Getting to the art of the matter at Seamount

A subject inspection into the quality of learning and teaching of art at Seamount College, Kinvara has recommended that the principal support and monitor the further development of art department practices to address dwindling numbers at senior cycle.
Five main recommendations were made as part of the subject inspection, which was carried out last October 7 by the Department of Education and Skills. 
The full report was released this week and found the subject is being “competently and conscientiously delivered”.
It did note there were dwindling numbers in senior cycle art and advised the school to adopt an attractive learner-centred approach as a tool for sustaining viable numbers in the long term.
The inspector recognised that resources had been put in place in the art department to facilitate students’ encounter with various media and materials, co-curricular activities, and preparation for the state examinations.
Meanwhile the school’s use of information and communication technology (ICT) and video in the senior cycle history and appreciation of art lesson was deemed to be “very good”.
“The school’s strong emphasis on art-elements drawing and on teaching and learning of other basic skills needs to be augmented with stronger emphasis on creativity, self-expression and work from imagination rather than from secondary sources,” the report advised.
The inspector recommended that “the breadth and balance of the Junior Certificate art syllabus should be central to the planning process”.
It was also suggested that students’ higher-order skills should be developed in parallel with art-elements knowledge to emphasise the development of personal self-expressive creativity.
“ICT should be further planned for as a resource for teaching and learning to extend current good practice and widen and enrich students’ experience of art and design,” the report continued.
The inspector concluded that the art department planning document should be further developed and extended to include a strong focus on syllabus documents, on learning and assessment outcomes.