Art and design
Meadows has a beautiful and well equipped art room. All pupils enjoy art and design and can take entry level certificates and GCSEs.
Pupils’ work is on display around the school and there are close links between art and ICT. The art room has its own computer and a large colour printer. Pupils learn to use Photoshop to explore digital photographic techniques to enhance painted images.
Large hard edge paintings compliment colourful Graffiti boards; Banksy’s work is a particular favourite. Pupils can follow their interests ranging from fashion design, scenic water colours and delicate flower paintings to studying cartoons, illustration and comic strip.
There is a well attended art club after school each week and there is an 'artist in residence' initiative each year.
Sculpture and pottery
Comic Mod-rock sculptures decorate the school halls. They describe the pupils’ struggles with life and school. There are 3D study options using wood, plaster and clay and pupils choose to realise their ideas in any of these media. Dipped and painted trainers become permanent art objects; a giant plate of eggs and chips improves the dining area.
There is also a well equipped pottery room and large kiln within the art department. A qualified potter teaches and runs an after school club and doubles as a 'potter in residence' so pupils can see the production of creative, professional work in action.
The basis of pupils’ good achievements is their outstanding personal development - Ofsted Education Report 2008.
