Art

Students will gain a growth of practical skills, knowledge and understanding throughout the three year Key Stage 3 program. In each year, students will undertake two units of work. For each unit, students will learn how to work in a sketchbook to develop ideas, experiment with media and refine their visual and annotation skills. This developmental process will relate to larger visual outcomes and artist research. The projects for all years will develop a range of skills in drawing and painting, sculpture, ceramics, design, printmaking and textiles. Some digital and photographic processes and concepts will also be introduced in Key Stage 3. As students move into Year 9, their project work will take on a style more akin to working as a GCSE student. Year 9 will have a greater emphasis on upskilling and upon more personal and experimental outcomes.  

During Key Stage 3 students will undertake Art lessons once per week, and this is enriched with a program of independent study activities and additional curricular opportunities.  

The Key Stage 4 Art program is broadly based around the discipline of Fine Art. This means that students can develop their practical and conceptual skills in a holistic and open manner, drawing on a range of disciplines and practices. We strongly believe that providing students with the skills to succeed, and the opportunity to explore personal ideas, is the key to success and fulfillment. The Art department follows the GCSE Fine Art program with the EDEXCEL examination board. 

The Year 10 program is a structured program designed to upskill practically and conceptually for the demands of GCSE. Students learn how to structure a project ready for more independence in Year 11. Developing our students learning and thinking skills, linking to the whole school approach to metacognitive learning, is fundamental in the Year 10 program. During Year 10, students will learn how to establish a theme, resource the unit, undertake observational research, develop mixed media approaches, try new media such as oils, and write about imagery on an in-depth and informed manner. This broad based experience will allow students to discover new ways of working and to define their strengths and preferences.  

In Year 11, students undertake a real growth towards independence. Students will spend the end of Year 10 and Term 1 of Year 11 working on the Personal Portfolio project, worth 60% of the GCSE grade. It is important that students set a clear and attainable theme that leads them towards a range of outcomes. By utilizing the skills of Year 10, students will develop, record, experiment, refine ideas and create large scale work ready for exhibition. In Term two and three of Year 11, students will undertake the GCSE examination unit, worth 40% of the grade. At this point, our Year 11 Art students understand the ‘mechanics’ of a Fine Art project and are able to respond in a mature and independent manner having been fully prepared through their prior learning.  

The Key Stage 5 Art program utilizes the learning experience from GCSE and applied in a more personal manner. In Year 12, students will undertake a Foundation Unit, designed to aide a smooth transition into to the demands of A level study. Students will initially undertake a carousel of drawing and painting exercises to challenge expectations and develop skills. They will then progress onto a series of mini-assignments whereby students apply this learning to a range of visual and aesthetic challenges. Running parallel to this practical work, students will undertake a historical program exploring visual arts throughout time.  

The main unit, titled Personal Investigation, will start in January of Year 12 and constitutes 60% of the overall grade. This will consist of a personally set theme that undergoes a series of creative manifestations. Students will produce supportive book work and extended large scale outcomes for exhibition. The unit will also include an extended essay that contributes of the overall grade. In Term 2 of Year 13, Art students will embark on the externally set examination unit which is worth 40% of the grade; the theme for this is set by the examination board. At this point, students have a clear understanding of their strengths and interests, and are able to embark on this unit with confidence.  

In Year 12, students will undertake a Foundation Unit, designed to aide a smooth transition into to the demands of A level study. As Photography is a subject new to students in the Sixth Form, it is vital that they are well prepared in terms of techniques and skills.  As such, students will initially undertake a carousel of technical and creative exercises to challenge expectations and develop skills. Learning ‘in-camera’ techniques, exposure control, studio lighting, and digital and physical manipulation of photographic images, are essential in the successful completion of Photography A level. Students will then progress onto a series of mini-assignments whereby students apply this learning to a range of visual and aesthetic challenges. Running parallel to this practical work, students will undertake a historical program exploring photography throughout time.  

The main portfolio unit will start in January of Year 12 and constitutes 60% of the overall grade. This year long unit will consist of a personally set theme that undergoes a series of creative manifestations. Students will produce supportive photographic journal and extended lens-based outcomes for exhibition. The unit will also include an extended essay that contributes of the overall grade. In Term 2 of Year 13, Photography students will embark on the externally set examination unit which is worth 40% of the grade; the theme for this is set by the examination board. At this point, students have a clear understanding of their photographic strengths and interests, and are able to embark on this unit with confidence.