Art and Photography

 Exhibition 9th December 2024 @3:30pm

 Staff

The Art Department has two members of staff.  Mr Jessop is Head of Department, and he is supported by Mrs Banks.  Both members of staff teach a range of classes from S1 to S6.

BGE Art and Design

In the BGE, students who take Art and Design are learning the practical and theoretical skills they will need for SQA courses they will take in S4.  They will learn key drawing, painting, and printmaking skills they will use for National 4 and 5 but also learning the key visual elements they will need to know for the written paper in S4.  Each term, students will learn about artists and designers, and they will analyse their work using artistic terms and the point, explain and evaluate exam technique they will use in S4.

BGE Photography and Fashion and Textiles

In S3, students also have the opportunity to take an NPA award in Photography.  This is an introductory course and give the chance for students to learn new practical and theoretical skills.  It is a portfolio-based course where students will research, develop and produce final photographs based on topics outlined in the course.

Senior Phase

In S4-S6 students undertake National 3 to 5 Art and Design courses which lead on to the Higher and Advanced Higher courses.  All these courses are portfolio based and encompass an Expressive portfolio (traditional drawing and painting) as well as a Design portfolio (graphics and ceramics).  As well as this, students will do a written exam where they will show their knowledge of artists and designers as well as commenting on artwork they have never seen before.

Useful links

National 5 Art and Design www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/47388.html

Higher Art and Design www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/47892.html

Advanced Higher Art and Design www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/48495.html

Extra-Curricular

The Art Department run trips and visits every year and have visited Edinburgh Printmakers, Perth Museum, Jupiter Artland events and the Victoria and Albert Museum in Dundee.  We also enter students’ work into local and national competitions where we have been very successful.  In recent years Rosie O’ Faherty won a runner up prize for the best BGE artwork in Perth as part of the Rotary Young Artist Competition held in The Ferguson Gallery. Her picture appeared in the Perth Courier local paper.  Also Aleksandra Oleszkowicz won a 1st place prize (Brodie's Regional Award) for the best artwork in northern Scotland for the Royal Scottish Academy School's award.

Recent successes and department development

The Art department has implemented an NPA level 5 Drawing qualification into the 3rd year course. If students pass all assessment criteria, they will gain a level 5 qualification which will help boost attainment in S4.

We have Implemented a BGE learning ladder with visual benchmarks of level 2, 3, and 4 outcomes across all Art classrooms which has helped students know standards of each level. Additionally, the implementation of a self-assessment grid for BGE students helps students assess their own work to national standards and helps them to realise the next steps required to attain next level.

The Art department helps students’ wellbeing by putting on 2 study support sessions a week for S4-S6 students and we run a BGE Art Club every Tuesday lunchtime.  This gives pupils the chance to have more personalised support to ease the pressure of SQA deadlines.  We also believe in equity and ensure Art packs were bought for students who require help to reduce the cost of paying for practical equipment, ensuring all students have access to the same equipment and materials.

Attainment and success in Higher Education

Attainment in Art is very positive and helps to contribute to the school’s academic success. In 2025, Higher Art and Advanced Higher Art were highest performing subjects in the school with many students gaining an A grade.  The department is also very successful in getting students into Higher education, with many students going to Dundee, Glasgow and Aberdeen College of Art.