The Visual Arts course is taught at Standard and Higher Level, and will suit students who are highly motivated and can work in a more independent way.

Many approaches to learning have developed in the Visual Arts and this course will suitstudents who have clear creative and imaginative abilities.

Typically, these embrace a wide variety of expressive forms from a variety of cultural contexts. The emphasis is on visual representation, traditional forms in design, craft, electronic media, drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture.

Students will be expected to communicate visually by locating themselves within the cultural context from which to discover and develop appropriate techniques.

The study of Visual Arts allows a student to discover ways in which to interpret and comment critically on the human condition in a global context. It gives an opportunity to develop a critical and intensely personal view of themselves in relation to the world.

By the end of the course (two years) students will be expected to demonstrate

• Growth and commitment through the study of art
• And interrelationship between their research and their artistic production.

Course Title: Visual Arts 
Study time for the Higher Level is a total of 240 hours over two years and 150 hours for Standard Level.
The course is made up of 2 parts          

•    Studio Work ~ 60%

(90 hours for Standard Level / 144 hours for Higher Level)

• Investigation Workbooks ~ 40%

(60 hours for Standard Level / 96 hours for Higher Level)
There are no examinations as all work is assessed and then externally moderated by an IB examiner. This takes the form of an interview in which a student will present their portfolio of work shown as an exhibition and discuss this with the examiner.

We strongly recommend that candidates choose to study at Higher Level.

Studio Work: (60%)

This is practical work in the form of coursework projects and includes personal research in sketchbooks. It should show evidence of working in a variety of media, the development of original ideas, the discovery of creative solutions and the acquisition of technical skills. All work is individually assessed and externally moderated. During the course of the two years, students will be expected to produce a portfolio of work of a minimum of 12 pieces. Examples of projects could be: Identity, The Nature of Abstraction, Cubism and the Development of Futurism, Still Life: the Nature of Space and Designed Objects, Place, Location and Environment, etc. This part will be assessed by an exhibition and interview with an external examiner

Investigation Workbooks: (40%)

These journals should contain evidence of research into culture, society and historical contexts chosen by the student. For example, visits to galleries, museums and other artistic contexts and could include dialogue between student and teacher. Critical analysis is encouraged. Themes can be decided by the student and reflect art in their locality or globally.  Some examples could be: The Influence of Technology on Art, Art and Politics, The Future of Art, The Roots and Forms of Graffiti, etc. This part is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IBO at the end of the course.  Copies of 25 to 39 pages from these books are sent for moderation.

All work produced over the two year period will be displayed as an exhibition by each individual student and assessed and moderated by an external examiner in the form of a thirty minute interview. 

For more information, please see Mr E Gilmore.