Students develop the skills and knowledge to communicate their ideas visually. A basic art vocabulary is taught and students begin to manipulate with growing confidence the formal elements of line, form, shape, colour, texture and tone. Drawing skills are taught as a means of recording, expressing and experimenting and this underpins work in all disciplines. All students keep a workbook in which they record ideas, experimentation with materials and techniques and independent research. They have the opportunity to visit major museums, galleries and exhibitions as part of the curriculum and study past and present artists and craftspeople whose work is relevant to their practical project.