Head of Department: Miss E Denning
Art at Priestlands is a highly valued subject by both staff and pupils. It contributes significantly to our ethos and values and is crucial to the success of the school and our pupils. Art along with Drama, Music and Dance form the Performing and Visual Arts Faculty which has the responsibility of leading the school’s performing and visual arts specialist school status. This has opened up a whole range of exciting opportunities for the department to be involved in such as public exhibitions, community projects, artist in residence workshops and cross-curricular links.
The Art Department consists of the following members of staff:
- Emma Denning (Head of Art)
- Amanda Crook (PT Teacher of Art)
- Danielle Hibbs (FT Teacher of Art)
- Karen Blake (PT Teacher of Art)
- Julia Emmel (Deputy Headteacher and Line Manager to the Arts)
- Gill Hastelow (Arts Administration Assistant & Community Arts Manager)
- Gayle Quinn (Art Curriculum Assistant)
- Artist in Residence
The Department is housed in the stunning Gurney Dixon Building. There are three teaching rooms, an artist in residence studio and a number of storage rooms and offices for staff to use. Each room is equipped with computers and internet access to aid research. There is also a kiln and a number of pottery wheels to support high-level ceramics work.
A wide range of extra-curricular activities are offered to students either by teachers or the artist in residence. The workshops allow students to coursework/homework support, work on collaborative projects with other students, contribute to whole school display and develop new skills. The department organises regular visits to local galleries and trips to London. We have also run a number of residential visits to Italy during the past few years. The department also regularly organises public exhibitions of the students’ work either on the school site or at local galleries.
The department has an extremely positive ethos, with high expectations of both students and staff. The staff promote positive attitudes amongst the students and this encourages enthusiasm, commitment and success.
The department is an exciting and ambitious part of the school community and makes a positive impact on many areas through its cross-curricular links, whole school display and community outreach projects. Art is a thriving and vibrant subject area and pupils achieve highly successful results.