BIRMINGHAMTHEBLUECOATSCHOOL1722

Creative Arts Vision Statement

Imagination, Innovation, Invention

Two pupils stick leaves, conkers and sticks onto a piece of paper to create sustainable artwork.

Vision

The Blue Coat School’s vision for the Creative Arts curriculum in Prep is built on the following principles which underpin our teaching and learning:

  • Fostering self expression and building a range of practical skills
  • Embedding contextual studies
  • Designing and realising usable products that solve practical problems
  • Realising the sustainability on the environment

the CREATIVE ARTS STUDIO

Equipped with materials, machines and imagination, the Creative Arts Studio is a hive for creativity to blossom. As soon as the door opens, colour and pupils’ fantastic artwork surrounds you. 

Pupils in Prep enjoy one lesson a week of Creative Arts on a termly rotation between Art and Design, and Design and Technology. Though creativity is expressed through many aspects of the curriculum.

Lessons are taught by the Head of Creative Arts supported by the Art Technician. 

In lessons, pupils explore the works of famous artists, learn about the history of art, contemplate work by contemporary artists and different cultures.

Our pupils are encouraged to be independent learners within a no-fail subject and mistakes are seen as an opportunity to be creative. Many cross-curricular links with other subject areas are also developed to enhance their learning. ICT is embedded in the curriculum and provides the opportunity for research and digital manipulation.

The Creative Arts Studio at The Blue Coat School Birmingham.
A pupil showing artwork they have completed in Creative Arts on their iPad.

1:1 iPads:
Creative Arts

Pupils at The Blue Coat School express their creativity and hone their artistic skills on a full range of media. Having their own iPad means they have instant access to the limitless opportunities technology affords in creating digital artwork including: 

  • Photography and image manipulation
  • Digital drawing
  • Artist research
  • Recording observations in written, audio and visual formats
  • Scanning in practical pieces for marking and to share with parents 

Design Technology

Design Technology provides pupils with the opportunity to combine creativity and technology in order to produce well-finished products for a specific user. Pupils analyse and investigate a wide range of items discovering what they are made from and how they work. They carry out focused practical ‘design and make’ tasks using a range of techniques and machinery in textiles, ceramics and woodwork.

Two boys wear blue aprons as they mould a cup from clay in a Creative Art pottery lesson.
A girl sewing in Creative Arts.
Two girls making sandwiches in a food technology class at The Blue Coat School.

Food Technology

Food Technology is taught once every term, with the main project taking places during the Trinity term. 

The lessons are a combination of investigation, product analysis, recipe designing and practical cooking tasks.

Healthy eating, nutrition and food groups form an important part of the curriculum. Additionally, food safety, hygiene and safe working practices are embedded within the lessons.

Food technology is a very popular part of the Creative Arts curriculum. We aim to foster an appreciation of food, flavour, cooking and of course, eating! 

An Extraordinary Lesson

The opportunities for fun, invention and innovation are limitless. For Year 5 and 6 pupils who have a strong interest in art, there is a Creative Arts TED (Thinking, Exploring, Doing) programme on a Friday afternoon. These co-curricular lessons give pupils the opportunity to complete special projects such as designing and creating a Viking ship which is now proudly suspended from the Studio ceiling! 

A girl is painting on a canvas with acrylic paint in the art room.
A girl is using finger painting in an art lesson.
Eight pupils sit on the bench they designed at the Tower of London.

Lifelong Love of Learning

Pupils have achieved some tremendous things in Creative Arts. No less than in summer 2023, when the Creative Arts TED group won a competition to design a bench for King Charles III’s Coronation. It was proudly on display at The Tower of London throughout the summer of 2023, now it is proudly situated outside of the BCS Prep Library.