What’s on in Art & Design at Valley Gardens?
Valley Gardens Middle School achieved the Artsmark Gold Award in 2022 and is now beginning a new Artsmark journey! The Arts, including Music and Art & Design and now Drama, have never been stronger and as always, there are opportunities for students to get involved with creative opportunities in school. We hope to be able to provide our families the chance to get involved in the creative and cultural journey of our school too!Â
Art & Design Curriculum
Welcome to Art & Design at Valley Gardens. Most of us process information based on what we see, we believe the visual arts and creativity are fundamental to innovation and the betterment of the human race.
The aim of the Art & Design department is for students to enjoy a four year visual and creative journey that develops self confidence, core fine motor skills, nurture good mental health, resilience and a lifelong love of creative, explorative learning.
We provide a high-quality, challenging program which engages and inspires all pupils. The curriculum encompasses a broad range of projects and all are underpinned with an ethos that endeavours to equip students with an open mind and the confidence to tackle life’s challenges and to find innovative solutions to succeed.
Kindness, flexibility, confidence, empathy, hard work and innovation in tackling the challenges of the modern, fluctuating world are all character traits we actively nurture and develop in the Art & Design Department at Valley Gardens. Our ambitious, high-quality program of study engages, inspires and challenges all pupils.Â
Our Art & Design curriculum encompasses a broad range of 24 projects over 4 years and all are underpinned with an ethos that endeavours to equip students with an open mind, the confidence to tackle life’s challenges and to find innovative solutions to succeed.
Art & Design Careers
We focus on developing transferable skills which can be applied across the curriculum and ultimately form a strong foundation for future career paths for our young people. Each of our 24 projects link to a specific career in Art and Design and we also discuss how developing fine motor skills and an open, explorative approach to learning are the basis for future career success in all fields.
Click the image here, it’s a fabulous resource to explore Art careers
 Learning in Art & Design
- In Art & Design we complete 24 projects over 4 years.
- The curriculum map below outlines the project themes, skills focus and also shows an example piece of work.
- Each project has a key skill focus shown here and also below on the curriculum map next to each topic title.
- Students develop a solid foundation of knowledge and skills over the four years at Valley Gardens, a foundation they can draw upon in Year 9, KS4 and KS5; sketching, rendering, painting, selecting appropriate tools and the correct amounts of media, applying different pressures, observing, processing, transferring information, developing creativity, self expression and reflection are all areas developed in their Art & Design studies.
- Developing fine motor skills in the application of ink, graphite, paint and a range of other materials, learning to observe and transfer what they see with a given tool, researching and reading about the work of other artists, designers, craftspeople and producing personal, original outcomes based on their research all play a role in the development of self confidence and transferable lifelong skills.
- Our ultimate goal is for all students to become confident to use and try any media and tool, to be self reflective and enjoy the creative process, ultimately feeling confident they can take on any challenge knowing there is a solution at the end of an enjoyable learning journey.
- They will leave for high school ready to tackle challenges across all aspects of the curriculum because trial, error and reflection supports learning and this ethos is at the heart of our Art department.
 Curriculum Map – see below for further information
Recommended Reads in Art & Design
Reading is fundamental to learning as we know and we are happy to be able to recommend key reads to enhance the Art projects the students complete at Valley Gardens. As you read through the project overviews below there will be the odd suggested read to enhance each project. These books have been enjoyed by our teachers and staff and we feel will enhance the learning experience of the students and enthuse them about the wonderful world we inhabit.
The Art department ‘recommended reads’ list is in development, so suggestions and donations of books are very welcome. The progression map above has hyperlinks to a wish list of books we would like to enhance the projects we teach. Please feel free to contact the Head of Art & Design, Mr Grundy if you have any suggestions you feel would support each of the 24 topics outlined below.
These recommended books are still in print and are all available to buy in local bookstores or online.
 Year 5 Art & Design Curriculum – in more detail
Autumn 1 ‘Illuminated letters’ – an exploration of lettering from Anglo Saxon Britain to contemporary typographic design – How do you create beautiful, illuminated letters? What makes the Art of Lindisfarne and the Northern saints special? Homework: Based on your classroom research to date; design an illuminated letter with a modern twist. This could be a graffiti-inspired letter rendered in bright colours and contemporary designs!
Autumn 2 ‘The Landscape of Northumberland’ – watercolour techniques and creating a watercolour landscape composition – Can you describe the scenery of Northumberland? How can you interpret what you see? Homework: Produce a local landscape picture on A4 paper or smaller which includes a famous landmark using mixed media
Spring 1 ‘Sculpture’ – investigating and making sculptural forms inspired by Kate Malone – Who is she? What was her inspiration? Homework: Draw a detailed observational study of an organic object (e.g. a seed pod or close up of part of a plant) and add careful colour or pencil tones/ marks to create a 3D effect
Spring 2 ‘Architecture’ – How do architects and designers think and design in 3 dimensions? Take a journey of thinking, drawing and creating in 3 dimensions! Homework: Create a model for an inspirational building of your choice! Choose where it will be built and who it is for. Let your design tell a story. Bring in your model or share a photo of it for your sketchbook. Write about your building explaining it.
