Art and Design Curriculum Spotlighted by National Association

Our art department at Hethersett Academy has had a case study article published by the National Association for Education in Art & Design, as part of ‘The Big Landscape’ art, craft and design curriculum toolkit, a very prestigious achievement! This means that the work happening at Hethersett is at the forefront of curriculum development and has been identified as a role model for how pupils should be taught art and design. 

The case study was written by our Head of Art and Design, Helen Coote and is called “Curriculum in action: Building personal choice and independence”.  

We are so proud of the robust curriculum we have at Hethersett Academy, it's fascinating to see students’ work develop over time and how an increasing amount of independence nurtures fantastic artwork supported by our teaching and planning. 

Please see a bank of our students' work below.

Ms Coote said, 

“Having implemented this curriculum design for four years now, I have certainly seen an increase in three main areas: student engagement, behaviour and quality of outcomes. We have seen rapid growth in students opting for GCSE Art and Photography. Additionally, we are now able to utilise student exemplar work which showcases great diversity, inspiring upcoming students with the creative possibilities Art and Design can offer. Allowing students to have an appropriate level of autonomy over their work has increased student focus and has consequently supported behaviour management; giving art educators the flexibility to adapt the curriculum for the needs and interests of their students has proven an invaluable tool in aiding self-expression and supporting focused practice. As our five-year curriculum increasingly offers a variety of ways to create and make, we have found that students have become more proficient in understanding what best suits their strengths and therefore quality of outcomes have improved.”