Art as a subject has the potential to broaden perception, enhance and develop motor skills, capture, and encourage imagination, and develop awareness of the physical world, in interpretation of colour, light and form through visual perception. As students progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, culture, and creativity. Art should engage, inspire and challenge students, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their work own works of art, craft and design.
As a department we encourage students to extend their learning through homework tasks and ask that parents support this by regularly checking that homework is being completed on time and to a good standard. Students will require access to basic Art equipment at home such as drawing pencils, erasers, pencil crayons, sharpeners, oil pastels (optional), and water colour paints (optional), etc. If there is any difficulty in acquiring these items please contact the Head of Art and Design.
Students will develop their skills and knowledge of the formal elements, line, shape, tone, form, colour, texture, and pattern. In doing so, they will advance their skills in drawing, combining the formal elements to observational pieces allowing them to apply this knowledge when creating 3D and 2D pieces.
By researching, writing, recording, and creating work influenced by artists, students will be able to reflect their ideas through visual language and problem solve when faced with a new brief. By building on their knowledge of drawing, painting, printing methods and photography techniques, students will develop their confidence, imagination and originality allowing them to express themselves freely. These transferable skills are fundamental to a job in the creative sector.
By experimenting with a range of ideas and mediums, they can work independently and reflect on the work of others whilst giving informed constructive feedback. Students will progressively build on their knowledge and gain the ability to understand social issues and how they are represented in Art and Design. By exploring a range of contemporary artists, students incorporate literacy and text into their artwork and understand the importance of art reflecting the world we live in.
Students will understand the art history of portraiture, abstract art and surrealism and learn how to draw the basic facial features, understand the technical language of perspective, composition, and layout and how to create 3D drawings using the illusion of perspective.
The aim of Key Stage 3 Art curriculum is to engage, inspire and challenge pupils to experiment and create their own works of Art. They will learn about the basic principles of art (line, pattern, texture, colour, tone, shape, form and colour) and how to apply them in a range of different materials. Key Stage 3 pupils will have access to 2D and 3D materials with a small selection of those being: sketching pencils, paints, fine liners, clay and printing methods.
Through practical lessons, students will learn to use a range of techniques to record observations and develop their proficiency in handling different materials. Through their art, students will explore how to visually express their ideas and experiences and become familiar with using the language of art and design when discussing these.
As pupils progress, they will also begin to think critically about works of art and participate in many class discussions about traditional and contemporary artists. In Key Stage 3, pupils will begin to understand how art has shaped our history and contributed to variety of cultures. Furthermore, this in-depth knowledge of art history, will shape and strengthen how students analyse and evaluate their own artwork.
Exam Board: OCR Fine Art J171
GCSE Art provides an opportunity for students who take an interest in art to study an exciting and stimulating course to grow and develop as artists. Learners can have the opportunity to gain insight into an artist’s practice, experiment and take risks with a range of different media, materials and processes and develop their own artistic style.
GCSE Art aims to equip students with a range of valuable and transferable skills. Students will advance their proficiency in handling materials and develop technical skills learning about a broad range of techniques. They will develop knowledge and understanding of art, craft and design in historical and contemporary contexts, societies and cultures through research, debate and discussion.
Course Layout
Coursework (Portfolio) Weighting- 60%
Internally set task and marked internally- Out of 120 marks
Component 01: Portfolio
Students produce a portfolio of practical work showing their personal response to a set starting point, brief, scenario or stimulus. The portfolio may be presented in appropriate formats for the specification title they are following and chosen area of study, including sketchbooks, digital presentations, mounted sheets, or illustrated written work. The portfolio must provide evidence that the student has met all four assessment objectives.
Exam (Externally Set Task) Weighting- 40%
Externally set task with 10 hour exam and moderated externally- Out of 80 marks
Component 02: Externally set task
Students respond to one of five themes, each with a range of written and visual starting points and stimuli. Students research, plan and develop ideas for their response to the option they have chosen, which they must then realise within the ten-hour supervised time period.
Key Stage 5 Art is designed to encourage learners to develop skills, creativity, imagination and independence based on personal experience, prior skills learned and critical understanding. Students show this through their responses to a range of stimuli. Key Stage 5 Art provides an opportunity for pupils who take a personal interest in why art to be inspired and challenged by studying an adventurous and challenging course and gain experience in a range of sophisticated medias and materials such as large scale painting, installation work, printing processes and photography techniques. A Level Art provides freedom for learners to experiment and take risks with their work whilst developing their own style.
Course Layout
Coursework (Personal Investigation) Weighting- 60%
Internally set task and marked internally- Out of 120 marks
Component 01: Personal Investigation
There are two distinct elements. Firstly, a practical portfolio with supporting contextual research in response to a set theme. The portfolio may be presented in a format appropriate to the specialism and area of study chosen. Secondly, a related study using words and illustrations demonstrating the context in which their portfolio exists, exploring the relevant genre, subject matter, movement or historical framework of the selected theme.
Exam (Externally Set Task) Weighting- 40%
Externally set task with 15 hour exam and moderated externally- Out of 80 marks
Component 02: Externally set task
Students can choose a starting point from any of the seven given themes for which they will generate an appropriate personal response for assessment. They will carry out preparatory work to research, plan and develop their ideas, before engaging in 15 hours of supervised time to complete their work.
