Art

The aim of the KS3 Curriculum is to ensure that all pupils produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences, become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques, evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design, know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Each specialism of art, craft and design; fine art, photography, graphics, textiles and 3D will be explored throughout the Key Stage 3 through connecting themes so that students can appreciate the link between these areas of art, craft and design.  

•  Art, craft and design is currently taught in Years 7 to 9 with 3 weekly lessons.
• Schemes of Work include; Festivals, Insects, Under the Sea and Structures
• Trips to the Red House Museum
• Photography walks
• Work in sketchbooks
  

Pupils will be taught to develop their creativity and ideas and increase proficiency in their execution. They will develop a critical understanding of artists, architects and designers, expressing reasoned judgements that can inform their own work. Pupils will be taught to use a range of techniques to record their observations in sketchbooks, journals and other media as a basis for exploring their ideas, to use a range of techniques and media, including painting, to increase their proficiency in the handling of different materials, to analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work, about the history of art, craft, design and architecture, including periods, styles and major movements from ancient times up to the present day.

By the end of key stage 3, pupils are expected to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and processes specified in the programme of study

• Studying Fine Art or Photography at GCSE level

The Art and Design Fine Art and Photography GCSE course is designed to:

• Actively engage students in the creative process of art, craft, and design, to develop them as effective and independent learners, and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds.
• Develop creative, imaginative, and intuitive capabilities when exploring and making images, artefacts, and products.
• Become confident in taking risks and learn from experience when exploring and experimenting with ideas, processes, media, materials, and techniques.
• Develop critical understanding through investigative, analytical, experimental, practical, technical and expressive skills.
• Develop and refine ideas and proposals, personal outcomes, or solutions with increasing independence.
• Acquire and develop technical skills through working with a broad range of media, materials, techniques, processes and technologies with purpose and intent.
• Develop knowledge and understanding of art, craft and design in historical and contemporary contexts, societies, and cultures.
• Develop an awareness of the different roles and individual work practices evident in the production of art, craft, and design in the creative and cultural industries.
• Develop an awareness of the purposes, intentions and functions of art, craft and design in a variety of contexts and as appropriate to students’ own work.
• Demonstrate safe working practices in art, craft and design.   

GCSE Art and Design is assessed from 2 components.

Component 1 is the portfolio. 1 complete coursework project and additional workshops and mini projects.

Component 2 is the externally set assignment, exam project. Concluding with a 10-hour exam, final piece.

The assessment objectives cover 4 areas:

AO1: Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.

AO2: Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting, and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.

AO3: Record ideas, observations, and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.

AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.

Fine Art

In Component 1 and Component 2 students are required to work in one or more area(s) of fine art, such as those listed below:

Drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, lens-/light-based media, photography and the moving image, printmaking, mixed media, land art.

Within the context of fine art, students must demonstrate the ability to use fine art techniques and processes, appropriate to students’ personal intentions, for example:

• mark-making
• monoprint, collagraph and block printing
• assemblage
• construction
• carving
• film and video
• digital working methods
• use media and materials, as appropriate to students’ personal intentions, for example:
• charcoal, pastels, pen and ink, crayons, and pencil
• watercolour, gouache, acrylic and oil paint
• found materials
• clay, wood, and metal
• digital imagery
• different papers and surfaces on which to work.

Photography

In Component 1 and Component 2 students are required to work in one or more area(s) of photography, such as those listed below:

• portraiture
• location photography
• studio photography
• experimental imagery
• installation
• documentary photography
• photojournalism
• moving image: film, video, and animation
• fashion photography.

Within the context of photography, students must demonstrate the ability to use photographic techniques and processes, appropriate to students’ personal intentions, for example:

• lighting
• viewpoint
• aperture
• depth of field
• shutter speed and movement
• use of enlarger
• chemical and/or digital processes
• use media and materials, as appropriate to students' personal intentions, for example:
  
  • film
  • photographic papers
  • chemicals appropriate to darkroom practices
  • digital media, programs, and related technologies
  • graphic media for purposes such as storyboarding, planning, and constructing shoots.

By the end of Key Stage 4

Students will have a complete portfolio of artwork showing a range of skills, techniques, and processes. Students will have the confidence to refine and select media and materials and make choices about working style and outcome. Students will be able to reflect critically on their own work, and the work of other artists, craftspeople, and designers. Students will be able to work on a project or a piece for a sustained amount of time, understanding their own ability to produce work to a schedule on a larger scale. Students will have excellent understanding of composition and presentational skills working in sketchbooks, journals or digitally on Photoshop and PowerPoint.

Students will be able to progress on to Key Stage 5 choosing an Art and Design course, creative course, or STEAM. They will have an expansive portfolio of work to support them confidently at interview.