Art
Why study Art?
Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality art education will engage, inspire and challenge every pupil with inclusivity and originality. It equips pupils with the knowledge, skills and experience to recreate, experiment and invent their own interpretation of visual literacy.
As pupils actively engage in contextually based scenarios, they begin to develop a rigorous comprehension of art across time, culture and movements. Their sensory engagement with a broad range of materials, techniques and processes will allow pupils to explore and develop a curiosity for the arts. Through an iterative design process, they can organise their ideas and realise their intentions through the creation of personal and meaningful works of art. Students can broaden their knowledge by critically reflecting on their own work as well as that of others. They know how art reflects and shapes our history and how this contributes to the creativity and wealth of our nation and beyond.
The study of art:
- Allows pupils an opportunity to fully immerse themselves in sensory activities which creatively explore materials, techniques and processes.
- Enables pupils to become proficient in areas such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printing, digital art and mixed media
- Encourages in-depth investigations into cultural, historical and contextual scenarios which help pupils to develop a personal perspective and appreciation of the world in which they live
- Uses higher level analysis to critically evaluate and find meaning across a range of visual art movements
- Supports the development of essential life skills such as the application of knowledge, problem solving, communication and time management. Through self-reflection pupils also build their resilience and independence.
- Improves the prospects of progressing into careers such as architecture, product design and engineering.
There are three guiding elements which are brought to life in the art and design curriculum:
Educational Excellence: Alongside other subjects, art and design enriches the curriculum by providing a broader range of knowledge and skills. Pupils have the freedom to explore and express themselves through the creation of personal and meaningful works of art. Art specialists enhance the learning journey by imparting their passion, knowledge and experience within every lesson.
Character Development: There are several opportunities for students to develop character and leadership within arts and culture. Many classroom activities promote the growth of emotional intelligence whilst extra-curricular activities encourage pupils to discover their own interests and specialisms with art and design. Professional workshops, visits to galleries and entries into local and national competitions are just some of the opportunities that are offered to pupils.
Service to Communities: Art, craft and design encourages pupils to consider the needs of others and to be curious about the world around them. Pupils are made aware of local community initiatives which provide volunteering opportunities that link to the arts and culture. Pupils are encouraged to identify their own way of serving the local community though visual arts.
How will I study Art?
Pupils will learn to:
- Use contextual references to explore art from a particular time, culture, artist or movement.
- Become proficient in a wide range of materials, techniques and processes
- Articulate their personal thoughts and feelings through the creation of original works of art
- Follow an iterative process and visually record ideas and observations using a range of methods including sketchbooks, design sheets and journals.
- Critically analyse their own work and that of others using appropriate artistic terminology
What will I study at Key Stage 3?
In year 7, pupils will learn the formal elements of art and how they are combined to create visual impact, the principles of art including rhythm, balance and proportion through the lens of modern and historical artist. Pupils will learn how to analyse the meaning of art and articulate this using artistic terminology and how to create 2D and 3D art forms using paint, ink, pencil, markers, coloured pencils, oil pastels and digital methods.
Topics and projects covered in year 7:
- Elements of art
- Movement
- Changes
- Near & Far
- Characters
- Animals
In year 8, pupils will focus on exploring techniques in 2D art forms including; land, sea and cityscapes, printing and portraiture. They will develop skills within observational drawing and refine tonal drawing techniques as well as gain the ability to select and apply materials to create mixed media works of art and sculptures. Pupils will capture inspiration from the world around us, to compare and contrast the work of traditional and contemporary artists and begin to recreate the work of artists, whilst incorporating personal and meaningful ideas into works of art.
Topics and projects covered in year 8:
- Architecture
- Environment
- Botanical
- Human
- Identity
- Surrealism
In year 9, pupils will learn to independently explore printing techniques, observational drawing and mark making, as well as developing and exploring their own ideas in relation to a given theme. Pupils will learn to compare and contrast appropriate mediums and materials to realise intentions and apply mediums including ink, pencil, paint, pastel, charcoal, textiles and digital. Pupils will also explore the political, historical and economical influences on famous works of art, and use this knowledge to invent original works of art.
Topics and projects covered in year 9:
- In the News
- Lest we forget
- Black & White
- Sweets
- Species
- Typography
What will I study at Key Stage 4?
In Key Stage 4, pupils learn to engage in the creative process of fine art and how to use this knowledge to become independent learners and critical and reflective thinkers. Pupils will become confident in taking risks and learn from experience when exploring and experimenting with ideas, processes, media, materials and techniques and develop critical understanding.
Pupils will develop knowledge and understanding of art, craft and design in historical and contemporary contexts, societies and culture and develop an awareness of the different roles and individual work practices evident in the production of art.
Topics and projects covered in KS4:
- Everyday Objects
- Kitsch Nostalgia
- Portraiture
- Personal Project
- Natural forms
- Externally set assignment
Assessment
Internal assessments take place task place at regular intervals throughout both KS3 and KS4. Broadly, there are two types of assessment; fluency composite task and a composite test.
Composite fluency tasks are completed at the end of a topic and are used to check whether students are reaching curriculum related expectations.
Composite tests are used to assess the cumulative coverage of the curriculum and check whether learning is sticking over time and if students are reaching curriculum related expectations.
External Examinations
Examination Board: AQA
| Component 1: Portfolio of work | |
| Overview | Focus |
|
A portfolio that in total shows explicit coverage of the four assessment objectives. It must include a sustained project evidencing the journey from initial engagement to the realisation of intentions and a selection of further work undertaken during the student’s course of study |
| Component 2: Externally set task | |
| Overview | Focus |
|
Students respond to their chosen starting point from an externally set assignment paper relating to their subject title, evidencing coverage of all four assessment objectives. |
Enrichment
We offer subject-specific enrichment clubs and organise a range of educational visits throughout the year. Pupils can take part in school-wide competitions, as well as representing the school in local and national competitions designed to increase their engagement and enhance their subject knowledge. We offer regular lunchtime clubs so that pupils can access the Art classroom and explore different medias without constraints. We hold an annual Art Exhibition to showcase the work of pupils throughout all year groups
Careers
Engagement with Art can lead to future careers ranging from illustrator, graphic designer and jewellery artist to architect, digital content creator, fashion designer and photographer.