Art & Design
Artistic creation and appreciation have always played a powerful part in people’s lives as a pleasurable activity providing fulfilment through life. People of every culture have found the need to share ideas, opinions and feelings through Art and Design. It provides vital experience in the development of imagination, the ability to think laterally and in understanding the sensory world around us.
Knowledge of the work of artists, designers, and creative thinkers, including those from different traditions and times, contributes significantly to developing cultural understanding and enhances learning across the curriculum. It can enable links to be made within the community beyond school.
Art and Design makes pupils aware of their own creative potential through a wide range of artistic experiences offering pupils a unique way of communicating and is a means of developing self-confidence and self-esteem.
Key Stage 3
During Key Stage 3 pupils develop their creative and imaginative skills through sustained planned projects spread over 2 hour lessons, changing themes each term. During these modules, pupils are expected to build on and improve their practical and critical skills and to extend their knowledge and experience of materials, processes and practices. These include Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Ceramics, 3D, Textiles, Photography and ICT. Classes are introduced to the work of artists from classical and contemporary artists from across the world and throughout time. For example, Pop Art, Mat Collishaw, Egon Schiele, Portraiture, Still Life, Aboriginal Art
All pupils are expected to keep a sketchbook and are encouraged to use this to develop research and observational skills. During Year 9, pupils are introduced to a wider range of materials and media in preparation for Key Stage 4 as well as undergoing a mock GCSE project, allowing them to study in greater depth and over a longer period of time.
Year 7
Colour – studying the work of Henri Matisse by looking at his use of colour and shapes as well as learning about the colour wheel and colour theory.
Tone and Perspective – focusing on monochromatic work and using tone to create depth and 3D shapes, developing into using the mathematical technique of perspective to draw a wide range of drawings using 1 point and 2 point perspective.
Landscapes and mark making – Studying the work from Vincent Van Gogh and his use of mark making to create detailed and textured landscapes on a 2D form as well exploring creating 3D landscapes using ceramics.
Year 8
Still Life – studying the still life art from a wide range of artists both classical and contemporary, focusing on observational drawing skills and knowledge of art history and how it has influenced different artists.
Patterns – focusing on different patterns and styles from different cultures: African, Indian and Islamic, as well as other pattern formations like zentangles. Students will experiment with alternative techniques like textiles and printing and ceramics.
Movement – students will first focus on the movement of the human body and how to depict that in a 2D art form by looking at the artwork of Marcel Duchamp. After this they will study the art style Optical Art, looking at how to use mathematics to trick the eye and create special effects in their artwork.
Year 9
Portraiture – exploring both classical and contemporary styles of portraiture from throughout history whilst learning how to accurately draw a portrait and explore different styles and techniques of drawing a portrait.
Food – students will follow a mock GCSE project based on the theme Food, looking at artists and different drawing techniques to help them to develop their own final outcome at the end of the project
Aboriginal Masks – students will study both the cultural significance and art style of Aboriginal Art whilst developing and designing their own masks made from cardboard and clay.
Pupils are continuously assessed throughout each module according to the National Curriculum requirements and awarded a level and grade for effort closely linked to the GCSE grading. Progress is closely monitored against differentiated learning objectives, and these are recorded on an end-of-module summative assessment sheet.
KS3 Assessment Grid
Key Stage 4
Students have three pathways at Key Stage 4; Art and Design, Three-Dimensional Design, and Photography.
Art and Design
This is a broad course exploring practical and critical/contextual work through a range of 2D and/or 3D processes and new media and technologies. It is an unendorsed course where pupils can work in appropriate art, craft and design materials and processes. Work is produced through projects containing artwork, photographs, research, and written annotation.
Three-Dimensional Design
This is a broad course exploring practical and critical/contextual work through a range of 2D and/or 3D processes and new media and technologies. It is an unendorsed course where pupils can work in appropriate three-dimensional art, craft and design materials and processes. Work is produced through projects containing artwork, photographs, research, and written annotation.
Photography
The specification used is AQA Art and Design: Photography. It emphasises the importance of photography as an art form as well as a way to communicate ideas. Development of ideas through sustained research and individual work is the most important aspect of the course. Work is produced through projects containing photographs, research, and written annotation.
Students will receive weekly homework related to content studied that week. Students will also be assessed on their comprehension throughout each module and will receive a grade at the end of each module.
Further Study
After studying GCSE Art/3D/Photography you can go on to study A‐Level Art, Graphic Design, Textiles, Photography and B-TEC based art courses. It will help access a huge number of potential opportunities in the Art world including; Architecture, Graphics, Web Design, Jewellery, Ceramics, 3D design, Film & Photography, Fashion, advertising, game design and Animation.
It provides a number of skills that employers are looking for in an employee – independence, teamwork, communication, problem solving, research skills and creativity. It can be a key influence in the following career paths: Teaching, Hairdressing, Gardening, Childcare and Beauty.