BA (Ed) Primary Teaching (Art specialism)

High-quality education is essential if individuals are to realise their full potential. The teacher is fundamental to that process and therefore the development of teachers at all stages of their careers is a task of the utmost importance. Our programme is based on the view that education is about active and meaningful learning through which students should become analytical, creative and receptive to new ideas. By working with partnership schools and mentor teachers on our programme, we aim to raise the standards of newly qualified teachers on entry to the profession.

 

The BA (Ed) Art Specialism:

• offers modules that include studio-based art practice, the study of contemporary art and the study of art history

• develops expertise in the teaching of art in the primary school

• provides training as an art subject leader in the primary school

• values students as individuals with regular group and individual tutorials

• is staffed by tutors who research, publish and exhibit.

The BA (Ed) Art course is specifically designed for trainee primary teachers who wish to develop their art practice and study their specialist subject at university level. The art modules provide practical opportunities for the exploration of a variety of media, techniques and materials, alongside art history lectures, which extend students' knowledge and understanding of twentieth and twenty-first century art practices. This knowledge and expertise will be drawn upon to inform your further development as a teacher and artist. The course would suit those who have a very strong interest in art and wish to study both practice and theory but also want to train as a primary teacher.

The Art subject specialism is an integral part of the three year BA (Ed) and consists of six modules. These are designed to focus on the three key strands of personal art practice, art history and art education. In Year 1 the studio-based art module is designed to develop your art practice and extend your experience, knowledge and understanding of art. This growing expertise will be used to inform your work with visiting children. The art history module will focus on twentieth-century art from Cubism to Post Modernism. In Year 2 the studio-based art module encourages and facilitates a more independent approach to your art practice, whilst continuing to broaden your specialist knowledge with particular reference to contemporary practices in art. The art education module is seminarbased and examines art practice in the classroom, including children's development in art, cultural issues and assessment.

In Year 3, the final two modules facilitate further development of your art practice as you prepare for your Final Exhibition of artwork. In order to inform this final development of your art practice, the research for your subject specialism dissertation will focus on contemporary art and contemporary issues related to your art practice.