Contacts: |
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| Head of Faculty Art & Design | Sophie Rodger |
| Teacher of Art & Photography | Jai Moodie |
Our Curriculum Aim
In Art and Design our goal is to unleash the potential in all of our students through interesting, creative and experiential lessons.
We aim to develop students’ self-confidence and challenge their weaknesses by supporting them to try something new and create something they are proud of. We want to empower students by developing independence and helping them to exceed their own expectations of themselves.
Key Stage 3 Curriculum
Key Stage 3 Art is taught in a rotation system with Textiles, Resistant materials and Food Preparation & Nutrition. Students experience two blocks of art each year.
Specialist teachers teach students and each project lasts 8 weeks. Students are taught skills in drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics and mixed media over the 3 years of Key Stage 3. The projects draw inspiration from a range of historical and cultural contexts and include analysis and presentation skills.
Please CLICK below to discover more about our curriculum.
Key Stage 4 Curriculum and Assessment
GCSE Art & Design: Unendorsed
The Art and Design GCSE course (Edexcel) gives students the opportunity to build on the skills they learnt at Key Stage 3 whilst providing them with a framework which allows them to creatively explore their own ideas and experiences. Students are encouraged to develop individual creativity through exploring different ideas, media and processes. A wide range of stimuli is used as starting points for our projects.
The course is split into a range of small projects. Within each project students learn practical skills in a wide variety of media, including Painting, Drawing, Ceramics, Sculpture, and Printing. Students’ development in the practical areas of Art and Design is informed by understanding and enjoyment of art from a wide range of historical and cultural contexts.
Students learn how to research and respond to different artists and are supported in developing their own ideas with the aim of creating a final outcome. Students are encouraged to be expressive and imaginative with their ideas and use of media.
Sketchbooks are an essential part of the GCSE and are required throughout the course and during the examination. Students are provided with a sketchbook to encourage greater autonomy and to use as a visual diary.
GCSE Art and Design is divided into 2 categories for assessment:
60% Unit 1: Personal Portfolio (supporting studies and final outcomes completed in Year 10 and autumn term in Year 11)
40% Unit 2: Externally Set Assignment (supporting studies plus a final outcome created in the 10 hour exam at the end of the project)
Each unit of work will comprise of supporting studies: a sketchbook full of work including all research, preparation and experimentation, and a final piece: a realisation of the unit of work which will usually take the form of a painting, sculpture, installation or a mixed media piece.
The work is assessed according to the following criteria:
- Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.
- Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.
- Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.
- Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.
Key Stage 5 Curriculum and Assessment
We teach a 2 year A-Level course allowing time for students to develop and explore skills and ideas in more depth before they start their assessed work.
The course has a similar structure to the GCSE Art and Design course but is assessed at a higher level.
Through workshops, students will develop a high level of skill in a range of media, techniques and processes including Painting, Drawing, Ceramics, Sculpture, and Printing. Students’ development in the practical areas of Art and Design is informed by understanding and enjoyment of art from a wide range of historical and cultural contexts. Students develop a deeper understanding of how to research and respond to different artists and are supported in developing their own ideas with the aim of creating a personal final outcome. Students are encouraged to be expressive and imaginative with their ideas and use of media.
Sketchbooks are an essential part of the GCE Art and Design and are required throughout the course and during the examination. Students are provided with a sketchbook to encourage greater autonomy and to use as a visual diary.
GCE Art and Design is divided into 2 categories for assessment:
60% Component 1: Personal Investigation:
- Part 1: Practical work. From personal starting points students submit supporting studies and personal outcomes. (72 marks out of 90)
- Part 2: Personal study. Students submit a piece of continuous prose of a minimum of 1000 words. (18 marks out of 90)
40% Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (72 marks available)
- Externally set, broad based theme released to teachers on 1 February.
- Sustained focus period of 15 hours controlled assessment in which students create final responses to the theme.
- Students submit preparatory studies and personal outcomes.
The work is assessed according to the following criteria:
- Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical thinking.
- Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
- Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
- Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Our Key Stage 5 Coordinator runs 'Sketchbook & Portfolio Surgeries' throughout the year. Our expert teaching team is always on had to advise with Foundation course applications and portfolio preparation.
Enrichment Opportunities
Each year we have an artist or designer in residence for two terms who is available to work with students and run afterschool activities. They are also available for students to see how an artist works in regards to career opportunities.
The Art and Design Technology Faculty has an ‘open door’ policy which allows students to use our space and facilities to work on homework and individual projects. A weekly Key Stage 3 Painting club runs every Tuesday after school and targeted groups of students will be given extra-curricular Art project opportunities throughout the year.
We work with a variety of other galleries and local artists such as Royal Academy of Art, Camden Arts Centre, Photographers Gallery, British Museum, October Gallery and National Portrait Gallery.
Additional Information
All students interested in a career in the arts should be constantly looking for inspiration on art blogs and websites such as pinterest and instagram.
The following are some other useful websites:
http://thephotographersgallery.org.uk/
Students who wish to go on to study within the Arts, will benefit from this broad based course, particularly those who wish to follow courses in Theatre, Media, Fine Art and Design related subjects or Architecture. In order to be successful in Art, a high degree of interest and commitment is more important than having a natural ability.