The Creative Arts, Design and Media Faculty at St. Mary’s College aims to nurture creativity and develop pupil’s problem solving ability. We aim to encourage innovation and develop pupil’s skills in all areas of art, design, technology and media through a range of projects and pathways. These projects build up skills and experiences to enable pupils to later direct their own learning in final major projects. We have successful results in all key stages and strive to develop our projects and courses to support knowledge and understanding of the creative industries and the world that surrounds us.
The Faculty comprises three 3D Design studio-workshops, a graphics room, a fine art room, a fashion room, a textiles room, a food technology room, three media suites and an ICT suite. We work with a range of materials, techniques and technology and have excellent facilities for producing high quality work. CAD CAM facilities include two Boxford Milling machines, vinyl cutters and 2 sewing / embroidery machines. We have the Adobe Creative Suite which is used in film making, editing, audio production, photography and digital imaging and promotion/ advertising. Other software includes 2D Design, Sketch-up and Pro-Desktop.
Mrs. R. Postill (Head of Creative Arts, Design and Media Faculty, Teacher of Product Design, 3D Design)
Miss. M. Atkinson (Head of Art, Art and Design – Fine Art)
Miss. C. Vitoria (Head of Media)
Mrs. O. Reading (KS5 Co-ordinator, Art and Design - Graphic Design)
Miss. M. Bell (Art and Design – Fashion and fine art)
Mrs. I. McKee (Art and Design – Textiles)
Miss. K. Blaikie (Food Technology)
Mr. T. Derrick (Media)
Mr. T. McKee (Art and Design – 3D Design, Product Design & Construction)
Miss. V. Young (Art and Design – Textiles and Costume, Product Design)
Mr. N. Brownlie (Media)
Mr. P. Sykes (Product Design, Art and Design - 3D Design, Construction)
Mr. G. Fordham (Technician)
The Faculty has links with Sheffield Hallam University where we have successfully worked with many PGCE students on placement. We regularly train teachers through the GTP programme and five members of our department have come been employed after completing the GTP programme at the school. Staff have undertaken mentor training to support ITT students and one member of staff is also a GTP director.
Staff training and development within the department is through ongoing sharing of expertise as well as support for attending courses. Some staff have completed classes to develop their skills in a different field as part of the ‘Training School objective’ within performance management. These include jewellery and silversmithing, print-making and photography. These are currently being implemented into the school’s new Art and Design curriculum.
Key Stage 3
Pupils are taught in mixed ability groups of around 24. They have two 1 hour lessons per week and rotate on a termly basis through Product Design, Food Technology and Textiles. This enables students to experience all materials areas by the end of year 8.
Key Stage 4
Students in year 9 to 11 follow courses in their chosen option. These courses are currently:
GCSE Product Design
GCSE Textiles Technology
GCSE Food Technology
BTec First Extended Certificate in Art and Design
BTec First Diploma in Art and Design
BTec First Diploma in Creative Media Production
All BTec’s are assessed through project work and are practical courses which will form a good basis for wanting a career in the Art & Design and Media sectors. There are opportunities to work on briefs with outside agencies, for example creative artworks / professional films. Within Media, students will be able to work in a professional studio set up and create their own TV show.
Post-16 courses currently available are:
A2 Level Product Design.
BTec National Subsidary Diploma in Art and Design (equivalent to 1 A-level).
BTec National Diploma in Art and Design (equivalent to 2 A-levels).
BTec National Extended Diploma in Art and Design (equivalent to 3 A-levels) from September 2011.
BTec National Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production (equivalent to 3 A-levels).
A-level Media Studies.
Within A level Media studies students learn the theoretical side to Media as well as produce practical work. AS Media involves studying how to analyse media products, look at issues within the media industry, study films and also make moving image short videos. Students work on professional software to edit their films and learn ‘Photoshop’ skills to create magazine articles.
Development of the KS3 Schemes of work within the ‘TEEP’ whole school development plan.
Development of BTec Art and Design from Year 9 – 13.
Interactive Whiteboard training for all staff (ongoing).
An annual exhibition of all exam work and examples of Key Stage three work are displayed and celebrated at the end of the academic year. A preview evening is open to staff, students, parents, governors and LEA representatives. Throughout the week, Key stage three classes will visit the exhibition in their lesson time to gain an insight into future projects. Dates will be posted nearer the time.
Some of the design projects which pupils undertake have an industrial link. This enables pupils to gain support, advice and opinions of professionals. The links include jewellery designers, architects, joiners, printers and photographers. Other industrial links provide support and resources for pupils to work with a variety of media and using a range of techniques.
Design competitions such as the ‘Star Pack’ are completed by Post-16 students. In doing this, students are to present their proposals to professionals. In 2010, Abigail Laws and Poppy Collier gained ‘Bronze’ and ‘Highly commended’ for their graphic design work.
Within Media, there are links with Creative companies which help students to create films. Students also work with The Humberside Fire and Rescue service and are commissioned to make fire prevention films which have been shown in primary schools to educate young children. We have numerous University links and students are able to attend taster days in Media alongside gaining a taste of university life.
We have developed strong links with Frederick Holmes School. Students come to us one afternoon per week and are taught by a member of the department.