Summer 1 ‘Environment, text and image’ – stimulating human response through image and text – What could you express about your environment? Homework: Research one or a range of images where text and image have been used together successfully. Extend your research by writing down why you feel it is successful.
Summer 2 ‘Design from Nature’ – exploring nature’s ‘microverse’ and seeing what others may have missed – What tools are the best for nature study? Homework: Go out and take rubbings of a range of organic textures onto paper with the edge of a pencil alternatively use a wax candle to take rubbings and then wash watercolour or ink over the image. Experiment with a range of techniques and bring your best results to Art ready to stick in your book.
Recommended reading: ‘My Family and Other Animals’ by Gerald Durrell
The blurb: This book is soaked in the sunshine of Corfu, where the author lived as a boy with his family and other animals. It is a matter of personal taste whether one most enjoys the family, with its many eccentric hangers-on, or the animals Gerry studies and brings back to the strawberry-pink, the daffodil-yellow, or the snow-white villa. The procession includes toads and tortoises, bats and butterflies, scorpions and geckos, ladybirds, glow-worms, octopuses and rose-beetles, Quasimodo the pigeon, the puppies Widdle and Puke, and of course the Magenpies.
‘This is a bewitching book’ – Sunday Times
 Year 6 Art & Design Curriculum – in more detail
Autumn 1 ‘Pop Culture’ – researching the work of art’s innovators – What are Pop artists trying to tell us? Is it Art? Homework: Draw an observational study of an iconic product and include the brand. It could be a famous food item from the cupboard or a globally used product. Sketch lightly and accurately and then apply colour render to complete your beautiful pop art study.
Autumn 2 ‘Autumn’ – watercolour paint, watercolour pencil techniques and capturing the change of seasons – Can you create a collection of autumnal reflections? Homework: Spend some time outdoors looking at and reproducing the colour and forms of leaves and plants through drawing and/or painting…or trying other techniques. Autumn is a time of great natural change and your intricate studies of plants and their colours should reflect the changes that take place at this time of year.
Spring 1 ‘The Time Machine’ – exploring the possibility of time travel and imagining the machinery required to achieve it – Which time would you travel to? Why? How would your time machine look? Homework: Using a range of sources such as magazines, newspapers and the internet; create an A5 collage of products which have an interface (buttons, switches, levers etc.) this collection will be used in class to help you formulate ideas for your time machine’s appearance.
Spring 2 ‘Ceramics and the Natural World’ – Can we represent our interest in the natural world through ceramics – How to translate the natural world into design Homework: A research project investigating the work of ceramic artists and how they relate their work to the world around them! Details will be on google classroom.
Summer 1 ‘Metamorphosis’ – investigating the transition from one form into another – What does change look and feel like? Homework: Change is happening all around us all of the time…tick tock tick tock…can you represent the idea of metamorphosis and change in a carefully constructed work of art? Use any media at your disposal…you could use multimedia if you want to really experiment.
Summer 2 ‘Superheroes’ – reflection of our perceptions and ideas of heroism – What does it take to be heroic? How should a heroic figure look? Homework: Draw a classic! Find an image that personifies the ultimate heroic character from a comic book. Copy as accurately as you can, add colour if you wish and make your drawing look glorious!
Recommended reading: ‘How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way’ by Stan Lee and John Buscema
The blurb: Stan Lee, the Mighty Man from Marvel, and John Buscema, active and adventurous artist behind the Silver Surfer, Conan the Barbarian, the Mighty Thor and Spider-Man, have collaborated on this comics compendium: an encyclopaedia of information for creating your own superhero comic strips. Using artwork from Marvel comics as primary examples, Buscema graphically illustrates the hitherto mysterious methods of comic art. Stan Lee’s pithy prose gives able assistance and advice to the apprentice artist. Bursting with Buscema’s magnificent illustrations and Lee’s laudable word-magic, How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way belongs in the library of every kid who has ever wanted to illustrate his or her own comic strip.
Year 7 Art & Design Curriculum – in more detail
Autumn 1: Expression, Mark Making and Observation –Â Explore making art from real life with expressive media. Learn how a range of materials can be used to create expressive shape and form. Homework: Draw an animal skull from life or from a found image. Use a biro pen, sketch out your study applying details, textures and tones.
Autumn 2 ‘Culture and Sport’ – research urban classics; art, fashion and cultural iconography – How can we represent our passion for sport in Art? Homework: Make a piece of Art about an iconic sporting moment in art media of your choice! How can you best express the moment? Write what it means to you and why you have represented it as you have chosen to.
Spring 1 ‘Coastal Plants and Animals’ – our local flora and fauna; observe and capture…on paper! – What’s the best medium to collect a range of studies? Homework: Try and visit a beach or coastal area, produce a series of studies of plants and animals using pencil, pen and watercolour paint if possible.
