Job Description

Introduction
 The Art & Design Department at Westcliff High School for Boys (WHSB) has been a strong Department fora number ofyears. It hasproducedoutstanding resultsconsistentlyin GCSE and Advanced Level Art & Design (Fine Art).Wehave a passionateand committedteam that enjoys teaching abroadand dynamic curriculum. Each teacher adapts their schemes of work to suit their strengths, whilecoveringan agreed set offoundational knowledge that each year group needs to progress.The department works togetherclosely,and responsibilities and creative skills arefrequentlyshared.
The Departmentencourages our students to be independent and intellectually curious fromYear 7 tothe Upper Sixth.We set regular competitions and enrichmentopportunitiesand the students are free to work on personal creative projects outside of the curriculum.The Departmentis openon selectedlunchtimesfor students to work on projects and has an annualArt & Design Exhibition.The WHSB Art department offerstalks,tripsand visits to enrich our students learning, including a recent overseasArt trip to Madrid.

Accommodation and Facilities
The Art & Design Department is well-equipped. The Art Studios arelocatedas a suite of rooms in the main building.The twostudios are spacious, lightand equipped witha number ofnetwork computers withPhotoshop. Due to the ambitious nature of the Advanced Level work, we have a dedicated installation and exhibition room where students are given their own space to create large scale works of art.This has proved extremely successful and our 2025 summer results were 100% A* - B.The department also offers photography resources and ceramics facilities alongside core drawing and painting opportunities.

Curriculum
The new Year 7-9 syllabus has been designed by the Art &Design staff at WHSB to encourage independent learning and personalised outcome pathways. The Department uses a range of assessments and investigations to introduce,consolidateand extend pupils' understanding of Art &Design. The teachersencouragepupilsto develop an in-depth technical understanding and passion for the subject that enables them to refine and review what they are currently learning, and this gives pupils a secure knowledge of the subject.
The AQA GCSECurriculum builds on the work that has been completed in Years 7-9, both consolidating parts of it that have previously been covered to GCSE Level but also extending otheraspectsso pupils can achieveGCSEGrade 9.
The Westcliff GCSE Art &Design (Fine Art) course has been designed to encouragethe use ofa widerangeofmediums,from traditionaldrawing and painting to conceptual mulita media spaces.

In the Sixth Form, students can choose to study AQA Advanced Art &Design (Fine Art) if theyattainedaGrade7, 8 or 9 in GCSE Art &Design (Fine Art).Inthe Lower Sixth,Art &Design (Fine Art) students explore a range of drawing,paintingand thinking skills. Students are encouraged to discover new ways of creating visual journeys,as well as reinforcing previously taught skills. This work naturally sets the foundation for the Personal Investigation Portfolio. Inthe Upper Sixth, students will be encouraged to create their ownwork spacewhich often becomes a unique outcome environment. Visiting Examination Board Moderators often comment onthe breadth ofapproaches explored by the Departmentas being impressive.
Examination Results
Results in allPublicExaminations are outstanding andparticularly in Art &Design (Fine Art) those who choose to continue their Art studies at University generally do so at established Universitiese.g.Oxford (Ruskin), Reading, Loughborough and Winchester or atArt Colleges,such as St Martin'sand The Slade.
Last year, in the 9-1 AQA GCSE Art & Design (Fine Art), students at Westcliffachieved 75% Grades 9 - 7, including7atGrade 9,9atGrade 8 and8 atGrade 7 results.In the year 2025we achieved75%9 - 7.
In 2025, in Advanced Level Art & Design (Fine Art), students at Westcliffattained100% A* -B, including2 x A*, 1 x A and 4 x B.
This year we are expecting 78% 7-9 at GCSE and 100% A* at A Level.

Information about the School

Westcliff High School for Boys (WHSB) is an Outstanding Grammar School. We continue to hold dear our values and traditions whilst fostering academic excellence and a dynamism which allow us to provide a twenty-first century world class education.

Our record of success is reflected in our outstanding A Level and GCSE results and we are committed to providing the highest standards in all aspects of our provision for pupils.