The Visual Arts faculty consists of three staff members - the Head of Department Ms Jac Dwyer, Ms Gina Murray and Ms Kerry Arlige. Practical Art is a general subject taught to Years 7, 8, 9. At year 10, Art becomes an option subject and is taught four times a week. In the senior school the department offers NCEA level 1, NCEA level 2 Photography, NCEA level 2 Painting/Design. At NCEA level 3, the disciplines of Design, Painting and Photography are options. Art History, the academic study of Art and artists, is also taught within the department at NCEA level 3.

The department has three specialist Art rooms, a computer suite and photography developing and dark rooms. Facilities have been upgraded over the last two years and the classrooms are well equipped - the computer and photography areas have been rebuilt and refurbished substantially.

Each staff member has a specialist area - Ms Arlige teaches Painting, Ms Murray teaches Photography and Ms Dwyer teaches Design. The general Art courses in the junior school and at level 1 are taught by any one of the visual art staff depending on timetable requirements.

Ms Dwyer is an experienced teacher and moved from Dunedin in 2006 to take up the position of HOF at St Peter's College. She has experience in all levels of teaching and in the disciplines of Painting, Design, Print and Sculpture

Ms Arlige comes to the department with a number of years experience in a variety of art disciplines.

Visual Arts Mission Statement

In this school the Visual Arts Department:

Provides appropriate learning for all students who take classes in this subject.

Provides opportunities for students regardless of race or gender, encouraging personal creative development and the opportunity for individual cultural expression.

Encourages students to take pride in their artistic achievement by displaying and exhibiting artwork where possible around the school and in the community.

Encourages co-operative but disciplined learning in art. Students should develop social skills; accepting the values of others through their art experiences.

These aspects are in line with the School's Mission statement and the Arts curriculum.

The Aims of The Visual Arts Department

Visual Arts in the school curriculum aims to:

• Foster and develop students' practical Art skills and understanding of Art through study of the Arts' disciplines.

• Develop students understanding of the role of the Visual Arts in society through contextual studies, as found in the Arts curriculum.

• Provide students with an increased awareness of, and access to, career opportunities in the Arts.

The phone number and extension to the Visual Arts Department is 524- 8108 ext 7336

Year 11 ART   

• Recommended entry: standard   Year 10 Art
• Qualification gained: NCEA level 1 - 24 credits
• Student fees: $50
• Exams: Portfolio at end of year

A practical course, which emphasizes painting and drawing skills. The theme/subject matter is 'Journeys'. The course will prepare students for level 2 Painting/Design and level 2 Photography.

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Year 12 Painting and Design

• Recommended entry: standard Level 1
• 1.3 & 1 internal Standard
• Qualification gained: NCEA level 2 - 24 credits
• Student fees: $50 plus colour printing costs
• Exams: Portfolio at end of year

A practical course that builds on experiences from level 1 Art. The course includes internally assessed Design and Painting units and an external folio choice of Painting or Design. The course prepares students for level 3 Painting and level 3 Design. Exceptional students might also be considered for photography level 3 after completing this course (without doing the prerequisite - level 2 photography).

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Year 12 Photography   

• Recommended entry: standard   Year 11 Art
• Qualification gained: NCEA level 2 - 24 credits
• Student fees: $70
• Exams: Portfolio at end of year

A practical photography course covering technical and theoretical aspects of photography. Students are advised to have their own manual, over-ride SLR camera - in good working order. Students must also expect to buy their own film and paper - additional to the course fees (which cover chemicals and equipment). The course complements the level 2 Art course and prepares students for level 3 Photography.

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Year 13 Design   

• Recommended entry: standard 2.3 visual arts and 1 internal standard in visual arts
• Qualification gained: NCEA level 3 - 24 credits
• Student fees: $80
• Exams: Portfolio at end of year  

A practical course where students work mostly on computer to produce their body of Graphic Communication design work. Each student's course is tailored to his individual interests and artist/designer models are studied which complement and extend their performance. Students are expected to elect an individual theme for the years study. Students are expected to purchase their own quality computer paper for their external portfolio and cover the cost of some of the printing charges each term. This is in addition to the course fee. Students have access to the design-specific computer suite, which operates current visual software. As with all Visual Art subjects, students are expected to make a substantial commitment outside of classroom hours.

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Year 13 Painting   

• Recommended entry: standard Art level 2, 2.3 and 1 internal standard.
• Qualification gained: NCEA level 3 - 24 credits
• Student fees: $70
• Exams: Portfolio at end of year

A practical course where students produce their own body of painting. Each student's course is tailored to their individual interests, and artists models are studied which complement and extend their performance. As with all level 3 visual Arts subjects the course requires a substantial commitment outside the classroom. Painting can provide students with work suitable for a tertiary Art portfolio submission.

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Year 13 Photography   

• Recommended entry standard   Level 2 photography,m 2.3 and 1 internal standard
• Qualification gained: NCEA level 3 - 24 credits
• Student fees: $70
• Exams: Portfolio at end of year

A practical course where students produce their own body of photographic work. Each student's course is tailored to their individual interests and artist models are studied which complement and extend their performance.