Meeting with Clover Parker
Great meeting on the 26th of March 2014 with Clover Parker – Acting Head of Art. This is the second time that she has had the opportunity to Head the Department to cover Maternity leave and she felt more confident and was really enjoying the challenge.
The Department is well resourced – she was very pleased with the resources that were available but still actively ‘sources’ other resources that will give students an even wider range of resources to support their learning.
The CSA (Curriculum Support Assistant) is really stretched and Clover hopes that she can continue to support the department so effectively. The staff are really motivated and work together to provide the best learning for all students to enable them to achieve their potential. Also great support from other staff, outside the department, especially from the Head of Year 11 (Suzanne Thomas), who has managed to ‘find extra time’ for students to focus on their art and so enable them to achieve a ‘C’ grade. The course requires students to dedicate a large amount of time to their projects and the staff have implemented strategies to encourage students to attend coursework sessions….before time becomes too short and students become too stressed.
Miss Parker also went through the data for the department – highlighted that Art enables all students, including Lower Ability students, to develop a range of different skills – important life skills – and another opportunity to excel. (The Lower Ability students do perform really well in Art)
Miss Parker then took me around the department, explaining staffing and showing many of the exciting projects that were being offered to the students and their individual talent and ability to create imaginative and beautiful final pieces. She also has some exciting ideas for the future that will offer students an even wider range of opportunities to explore and represent their creativity.
The annual Art Show was held on the 2nd July – unfortunately, due to work commitments, I was unable to attend, but am sure that it was as superb as it is each year.
In the autumn term, I plan to visit again to meet the students.
Mrs L Campbell
Local Authority Governor