Creative Arts
Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.
Edgar Degas
Art at Heywood Academy is about ensuring every child and young person can join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and recreational activities. young people and young people are engaged and inspired by a challenging curriculum where they gain knowledge about the work of great artists and how art and design reflect and shape our history and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. These inform their own exploration of themes relevant to their interests and life experiences.
They learn observation through developing skills in recording line, shape, pattern, colour tone, texture, and through photography. They are given opportunities to develop this understanding and to experiment with a variety of mediums and techniques. They will be encouraged to playfully take risks and be open to notice the results. Through this they develop their own visual literacy and self-expression. This creative process can have a positive impact on self-confidence and self-esteem.
Art Lessons at Heywood Academy
At Heywood Academy, our art lessons are delivered with a focus on engaging our young people and young people in active learning. The curriculum is designed to meet the requirements of the 2014 National Curriculum in England, providing our young people and young people with a strong foundation in art knowledge and skills.
Throughout the academic year, our young people at Ks3 participate in one art lesson per week. Art at Ks4 is an option subject, and young people who choose art have 3 lessons per week.
The art scheme is designed to ensure effective progression, with units divided into four core areas that are repeated in each year group. This approach provides teachers with greater clarity over knowledge and skills progression within the four areas. It also allows teachers to feel confident that young people are given opportunities to develop mastery by revisiting core subject knowledge and applying that knowledge practically in a range of contexts with growing complexity.
Schemes of Work
At Heywood Academy, our art scheme of work is expertly tailored to meet the unique needs of our young people at Key Stage 3. Designed in accordance with the 2014 National Curriculum in England, it encompasses a bespoke syllabus to ensure effective progression.
The art scheme is structured around four core areas, which are explored in each year group to provide a consistent foundation:
Drawing: Through the medium of drawing, our young artists learn to observe and represent the world around them. They acquire vital skills in line, tone, shading, and composition, enabling them to visually express themselves.
Painting and mixed media: This area nurtures experimentation as our young people explore the diverse properties and techniques of painting mediums. They engage with watercolours, acrylics, oils, and also embrace mixed media, incorporating various materials into their artwork.
Sculpture and 3D: Here, our young people develop an understanding of three-dimensional space and form. They explore sculpting techniques using materials such as clay, wire, and found objects, expanding their creative horizons.
Craft and design: Focused on fostering craft and design skills, this area comprises activities like textiles, printmaking, and digital design. Our young people learn to apply their creative and technical prowess to produce functional and visually appealing art.
Our art scheme is designed to provide a broad and balanced experience, offering comprehensive units that cover the fundamentals of art. Within these units, young people are exposed to the work of a wide range of artists and makers. This exposure guides them in the skills required to explore, analyse, and discuss art, fostering their ability to evaluate artworks and inform their own creative practices.
At Key Stage 4, our art scheme aligns with the assessment objective requirements outlined in the AQA GCSE Art specification. This ensures that young people are well-prepared for their GCSE examinations.
By following our comprehensive art curriculum, young people at Heywood Academy can cultivate their artistic abilities while developing an enriched understanding and appreciation for the world of art. Our aim is to nurture their creativity, encourage critical thinking, and provide them with a strong foundation in art education.
Curriculum Adaptations and Pedagogy
The curriculum adaptations and pedagogy at Heywood Academy is centred around meeting the unique needs and abilities of every learner, ensuring equal opportunities for academic, personal, and social development. The primary goals include:
1. Inclusivity: Adapt the curriculum to ensure that all learners have access to quality education, regardless of their individual needs.
2. Adaptive Teaching: Provide personalised learning experiences that cater to the diverse abilities, interests, and learning styles of the children and young people.
3. Progression: Foster a holistic and sequential approach to learning, allowing children and young people to build on their prior knowledge, skills, and understanding from their identified starting points.
4. Empowerment: Develop independent learners who are equipped with the skills, resilience, and self-confidence required to succeed academically and, in their future lives.
Curriculum Adaptations and Pedagogy
Assessment
At Heywood Academy, we employ a comprehensive approach to assessing every young person’s progress in art. Our assessments are designed to align with the 2014 National Curriculum in England and are based on the Heywood Academy art schemes of work. Art lessons at Heywood Academy are a chance for young people to discuss, question, and evaluate. Evidence of this is captured on Evidence for Learning during by the young person or teacher.
