Visual arts summer school

Summary

This exemplar describes a visual arts summer school which we held for talented primary school pupils in art and design. It was held at our specialist arts college, in a challenging area, in the centre of a large town in Greater Manchester which serves a population with a diverse ethnic mix. The LEA requires all primary schools to link with another primary school in a different area to serve a contrasting population.

Identification

The art department employs a specially designed test to ensure that pupils with specific talent in the subject are taken into proper account. This is based on pupils' use and deployment of observational and creative skills. The test is intended as a general assessment of creative ability. It requires pupils to respond to questions that require imaginative and inventive responses, and to use their ability in drawing.

The staff certainly found that there is significant correlation between the results of this test, the LEA formula and their own professional judgement. The majority of other primary schools also identify talented pupils using the non-verbal CATs scores.

Description

The summer school proved to be very successful to everyone included. An essential element in the approach to teaching during this event was a sense of enrichment, created through the use of materials, equipment, and ideas. The organisers anticipated the achievement of high standards and the staff worked hard alongside their primary colleagues to sustain and develop these standards. We recognised that success is best achieved from the range and type of challenges that we have to encounter. The project was largely concerned with
developing skills in ICT, particularly in the scanning and the manipulation of images, and reinforcing appropriate and relevant social skills.

The specialist secondary school staff worked to help primary colleagues to improve recognition of talent in their schools by establishing appropriate criteria that they could apply in relation to the visual arts.

Evaluation

The Summer School combined with other out-of-school activities enabled pupils of
exceptional ability in the visual arts to develop appropriate and relevant skills in order to progress. An excellent programme of activities provided within and beyond the curriculum represents a real sense of enrichment to the community of the school.