Art & Design | Friends' School Lisburn

Clothe banner with multiple coloured squares with bronze stars

Department

Art and Design

The Art and Design Department aims to make the visual environment accessible for everyone to appreciate, respond to, and engage with. It encourages the natural curiosity and enthusiasm of pupils through new artistic experiences.

By nurturing their skills and talents, the department helps students realise their potential in art and design. It also prepares students for public examinations and supports those aspiring to careers in creative industries, promoting well-being, self-respect, confidence, and a positive attitude in line with the school’s ethos.

Curriculum

The programme of study offered to each year group provides opportunities for pupils to work with a broad range of media, including drawing and painting materials, textiles, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture, photography and information and communication technology.

Appropriate learning experiences are offered to each group, to support all pupils in the development of their creative skills.

The Specification followed at Key Stage 4 is provided by CCEA. GCSE Art and Design is a stimulating and challenging course which offers pupils the opportunity to further develop their creative, intellectual, and artistic abilities.

The A Level Art and Design specifications are also offered by CCEA and build on the art, craft and design experiences offered at G.C.S.E. At AS and A2, candidates are stimulated and challenged, giving them the opportunity to further develop their skills, individual style, and ability to work independently.

Extra-curricular activities are regularly provided and well attended within the department.

At Key Stage 3, extra-curricular clubs in Art and Moving Image Arts offer our young filmmakers opportunities to further develop their skills. In addition, staff offer pupils preparing for public exams additional support in weekly sessions held after school.

To support the Art and Design curriculum, the Department develops opportunities for students to work directly with artists, designers, and craftspeople. The experience of working alongside a practitioner at first hand has many benefits: encouraging the pupils’ enthusiasm and interest, introducing new skills, developing creativity, and broadening their awareness of employment opportunities within the creative industries in Northern Ireland and beyond.

These visits help connect School to the practices used in the workplace environment and for some pupils begin to create pathways from where they are to real careers in the professional landscape.