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Campaign 2015 – 2020
Performing and Visual Arts An Overview
Art & Design
Culinary Arts
We look to create an environment that not only opens pupils’ eyes to the opportunities that are available to them in an ever changing modern world, but also fosters a mindset that allows them to be excited by the possibilities.
Health & Food Technology aims to further develop life skills, confidence and to become informed members of our community.
In all aspects of life, individuals are now required to be cognitive thinkers. The ability to adapt and maintain a forward thinking approach is essential in all professions. The Arts have always assisted this divergent mindset; however, the unknown often brings with it a level of trepidation. In the new centre of excellence for performing and visual arts pupils will be introduced to a multidisciplinary approach that goes beyond a linear understanding of singular specialisms. By fusing their understanding of new technologies with traditional artisan skills, we allow them to understand how all their skill sets and all their prior knowledge is key to finding a successful solution. By embracing experimentation, facilitating innovation and analysing practices, we allow pupils to gain the experience required to build up and to maintain a confident approach. Having access to extensive resources may see them create a bespoke outcome utilising historical weaving techniques combined with industry standard digital media and a modern day printmaking process, so pupils are exposed to the fact that creative solutions are not bound by individual processes or fields of expertise. Teaching them the core skills and introducing them to selfpromotion techniques, enterprise opportunities and a commitment to excellence, we hope to turn their creative interests into careers. What they can achieve will only be limited by their own aspirations.
Mr. Adam Kerr Head of Art & Design
Being able to create tangible products always engages our pupils, using resources in a creative and contemporary environment is essential for our pupils to achieve success. The subject enhances their personal effectiveness in terms of cookery skills, nutritional knowledge and to provide a set of skills for those who wish to progress to further study in the hospitality and other food, health and nutrition related contexts such as Dietitian, Teacher or Food Technologist to name but a few. In preparing pupils for life, our practical courses anticipate future needs and enable them to learn how to plan, prepare and cook food for themselves and others. The new facilities will allow us to create active links with professional chefs, use specialist demonstration areas and the new industrial catering kitchen for special events. This helps to ensure pupils are learning about the wider world, to actively participate and develop awareness of issues affecting society, such as sustainability of produce, effectively share their views with others, and support their peers where appropriate. Recently our F4 N5 Hospitality pupils produced 600 canapes for HSD Open Morning, this was an exciting new venture, but was challenging due to lack of space and facilities. The size of the new practical rooms will enable pupils to participate in engaging, motivating learning experiences, to develop cookeryrelated knowledge, understanding and skills, and to be able to use them at home, in the wider community and, for some ultimately, in employment, encompassing skills for learning, life and work. This enables pupils to become more independent and resilient in all areas of life. But it is more than this, pupils will leave the new department feeling confident, having achieved success through creativity, critical thinking and most importantly with tangible skills that can be applied throughout all areas of life. This is what the Performing & Visual Arts Centre is all about, pupil achievement and creativity!
Mrs. Lesley J. Ross Head of Health and Food Technology
