The Art Department at St James Academy takes pride in its reputation for providing Art Education to the highest standards. The course programme is excellent and most students succeed achieving high grades. 

We have a series of dedicated specialist Art teachers and state of the art facilities with four specialist rooms including a purpose built Visual Arts Studio. We also have a fully equipped mobile iMac classroom. As a department we strongly believe that it is important for students to see their artwork exhibited around the school.

We have high expectations for all of our students and strive to help them to achieve their full potential through stimulating and challenging projects that are taught in a visually exciting environment.

At Key Stage 3, students are provided with an exciting and challenging programme using a variety of materials and techniques to ensure they receive a good foundation of knowledge and skill within Drawing and Painting, Printmaking, Textiles Studies, Ceramic studies, ICT and Graphic Design.

Year 9 students are given the opportunity to take the full course Art and Design OCR GCSE and select endorsements according to their strengths. The subjects offered are Art, Craft and Design, Fine Art, Ceramics, Graphics and Textiles.

The Course is 60% Coursework (One extended project) and 40% (10 hour non-exam assessment) Preparatory time is given for six weeks and the OCR moderators select work for presentation. Year 10 has a mock examination in November term.

The programmes of learning have been developed to prepare learners for a career as an art and design practitioner, inspiring them to engage with authentic Art and design practise. This involves learners becoming familiar with the language, practices, skills and processes of the art and design professional, while developing their own creative skills and expression.

The GCSE philosophy of learning through creating remains at the heart of the qualification. Learners will be given the opportunity to gain a broad understanding and knowledge of skills in Art and Design.

Links with local Dudley College of Technology provide opportunities for progression into Further Education, Higher Education and the world of work. St James is particularly proud of the links with Dudley Society of Artists, which supports the Art Student of the Year award.