General Introduction
Students receive one Art lesson per week at Key Stage 3 and two lessons in Key Stage 4. Art works closely with other departments and there are opportunities for cross-curricular themes and projects to be developed.
The Art Department offers weekly after-school sessions for GCSE students. During the year, there will be opportunities for KS3 students to participate in Art clubs and community Arts projects.
Aims of the subject
- To provide a stimulating and safe environment in which each student can develop their skills and understanding in art.
- To provide students with a range of skills as a means of expressing and communicating their ideas and experiences.
- To encourage independent thought, critical and aesthetic awareness.
- For students to develop an appreciation of the art, craft and design of other peoples, times, and places.
- For students to be aware of artistic and design-based opportunities in their own environment and community.
- To promote a positive attitude towards their own work, ideas and opinions, and a respect for the work and opinions of others.
Overview of KS3
Year 7 -The Theme for the year is Our World. The first term is spent on developing skills in understanding visual and written elements of art. Students will focus on an artist’s work which will link to observational drawing, exploring new media and techniques, and understanding of visual language. Moving on to study of colour theory, painting techniques and response to the work of various artists and cultures. Each term, new techniques and artists will be introduced, and students will then develop outcomes from personal ideas based on a project theme.
Year 8 – The theme for the year is We all go Pop – We will focus on Pop Art and Food images in art. Students will continue to develop skills in drawing, painting, and collage. They will then be introduced to a variety of print techniques before ending the year focusing on a 3D piece of work.
Year 8 students will also be set independent learning challenges, as extended homework tasks of 4-6 weeks in length.
Year 9 - The theme for the year is Expression. In readiness for GCSE, students will research different artists and gain a deeper understanding of artist analysis. They will work to plan and develop outcomes in response to the theme. Students will continue to hone their drawing skills focusing on portraiture and figure work. The year will start with a relief mask/sculpture project, then end by creating a wire figurative sculpture.
Key Stage 4: Art and Design
Examination Board: EDUQAS
What will be studied:
This broad range Art & Design course encourages students to develop ideas through looking at the work of other artists, designers and craftspeople. Students have opportunities to experiment with a range of materials in 2-D and 3-D. Students will learn how to make and record observations using a range of methods, including drawing, painting, photography and ICT. Finally, students will develop methods for presenting personal and meaningful work, which reflects their research and experiments into a given topic or theme. During the course, students will create work in a range of the following disciplines: drawing and painting, mixed media, 3-D, textiles and print making.
Students will develop a portfolio of work both in class and through regular homework tasks, which encourage independent skill development.
Written elements:
Whilst students’ practical and creative work is the key focus of the assessment, students’ written analysis and personal annotations are also assessed for subject specific content and use of specialist language.
Assessment
Students produce a Coursework Portfolio, which is assessed throughout the course, leading to a selection of best work and personal ideas. The coursework is worth 60% of the final grade. The work is moderated by Art department staff.
Externally Set Assessment:
The examination paper is issued in January of Year 11. Students will develop personal ideas from an externally set starting point. This preparation period will continue through the Spring term of Year 11, leading to a 10 hour exam at Easter, in which a final piece is produced. All preparatory studies, artist research and final piece are marked by Art department staff and is worth 40% of the total mark.
Coursework and exam work is selected by the Exam Board and exhibited for assessment by a visiting exam board moderator.
Staff
Mrs Wendy Wrafter