Category: Uncategorized
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The Place of Craft in Art Education
Defining Craft Craft can be defined as the creation of objects by hand, often with a focus on skill, tradition, and functionality. Unlike fine art, which is typically conceptual or expressive, craft emphasises technique, materials, and practical use. For me, it’s the ‘practical use’ that helps me look at something and decide if it’s art…
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Easter Art Lessons
My Easter-themed art lessons are a great way to keep students engaged while still building essential skills. These activities go beyond just seasonal fun—they encourage careful observation, creative thinking, and experimentation with different materials. Whether it’s intricate pattern work, sculpting paper, or exploring collage, students get to develop their techniques in an exciting and meaningful…
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Walking the Irwell Sculpture Trail: An Art Teacher’s Journey for Dementia UK
On the 17th and 18th of August, I walked the entire Irwell Sculpture Trail, from Bacup to Salford, in just two days, to raise funds for Dementia UK. When planning this, I knew it was going to be a huge physical challenge but it felt appropriate to do something difficult considering the difficulties families face…
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Settling into a New School
This year I have learned that settling to a new school after almost a decade is an adventure that comes with a steep learning curve. While young people often have similar hopes and challenges, the distinct character of each school creates a unique ecosystem. From my experience, here is a guide to help you settle…
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Dishing the Dirt on Feedback
DIRT feedback, or DIRT tasks, have been around in UK schools for a little while now, and there are mixed views about their use and value. Is it useful or is it there just to be visible? (Did someone say box-ticking exercise?) What does DIRT stand for in Education? There are differing views on this,…
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Being an Anti-Racist Art Teacher
I was shocked to read in The Guardian recently that less than 3% of artists named in GCSE Art exams are black or South Asian. I thought things had moved on. “White artists comprised 91.6% of all exam board mentions, according to a report by the Runnymede Trust thinktank and Freelands Foundation, an arts charity.”…