In both Senior and Junior art departments that I have worked in I have forged a range of opportunities to enable students of all ages to develop their leadership skills within art.
'Art Seniors'- ages 14-16
'Art Seniors' upper senior school leadership program for which students aged 14-16 applied to be considered as ambassadors for art within the school. Selected students became representatives for art and developed a range of leadership skills.
Examples of activities the student leaders were involved in included;
Examples of activities the student leaders were involved in included;
- Supporting younger students in extra-curricular art activities
- Leading tours for visitors to the annual GCSE and A Level art exhibitions
- Curating and updating art displays
- Supporting the development of art teaching materials
- Collaborating to design and create an anti-bullying poster campaign
Student Led Art Workshops- ages 9-11
Students who took part in a series of artist led workshops were coached to enable them to share their skills, expertise and experiences with their peers by both leading an art workshop and co-teaching within the classroom.
Students were able to embed their learning and gain confidence in their roles as student leaders.
Students were able to embed their learning and gain confidence in their roles as student leaders.
Student teachers
Student leaders shared the experiences and skills gained by taking part in artist-led workshops with their peers. Student leaders ran drawing workshops within their art lessons, working in small groups to co-teach and demonstrate new techniques to their peers.
Student led printmaking workshop
Students who took part in artist-led printmaking workshops shared their experiences with their peers by planning and running printmaking lessons. Students created printmaking guides and handouts to support their peers and with guidance, planned and delivered practical demonstrations.
Junior 'Creative Ambassadors'- ages 9 to 11
Creative Ambassadors was a Junior school leadership program for which students aged 9-11 applied to be considered as ambassadors for art within the school. Selected students became representatives for art and developed a range of leadership skills.
Testing, trailing and critically evaluating new art equipment and technology
Creative Ambassadors worked together to test and trial and evaluate new art equipment and technology in the art room. Students experimented with using a new digital illustration app on the ipad and provided valuable feedback about ways to adapt and use this app in the classroom setting to improve student learning.