A walk around Hoe Bridge will show that art is an important subject in the curriculum, with work from our talented young artists displayed in seemingly every spare space.
Our Early Years children are often up to their elbows in paint, playdoh, clay, water, glitter and glue, showcasing endless uses for yoghurt pots and the insides of kitchen rolls! As the children progress up through the school the use of different media becomes more structured and understanding of perspective, the effects of shading and colour mixing is developed through experimentation.
Representing an important way for children to express their thoughts, stretch their creativity and explore the use of both traditional and innovative materials. Children enjoy art in our dedicated light and airy art space in both Pre-Prep and Prep. Learning from specialist art teachers from Year 3 about the history of art, different genres, practical techniques, and painstakingly crafting their own work using a very wide range of media and substrates. Technology also plays its part with computerised graphic design included in the curriculum.
Our highly trained specialist teachers, excellent facilities and our children’s imagination and enthusiasm combine to produce impressive results in our Design & Technology Department. The design and practical skills learned are applied to progressively complex tasks and projects using a wide variety of materials and processes, with traditional wood and metalworking sitting alongside electronics, 3D printing and vacuum forming, and pencil sketches rubbing shoulders with computer aided design. The basics of practical mechanics are also learned, with the children dismantling and rebuilding a full-sized electric racing car which is then raced in a Green Power national competition.