Aesthetics

Design and Technology Unit

The Design and Technology Unit in the Whitley Secondary School Aesthetics Department aims to nurture every Whitleyan to be innovative and to develop new ways of thinking and doing. The subject equips students with the ability to visualise ideas and propose practical design solutions for real-world contexts.

Students are guided through a structured Design Process that integrates thinking and doing. This process encourages thoughtful decision-making and the use of visual language in the design of solutions.
Students learn freehand sketching and drawing skills to visually explore, generate, reason, and develop design ideas. They also engage in 3D manipulation, creating quick mock-ups and working with resistant materials. These tactile experiences allow students to tinker, test, and evaluate ideas before refining their final design proposals.

Through these learning experiences, students apply their knowledge and skills to create functional prototypes and leverage appropriate technology to fulfil the intended purpose of their designs.

Art Unit

The Art Unit in the Whitley Secondary School Aesthetics Department aims to enable every Whitleyan to enjoy art and develop fundamental art skills to communicate visually and connect with society and culture. The art curriculum is developed in close alignment with the MOE Art Syllabus.

Students develop observation, drawing, and rendering skills, as well as composition techniques, brainstorming, research and processing skills, visual inquiry, and art appreciation. At the Upper Secondary level, students demonstrate greater independence and take ownership of their art-making processes through projects and coursework.

As an academic subject, art supports the holistic development of students by strengthening their sense of identity and cultural awareness. It builds their capacity to be discerning in processing visual information and enables effective communication in the 21st century. Students are also stretched through participation in art competitions such as the Draw My Stamp Story Art Competition.

Music Unit

The Music Unit in the Whitley Secondary School Aesthetics Department aims to develop students’ ability to perform and create music, listen and respond using appropriate musical terminology, and appreciate music in both local and global contexts.

Through the two-year General Music Programme at the Lower Secondary level, students learn and practise a range of musical instruments such as basic percussion, guitar, and keyboard. Students explore musical creativity through songwriting and composition modules using e-platforms such as Google Song Maker and BandLab.

The programme develops students’ creative expression and communication skills, fosters an awareness of music across cultures, and provides a foundational grounding for informed and lifelong engagement with music.

Nutrition and Food Science Unit

The Nutrition and Food Science Unit in the Whitley Secondary School Aesthetics Department aims to empower students to be health-conscious and discerning consumers who are able to make informed food choices in the present and the future.

Students engage in hands-on practical sessions in the kitchen, benefiting from experiential learning and high levels of engagement. They learn a range of cooking methods and acquire basic culinary skills, including knife skills such as chopping, slicing, and dicing, as well as cake and pastry-making techniques. Students also participate in sensory evaluation activities conducted in the classroom.

Through structured coursework, Secondary 1 students improve the nutritional value of a popular hawker dish, while Secondary 2 students examine the role of ingredients in cakes and develop their ability to evaluate food options. These experiences enable students to apply knowledge and skills meaningfully and develop practical competencies beyond the classroom.