Menu

Design, Art and Technology

Art

Art is a vital and integral part of children’s education. It provides them with opportunities to develop a range of ways in which they can share and express their individual creativity, whilst learning about, and making links with, a wide spectrum of different types of art in our society. Art contributes to students’ personal development in creativity, independence, judgment and self reflection and it enables students to develop a natural sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them.

The art curriculum at St Katherine’s School will develop students’ critical abilities and understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritages through studying a diverse range of artists and designers throughout history.

Students will develop their understanding of the visual language of art with effective teaching and carefully thought out sequences of lessons and experiences. Understanding of the visual elements of art and design (line, tone, texture, colour, pattern, shape, 3D form) will be developed by providing an accessible and engaging curriculum which will enable all students to reach their full potential.

Design and Technology

The aims for design and technology are to ensure that: all pupils develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world; build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users; critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others.

At St Katherine’s we are looking at the needs of the students in both their short term and long term future. We design our curriculum to prepare students for life and not just exams, whether or not their chosen career path involves design technology.

Students get an opportunity to learn all the basic skills in Product Design, Food Technology and Textiles and then develop those basic skills over the first 3 years of being at St Katherine’s. For example in Product design they learn how to manipulate wood in year 7 before being able to introduce computer aided design and manufacture in year 8.

In all year groups students are designing and making products which solve real world problems. All students will have the opportunity to take home a piece of work that they are proud of.

Product Design and Engineering Design

In Product Design there are six big ideas of designing, exploring, materials, manufacture, functionality and critique.

At the heart of product design is creativity and problem solving and it prepares students to participate in tomorrow’s practices, develop their creative thinking and practical application. By ensuring students are confident with the fundamental concepts, we are providing them with the skills to continue their education in this subject area but also growing competent and independent young people in dealing with maintenance challenges that may appear in everyday life. 

The St Katherine’s curriculum prepares students to:

  • design and make products that solve relevant problems

  • make critical judgements of their own designs and those of others

  • understand the core principals of any good design

  • build awareness of global issues and contemporary design

  • take creative risks

  • develop practical application

  • appreciate the work of world class designers in a wide range of fields

In addition, students learn the importance of safe working practices and good organisation. The aims are to:

  • ensure students are competent when in a workshop

  • recognise the need for rules to establish safe working practices

  • emphasise the importance of good organisation

Food Preparation and Nutrition

Food is a vital part of our daily lives. As we prepare our students for their busy future, we will arm them with the knowledge and skills to enable them to make healthy choices. 

At St Katherine's School, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of:

  • nutrition 

  • healthy eating

  • food preparation

  • hygiene and food safety

  • food cooking techniques 

  • food science 

  • sensory characteristics.  

We aim to give our students at St Katherine’s vital life skills that enable them to utilize their knowledge to ensure that they have a healthy diet. We also pride ourselves on the opportunities that students are provided with to prepare them for an education and career within Food Technology. Threaded throughout the curriculum are a range of practical sessions that develop independence in the kitchen. We view food technology as a key vehicle to widening our students’ knowledge of different cultures and influences and therefore actively build opportunities for students to experience food from a range of cultures. 

Students at GCSE and Post 16 level will have the opportunity to develop their skills for independent learning with research projects as part of the NEA. These skills are transferable and will be able to be applied to job roles in and out of the food industry. 

Textiles

The textiles curriculum here at St Katherine’s enables students to develop knowledge, experience and understanding of a wide range of skills:

  • Trends

  • designing

  • fashion

  • clothing 

  • surface pattern

  • manufacture

The course gives the freedom to teach Art and Design Textiles in ways that inspire students, whilst equipping them with the skills to maintain fabric items in their everyday lives but also to continue the subject with confidence at A Level and beyond. Textiles touches our daily lives, from casual wear to household products to more technically advanced medical applications and industrial products. Textiles has been synonymous with human activity for thousands of years. Textile products we see, purchase and use have all been designed. Students at St Katherine’s will develop and apply relevant subject specific skills in order to use visual language to communicate personal ideas, meanings and responses. Students will be encouraged to develop their skills through the use of appropriate media, processes and techniques. They will be taught how to produce surface pattern samples to include; Applique, machine and hand stitching, digital printing, embellishments such as beading, digital printing and hand painting. Students will develop knowledge, understanding and skills in the development of their personal work informed by first-hand experience and appropriate sources. 

Photography

Having the opportunity to be creative is a vital and integral part of children’s education. Studying photography provides them with opportunities to develop a range of ways in which they can share and express their individual creativity, whilst learning new techniques and processes. Studying the Arts contributes to students’ personal development in creativity, independence, judgment and self reflection and it enables students to develop a natural sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them.

The photography curriculum at St Katherine’s School will develop students’ critical abilities and understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritages through studying a diverse range of artists and photographers throughout history. For example, in term 1, students are encouraged to investigate Josh Cole, Ray Demski. In term 2 we are inspired by William Morris and Andy Small. In term 3 we explore the work of Rankin and his destroy project and in term 4 we investigate the impact of surrealist artists. When students select their ELP projects they can choose to study any photographers including the work of Shadi Ghadirian, Shilpa Gupta and Tomoko Sawada. (https://hwmedia.wixsite.com/stkatherinesmedia/photography)

Students will develop their understanding of the visual language of photography with effective teaching and carefully thought out sequences of lessons and experiences. Understanding the visual elements of photography (light, aperture, ISO, focal range, depth of field) will be developed by providing an accessible and engaging curriculum which will enable all students to reach their full potential.

Creative Digital Media Production/ A Level Media Studies

We live in a media saturated world and, having the opportunity to study the media, from both a theoretical and practical perspective, empowers students. Studying creative media practice provides them with opportunities to develop a range of ways in which they can share and express their individual creativity, whilst learning new techniques and processes.  Being encouraged to analyse and question media products sparks a natural sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them. Learning about the Digital Arts contributes to students’ personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self reflection and it enables students to develop the skills which will allow them to succeed in a modern society.

The media curriculum at St Katherine’s School will develop students’ critical abilities and understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritages through studying a diverse range of media products throughout history.

Students will develop their understanding of the visual language of media products with effective teaching and carefully thought out sequences of lessons and experiences. Understanding the visual elements of media (mise en scene, camera shots, angles, movements, sound and editing) will be developed by providing an accessible and engaging curriculum which will enable all students to reach their full potential.