Assessment for Junior Certificate
In 3rd Year Students will embark on a Project. This project will consist of choosing a theme, then developing it through research, drawing, painting, graphic design, craft and 3D studies. This project will begin in September and will be completed in early May. 75% of the marks awarded for Art, Craft and Design are given to the project. A Drawing Examination will also take place in May and the remaining 25% of the marks are awarded for this. There is no written examination for Art, Craft and Design at Junior Certificate Level.
Transition Year Programme
The focus of the TY programme is Junk Kouture is a national competition for second level students in Ireland and Northern Ireland which challenges teenagers to create high-end wearable fashion from everyday junk that would normally find its way into the bin. Junk Kouture aims to inspire and ignite passion in these teenagers while at the same time subtly educating them about the importance of recycling and reusing waste for the good of the planet.
There are also 8-10 week modules that run throughout the year during which students who may not have studied Art at Junior Cycle get the chance to experience the creative process involved in making or designing a piece of Art from initial concept to completed piece. The projects have included:
- Large scale group paintings
- Mask making
- Graphic Design
- Creative Embroidery
- Hat and Headpieces
- Self portraits
- Collage
- Fashion Design
Portfolio Preparation
In St. Joseph of Cluny we provide a unique opportunity for 5th year students to begin their Portfolios for entry into 3rd level Art Colleges both in Ireland and abroad. This class encourages students to research and explore their visual environment through photography, drawing, printmaking and painting. Students choose a theme that interests them most, be it sweets and cupcakes, birds, or portraits, and develop these concepts to create a balanced portfolio of work which acknowledges the student’s own individual ideas development. The course is continued in 6th year as an extra-curricular class on Friday afternoons.
Careers with Art
Animation, Architecture, Art Teacher, Advertising, Artist, Craftsperson (Ceramics, Printmaking, Felt-making, Glass-making, Weaving…), Graphic Designer, Interior Designer, Fashion Designer, Photographer, Make-up artist, Photographer, Set Designer for television, film or theatre, Costume Designer for television, film or theatre, Jewelry Designer, Book Illustrator, Museum Curator, Art Historian, Website Designer…
Leaving Certificate Art
In St. Joseph of Cluny, the Leaving Certificate Art programme is tailored to suit students with a keen interest in Art, Craft, Design and learning about Art History and Appreciation. It is important to remember that the subject is both practical and academic.
In 5th year students learn all the basic skills and techniques that will be needed to sit their exams, and in 6th year these skills are developed and refined to Leaving Certificate standard. The crafts studied include Puppetry, Creative Embroidery, Screen Printing, Lino Printing and Batik.
Students are brought to a contemporary Art exhibition in 5th year to introduce the appreciation of Art and encourage a life-long enjoyment of galleries and museums. In 6th year students are brought on an Art History trip to Paris, France to visit the works of the Impressionist Artists.