Spring 2 ‘Architecture and the built environment’ – Can you develop an appropriate architectural design informed by your environment? How does architecture relate to the world around you? How do we develop ideas in 3 dimensions and resolve ideas for a brief? Homework: A research project alongside your classroom work! This will explore the world around you and the world of architecture. Details will be on google classroom.
Summer 1 ‘Creature Design and Model Making’ – Can we creatively design a creature suitable for film and TV? Learn how creative design works in iterations, and how to manipulate clay to create effective models with character. Homework: Create a 2d or 3d piece of art inspired by your favourite film or TV model – this could be a puppet, stop motion, prop. It could be a character, creature, vehicle, building or location. Use whatever media you think suits it that you have access too!
Summer 2: ‘Manga vs Marvel’ – develop an informed opinion of which art form is best and argue your case! Homework: Copy and render your favourite Manga or Marvel character…or why not draw both!? Be accurate in your copy and use bright vibrant colours to render.
Year 8 Art & Design Curriculum – in more detail
Autumn 1: ‘Self Portrait’ – How do you ensure accuracy in a portrait drawing? Through drawing from direct observation, photography and a sustained self portrait, learn how to draw with accuracy, tonal range and texture. Homework: Carefully sketch a head portrait of someone at home, try to spend at least a couple of hours over time. Your first phase is a light, pencil sketch working out head shape and where the features are placed. Apply layers of mid and dark tones where appropriate, add highlights with a rubber.
Autumn 2:‘The Expressive Portrait’ – What can we learn about an artist and their subject from how they make their art? How can we interpret the personality of a person not just what is seen on the surface. Homework: Research the work of a portrait artist and re-create a piece by them. Create an A5 page which includes a brief history of the artist, pictures and descriptions of their work and write your feelings about their work trying to explain why you feel the way you do.
Spring 1: ‘Concept Art’ – Create imaginative work in response to a creative test set by the concept Art company Atomhawk. Learn what concept art is, and how the industry is relevant to you. Homework – Research and drawing project set with Atomhawk! Details will be on google classroom.
Spring 2: ‘Human Made’- Can we create a functional ceramic object with excellent design? Why do we need creativity in industry? Learn about Contemporary design and applied arts. Homework- Find and carefully draw an item in your home (big or small) that has been beautifully designed to complete a function. Think about what it does and why it looks the way it does? Does the design simply support it’s function? Or is the design an aesthetic choice to make it more commercial? Write down your opinion.
Summer 1: ‘The Art of War’ – What is worth fighting for? How do artists express their feelings visually? Analyse visual forms and text. Learn about the politics of imagery. Understanding the power of imagery and text through creating political poster designs. Homework – Find a poster about a topic you are passionate about, print or copy it . Write about why you feel the way you do and how the poster helps to illustrate your feelings. Why do you like the image? What is it about the design you like?
Summer 2: ‘Urban Sketching’- Can we express a sense of place and experience in our art? Learn what urban sketching is, and how we can create observational drawing and artwork outside. Create artwork that expresses a sense of place and belonging. Homework -Create an image or series of images inspired by Urban Sketching. Draw from your garden, yard, or other space you would normally safely access. You need to draw from observation (looking at real life, not photos). You can use perspective techniques, and you can use any art media you like and have access to.
Art & Design Clubs and Extra Curricular
We currently run a Thursday lunchtime art club with Mr Hay where you can bring any and all projects to life! Collect a pass first thing in the morning on Thursday from the Art room to attend.
 Art & Design Homework – an invitation to parents and carers
Home study opportunities in Art & Design are strategically planned to support project work being explored in the classroom. Students are expected to complete one home study each half term which supports their current area of study. This regular opportunity will develop key skills and support progress through the various projects we cover. Research and development tasks may also be given to support their classroom work.
As we know many children love to create at home and any special, extra special work produced can be brought in and added to the student sketchbooks at any point. At the end of Year 8 students bring their sketchbooks home; their books are four years of gathering and collating Art & Design and the sketchbooks are something we hope students and their families will treasure for a lifetime.
We would like to encourage parents and carers to get actively involved in supporting home study in Art & Design. Please help your children when they need it. Creating is a fantastic, fast track to relaxation and positive mental wellbeing and you are very welcome to do your own interpretation of the home study brief and send it in along with the student’s work, so they can add your work to their book too as a keepsake, we look forward to seeing your fantastic work!
We believe working together with a trusted adult supports student confidence! If we as adults model resilience while learning from and enjoying making mistakes, students will learn to feel this way too. We believe enjoying the process of trial and error with someone trusted, while developing an understanding of how to patiently problem-solve, reaps huge rewards for the students in all aspects of their school life and also beyond into their chosen career paths.
Please feel free to contact the Art department to speak with any of your children’s Art & Design teachers at any point in the year and thank you for your continued input and support.
The Art Team @ VGMS
