At Willow Park School, our Art Department is a vibrant and inclusive space where creativity thrives and individual expression is celebrated. As an SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) school, we are dedicated to supporting students with social, emotional, and mental health challenges through a carefully designed arts curriculum.

Our child-centred approach ensures that each student’s unique needs are met through flexible and engaging lessons, grounded in a progressive framework of art skills and knowledge. Art at Willow Park is more than just a subject—it’s a tool for emotional regulation, self-expression, and personal growth. By integrating therapeutic elements into our teaching, we enable students to express their feelings, develop resilience, and build confidence in a nurturing environment.

We offer a wide range of creative disciplines, from drawing and painting to ceramics and digital art. Students regularly engage in arts trips and cultural experiences, providing them with hands-on learning that extends beyond the classroom. Every piece of work is valued, and we provide students with opportunities to showcase their talents through displays, digital portfolios, and other creative platforms, allowing them to share their artistic journeys with the wider community.

At the heart of our program is the nationally recognised Arts Award, which offers students a chance to earn qualifications while exploring their passion for the arts. This journey fosters independence, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation for culture, helping students grow both as artists and individuals.

Through mentorship and leadership projects, students are encouraged to support their peers, developing essential life skills such as collaboration, leadership, and communication. Each student’s creative journey is guided by dedicated teachers, with the curriculum tailored to meet individual needs and provides opportunities for personal and artistic growth.

We believe that art is not a race but a personal journey, and we are committed to creating an environment where every student can flourish at their own pace.

It is our aim in the teaching of Art at Willow to:

• Deliver an Arts curriculum that is child-centred and flexible, yet firmly grounded in a robust, progressive framework of art skills and knowledge.
• Provide all learners with authentic arts and cultural experiences through hands-on learning and cultural excursions.
• Create a nurturing environment, fostering peer mentoring, skills-sharing, and leadership to enhance student well-being, and develop life skills.
• Celebrate students' creative growth with art showcases and qualifications that honour their learning journey.
• Boost oral communication and subject-specific vocabulary for learners to articulate ideas and understand effectively.

For details of how we achieve our aims and how we know if we have achieved our aims, read the Subject on a Page document below.

Qualifications

All learners begin their Arts Award journey in Loxley, progressing into Sheaf, and soon to be in Rivelin. The Arts Award, a nationally recognised qualification, offers various qualification levels: an introductory certificate, Discover; followed by Entry level, Explore; Level 1, Bronze; and Level 2, Silver which can be achieved here at Willow Park. Learners collect evidence throughout their time here at school, reflecting their engagement in artistic, creative, and cultural activities throughout the curriculum and broader school community.

Arts Award encourages learners to flourish as artists and arts leaders, encouraging them to engage with diverse art forms, from fashion to digital art, pottery to poetry. Through this journey, young people cultivate independence, nurturing confidence, resilience, and creativity. Tailored to each individual, it enables them to explore their passions and cultivate invaluable skills along the way.

Qualifications currently on offer include: 
Arts Award