art Curriculum

Intent of Art

The aim of our Art and Design curriculum is to ensure that all students are given a thorough grounding in the essential skills and disciplines our subject has to offer. This includes the opportunity to explore both 2D and 3D ways of working, in order to meet the expectations set out in the national curriculum. It is also designed to ensure that our students develop an understanding of varied art practices as well traditional and contemporary artists, from varied social and cultural backgrounds. 

Through embedding a wide variety of knowledge and skills, our aim is to ensure students understand the importance of visual literacy, both in the art room and in the wider world. In each year of Key Stage 3, students will have the opportunity to work with paint, textiles, 3D processes and digital art. There are also opportunities for collaboration and producing group artworks. Our aim is for all students to feel included and be successful in their artistic endeavours. This in turn, creates a sense of purpose towards the production of beautiful work.

This strong foundation in Art and design practices allows those who study Art or Textiles at GCSE to quickly establish themselves as confident and independent GCSE practitioners. As a department, we believe that art allows students to learn skills for the wider world. Visual communication and visual literacy are key components of our curriculum. We challenge students' perceptions of what art is, its place in society and how it can be used as a tool for social change. The creative industries make up the largest section of our economy in the United Kingdom. As such, we ensure that as part of our curriculum, students learn about creative pathways, and can see the connections between the skills they learn in school and how they can be applied in real life contexts. 

Threads of powerful knowledge in Art

Art involves a set of general themes that provide the basis for :

  • Visual communication
  • Technical skill 
  • The ability to reflect and to be curious about the world
  • Problem solving through practical learning
  • Self expression through making and doing, personal decision making - students plan their own journey
  • A knowledge of art and art practices; its place and purpose in society 
  • Making connections between the classroom and the world of work - employability and transferable skills. 

Cultural reading and enrichment in Art

  • Educational visits to local and national galleries and museums across all key stages. These include The Fitzwilliam Museum, Tate Modern, The V&A, and The Henry Moore Foundation.
  • Visits from practising artists and designers. These include pottery workshops, photographers, textiles specialists, printmakers and ex-students.
  • Reading takes place across artist research at all key stages. This gives students the context of artworks and their place in history. 
  • Visual reading of artworks and analysing pieces 
  • Key Stage 3 Art Club
  • GCSE Art and Textiles workshop days to support externally set exam paper
  • GCSE Studio Time
  • A Level Studio Time
  • Staff promote reading of art books for both research purposes and discovering new artists

 Links to Further Information

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