New Curriculum Requirements In Irish Art Education

Finally, Irish students are receiving a new art syllabus, after almost 20 years of requests for change, Irish art teachers and students have been listened too. A new syllabus is being implemented now, which is much more realistic in its expectations, and much more closer, to what the third level experience of studying Art is like. The name is also changing from Art, Craft, and Design, to Visual Arts to encompass its more broader approach to the study of Art. Teachers, students and artists alike were all consulted in the fabrication of the new syllabus, giving it a much more broad and contemporary focus. Literacy and Numeracy have also been included in the formation of this new syllabus for the new curriculum, for the first time it has been formally recognised that these elements are not stand alone subjects, but actually key elements of everyday life, that need to be improved upon in school. The new junior cert will be assessed in two stages, eliminating the exam. Students will be examined both in second and third year. Leaving cert students however will still have an exam, but the life drawing exam has been abolished. Leaving Certificate art is made up of four units linked together and based on the everyday visual experience of the student's own environment.

 The practical work can include Life Sketching, Still Life, Imaginative Composition, Design and Craft work. Students also study the History and Appreciation of Art, which covers Irish and European Art, and Art Appreciation. Here is a link to more information about the new syllabus 

www.curriculumonline.ie/Senior-cycle/Senior-Cycle-Subjects/Art

The name of the subject has also been crucially changed from Art, Craft, Design to Visual Arts. This reflects the

wider more contemporary approach that contemporary art has. It also reflects the fact that the syllabus is much closer 

to what students study in third level. therefore, there is less of a shock when students move from secondary school to 

studying art for third level. Before, studying art for the leaving certificate was not even a requirement for entry into a 

third level art college. However, as of now the new secondary school art syllabus will allow students to create elements

of their portfolios for submission to art college, within school. Visual arts in the secondary school curriculum enables the student to make sense of and express his or her world in visual tangible form. The visual arts curriculum emphasises the importance of both making art and responding to art. Attention is also drawn to the significance of the creative process and to the development of an understanding of visual concepts.  Observation, imagination and the student’s own experience provide the starting points for artistic activities. Students will experiment with a range of stimulating materials and tools in an assortment of colours and textures, using a variety of techniques and will also study Art history. http://www.curriculumonline.ie/Junior-cycle/Junior-Cycle-Subjects/Visual-Art