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 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 the works 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 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 to the Permanent Collection.
• Paid 30 minute talk and discussions. £20 per group.
• All talks must be booked in advance.
• Recommended group size is 20 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 approx 2 hours
• Available all year round.
• Recommended group size is 20 maximum
• Why not split your class into two groups and swap activities?
• Prices apply.
• Must be booked in advance

Current workshops include:

SCULPTURE

Sculpture – Modelling with mod roc
• Suitable for all ages
• Pupils explore the bronze sculptures on display in the permanent collection.
• Through drawing these from different viewpoints they explore three dimensions and discuss mark making and proportion.
• Pupils explore different materials that sculpture can be made from through handling.
• Pupils then move to a workshop room to create their own modelled head using a newspaper base with mod roc covering and details.

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

Sculpture – Plastercasting in clay
• Suitable for KS2 upwards
• Pupils explore the sculptures within the collection
• They explore two and three dimensions and discuss the items used to create the sculpture here
• Pupils explore different materials that sculpture can be made from through handling.
• Pupils then move to a workshop room to 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 – Plastercasting in sand
• Suitable for KS2 upwards
• Pupils explore the sculptures within the collection
• They explore two and three dimensions and discuss the items used to create the sculpture here
• Pupils explore different materials that sculpture can be made from through handling.
• Pupils then move to a workshop room to create their own sand mould and cast in plaster.

Sculpture – Modelling with Alginate

Suitable for KS2 upwards

• Pupils explore the bronze sculptures on display in the permanent collection.
• Through drawing these from different viewpoints they explore three dimensions and discuss mark making and proportion.
• Pupils explore different materials that sculpture can be made from through handling.
• Pupils then move to a workshop room to create their own modelled head using plastercine which is then cast in alginate.

Learning objectives:
• Creative and critical thinking skills through art discussion
• Vocabulary development
• Skill development in using plastercine 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 all ages
• Pupils explore the gallery and a particular subject focus. Through drawing their own subject the children create their own mono print. They then transfer this to a polystyrene tile.
• Pupils then move to a workshop room to print the tile, and alter this tile to create 2 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 KS3 upwards
• Pupils explore the gallery and a particular subject focus. They draw their own subject in black/white. They then transfer this to a lino tile – either real lino or substitute.
• Pupils then move to a workshop room to 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 etching
• Suitable for KS3 upwards
• Pupils explore the gallery and a particular subject focus. Through drawing their own subject the children create their line drawing print. They then transfer this acetate sheet.
• Pupils then move to a workshop room to mark and print the plate with the press.

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

Printing – Silkscreen printing
• Suitable for KS2 upwards
• Pupils explore the gallery and a particular subject focus. They create their own subject on paper and create their stencil.
• Pupils then move to a workshop room to create the print and keep their stencil.

Printing – Collagraph
• Suitable for all ages
• Pupils explore the gallery and a particular subject focus. They draw their own subject. They make their own texture tile and test this through rubbings before printing.

DRAWING

Drawing- Landscapes perspective

-Suitable for all ages

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 all ages

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 all ages

Pupils explore a variety of alternative drawing exercises including blind contour 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, to enable your students to explore the themes within our Temporary Exhibitions and Collections.