Department Philosophy

The Secondary Arts department at TISA aims to encourage creativity in every student; to empower students to take risks and make choices that are outside of their comfort zone. We aim to provide opportunities for every student to be successful in this department, in some way, and to celebrate those successes with the student, parents and the wider community. We aim to teach students holistically, in that we believe it is our responsibility to prepare students for employment in the Arts and to develop the student’s transferable skills so that their education within the Arts can prepare them for success in other areas. Finally, we value the learning opportunities that the creative process can bring, but, when appropriate, also believe in the value of having a final product whose quality also reflects the learning experience.


Department OverviewISA

M1 – M3

In M1, M2 and M3, students have the opportunity to experience Music, Drama and Visual Art. Students have two ninety-minute periods of arts per week. Classes rotate so that students have an equal number of lessons in each discipline. At least one Arts unit per year is interdisciplinary, with at least two Arts’ disciplines working towards a culminating performance/exhibition. Students are graded on criteria A, B, C and D, and criteria are modified for each grade level.

M4 – M5

When students reach M4, they must choose one of the three Arts subjects to specialize in. The student will then only study the chosen Art form for the final two years of MYP. As is the case earlier on down the school, students will study their chosen Art form for two ninety minute lessons every week. There are occasions in both M4 & M5 where two or more Art forms combine to lead a unit.

Students must choose carefully which Art form they wish to specialize in. Students may only have the first two weeks at the beginning of M4 to make a change. After that, they must stay with their choice until the MYP is complete at the end of M5. At the end of M5, students work is sent off for moderation. This includes evidence of both written and practical work.

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Assistants