We offer a range of talks and practical sessions specifically for secondary age groups. All are detailed below and bookable now. We also have a selection of teacher-led resources you can use with your group.

For more information and booking please contact Catherine James, Education Assistant

T: 01922 654411

Talks and Discussions for Secondary Schools

Discussions encourage pupils to interpret artworks for themselves. Gallery staff pose questions that help the pupils explore the work and value their own interpretations. Discussions can help build self-esteem, visual literacy, problem solving and critical thinking skills and develop confidence in visiting art galleries.

We offer a range of Talks and Discussions for KS3 and KS4 which are available all year round.
• Free 15 minute introductory talks on the Permanent Collections.
• Paid 30 minute talk and discussions. £30 per group.
• All talks must be booked in advance.
• Group size is 30 max.

Suggested Talk and Discussion Topics
• Introduction to the permanent collection
• Portraits
• Sculpture
• Landscapes
• Introduction to the current contemporary art exhibition
• Discussion around What is Art?
Are you working on a particular theme or topic and none of the above suggestions fit? Please contact us for a chat to discuss your ideas

Paid workshops for Secondary Schools

We offer a range of Paid Workshops for Secondary Schools
• All 90 minutes
• Available all year round
• Group size is 30 max.
• Prices apply
• Must be booked in advance

Current workshops include:

SCULPTURE

Sculpture – Modelling with Modroc

Pupils explore the bronze sculptures by Jacob Epstein, on display in the Garman Ryan Collection
• Explore three dimensions by drawing the sculptures from different view-points

• Pupils explore mark making and proportion
• Pupils explore sculptural materials through handling
• Pupils create their own modelled head using a newspaper base and apply Modroc (blaster bandage) to add details

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in using Modroc
• Understanding different materials used to create sculptures
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Sculpture – Plaster casting in clay

• Pupils explore the sculptures within the collection
• They explore two and three dimensions and discuss the items used to create the sculpture
• Pupils explore sculptural materials through handling
• Pupils create their own clay mould and cast in plaster

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in using clay and plaster of Paris
• Understanding different materials used to create sculptures
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Sculpture – Modelling with Alginate

• Pupils explore the bronze sculptures on display in the Garman Ryan Collection
• Pupils explore three dimensions by drawing from different viewpoints

• Pupils discuss mark making and proportion
• Pupils explore sculptural materials through handling
• Pupils create their own modelled head using plasticine which is then cast in alginate.

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in using plasticine and alginate
• Understanding different materials used to create sculptures
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

PRINTING

Printing – relief printing with polystyrene

• Suitable for KS3-5
• Pupils explore the gallery and a particular subject focus.

• Pupils draw onto a polystyrene tile, and in the workshop room they print the tile with relief inks.

• Pupils alter the tile to create a two – colour registered print.

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in creating a two – colour registered print
• Understanding relief printing
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Printing – Relief printing with lino
• Suitable for KS4 upwards
• Pupils explore the gallery and a particular subject focus.

• Pupils draw their own subject in pencil then transfer this onto a lino tile
• Pupils learn to safely cut and print the tile

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in creating a print
• Understanding relief printing
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Printing – Drypoint engraving
• Suitable for KS4 upwards
• Pupils explore the gallery and a particular subject focus

• Pupils create a line drawing

• Pupils trace their drawing, engraving lines into an acetate sheet

• Pupils roll ink onto the surface and print the acetate using a professional printing press.

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in creating a dry point print and using professional – quality printing equipment
• Understanding intaglio printing
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Printing – Silkscreen printing

• Suitable for KS3-5
• Pupils explore the gallery and a particular subject focus making a variety of sketches.

• Pupils cut paper stencils, taking inspiration from their drawings.

• Pupils watch an artist demonstration on how to create a screen-print

• Pupils work in small groups to create a collaborative composition
• Pupils create a screen-print each

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in creating a print
• Understanding planographic printing and use of squeegees, silk-screens and coloured inks
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Printing – Collagraph
• Suitable for KS3-5
• Pupils explore the gallery and a particular subject focus.

• Pupils create sketches in the gallery.

• Pupils build their own textured tile using a variety of materials

• Pupils test their tiles through rubbings before rolling with ink and printing onto paper

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in creating a relief print
• Understanding relief printing
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

DRAWING

Drawing- Landscapes perspective

• Suitable for KS3-5
• Taking inspiration from our landscapes room, pupils learn the fundamentals of drawing a landscape in perspective

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in perspective drawing
• Exploring shading
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Drawing- Portraits proportion

• Suitable for KS3-5
•Taking inspiration from the portraits within our Collections, pupils will learn how to draw a portrait using correct proportion.

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development

• Skill development in proportional drawing
• Exploring shading
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Drawing- Experimental drawing

• Suitable for KS3-5
• Pupils explore a variety of alternative drawing exercises including blind contour, non – dominant hand drawing and ink drawing to build confidence and understand the importance of experimentation.

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development

• Skill development in drawing
• Exploration of mixed media
• Increased understanding about how to use a gallery for inspiration

Bespoke Workshops

Please contact us to discuss how we can meet the needs of your group. We offer inspiring and creative workshops tailored to your needs, linked to your topics and schemes of work.