The art curriculum is designed to actively involve young people in evaluation, dialogue, and decision-making about the quality of their outcomes and the improvements they need to make. By participating in our regular discussions and decision-making processes, young people not only acquire factual knowledge and key information about art but also develop the ability to confidently articulate their own learning journeys, possess higher metacognitive skills, and nurture a growing understanding of how to improve.
To provide individualised support, each young person has bespoke and personalised art progress targets, which we closely track. We believe in fostering a strong partnership with parents; hence, we share these targets with them on a termly basis via Arbor, our digital communication platform.
Qualifications
At Heywood Academy, we take pride in offering our young people a choice of GCSE Art and Design qualifications, including Photography and Graphic Communication. These courses not only enhance their creative and technical skills but also develop their critical thinking, problem-solving, and expressive abilities. Through a combination of practical projects, creative experimentation, research and investigation, and critical analysis, we empower our young people to become confident, innovative, and accomplished artists, photographers, and designers, equipped with the skills and knowledge to succeed in further education and creative careers.
AQA GCSE Graphic Communication
Enrichment and Celebrations
Photography Rotary Club Competition - Summer 2026
Students at Heywood Academy took part in a photography competition sponsored by the Heywood Rotary Club, with the theme “photographs that make you feel calm.” Our entries were inspiring and showcased the artistic talent and creativity of our students.
Although all entries were amazing, the Rotary club take their decision making very seriously and voted the following entries as our winners:
1st place - William
2nd place - Mike
3rd place - Annabelle
Rotary Club Competition
Photography - Summer 2026
Our students at Heywood Academy have been getting hands-on with our brand new cameras and taking their first steps into the world of photography!
They’ve been out and about exploring the outdoor areas, learning how to use the cameras for the very first time and discovering how to capture the world from their own unique perspective. From focusing and framing to experimenting with angles, it’s been fantastic to see their confidence grow with each shot.
Photography 2026
No Pens Day
What a fantastic No Pens Day we had at Heywood Academy!
Throughout the school, students took part in a wide range of creative learning activities that allowed them to demonstrate their knowledge and skills without relying on traditional written tasks. From discussions and practical challenges to drama, collaborative projects, creative arts and the use of technology.
The day provided a wonderful opportunity for students to communicate their understanding in different ways, helping to develop confidence, teamwork, speaking and listening skills. It was fantastic to see our learners so actively involved and enjoying alternative approaches to learning.
A huge thank you goes to all of our teachers and support staff, whose creativity made the day such a success. Staff embraced the challenge of planning lessons without pens and produced a wide variety of imaginative activities that were both engaging and accessible for all students.
World Art Day at Heywood Academy - Spring 2026
On 15th April, Heywood Academy came alive with colour, creativity and imagination as students and staff celebrated World Art Day through a variety of exciting cross-curricular activities.
Throughout the day, pupils explored how art can enhance learning across different subjects. In English, students created impressive clay monkey paws inspired by The Monkey’s Paw, produced collages based on the character of Miss Havisham, and designed creative Canva projects linked to A Christmas Carol. These activities encouraged students to engage with literature in a hands-on and imaginative way.
In History, students showed their artistic flair by designing beautiful Tudor Roses, combining historical knowledge with creative expression. Meanwhile, in Science, pupils explored culture, symbolism and colour through vibrant Day of the Dead-inspired artwork, demonstrating the connections between science, tradition and creativity.
The celebrations continued in Food Technology, where students embraced artistic food presentation and photography. Inspired by the work of Italian artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo, pupils created imaginative fruit faces and experimented with printmaking techniques using a range of fruits and vegetables, producing some truly unique outcomes.
A particular highlight of the day was welcoming Cartwheel Arts, who delivered an engaging Wellbeing Dominoes Workshop. The session encouraged students to collaborate, reflect and express themselves creatively, while promoting positive wellbeing and teamwork.
World Art Day was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate creativity in all its forms and showcase the many ways art can enrich learning across the curriculum. We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, imagination and talent demonstrated by our students throughout the day.
World Art Day 2026
