Art and Design is viewed as an important part of the curriculum at Latifa School for Girls and has a high profile within the school. This is evident in the department and the whole school through visually exciting displays of large-scale work in a wide range of media. Teachers are committed to providing an excellent art education for every student, and this is made possible by a generous budget for art materials and art books, small teaching groups and a willingness within the department to respond to educational change. Staff are committed to continually improving and developing schemes of work, student tracking and assessment, improving literacy, educational visits to art galleries and critical studies work. They are also involved in researching and developing teaching resources and are all keen develop their own professional expertise.

There are four full-time art teachers within the department who teach across the age range from Key Stage 3 to A level. Each teacher has her own teaching room with garden views and is responsible for creating a stimulating learning environment. All the art rooms are well equipped with an extensive range of general art materials, a storeroom and good classroom storage facilities. Every room has computer access for students and teachers with Internet, scanning and printing.

The department strongly believes in the use of Critical Studies in all aspect of its work. In line with developments in the teaching of Art and Design, it has built an impressive collection of art books that have become a valuable resource. Students in examination year groups have access to the art library through a computerized database. The department also subscribes to a number of art and design periodicals which sixth form students are encouraged to access.

The teaching of drawing is seen as very important in all aspects of Art and Design and students are encouraged to work from life as much as possible. Students are encouraged to work in a wide range of disciplines including: Fine Art, Graphics, Printed Textiles, Three Dimensional Design, Interior Design and Photography. Sketchbook work and Critical Studies underpin each of these areas.

Students follow the National Curriculum at Key Stage 3 and are taught in small groups. Lessons are an hour long with an allocation of two hours per week for art. They rotate every twelve weeks to a different Art teacher, thus covering a wide range of knowledge, skills and disciplines each year. At GCSE, AS and A level students follow the Edexcel Unendorsed course. Option take-up is very good and art is seen as a popular subject amongst students. The standard of work at examination level is very high, resulting in some excellent examination results and exciting end of year exhibitions in recent years. A visiting moderator from Edexcel assesses examination work for art and design every year, which allows regular feedback from the examination board on current practice. There are no scale restrictions on artwork as a result of being moderated in the centre.

Display forms an important part of the department’s role within its own area, adjoining corridors and the whole school. Artwork is mounted and displayed to a high standard. The school is in the process of building a permanent framed collection of student artwork.