Art and Design

By the end of Year 13, students will be able to orally express themselves with confidence and fluency about a range of art topics and themes. Students should be able to develop contextual starting points effectively using a range of techniques and processes. Exploring drawing for different purposes, applying a variety of methods and media on a variety of scales. Using sketchbooks, journals, digital presentations where appropriate. Subject specific literacy refines in the form of an extended piece of creative writing which is coherent, analytical and supports practical study, this may take the form of an essay or journal article of extended prose. Students will be aware of the four assessment objectives to be demonstrated in the context of the content and skills presented. They will be aware of the importance of process as well as product. Year 13 culminates in a personal investigation which is a practical portfolio which focuses on a theme or question chosen by the student.

By the end of Year 12, students will have moved beyond the GCSE curriculum. Learners will have a wider contextual awareness which is open, diverse and inclusive. Students are encouraged to express themselves creatively, exploring personalised art themes which enrich their chosen area of art study. In line with the AQA specification, students must be introduced to experiences that explore a range of media, processes and techniques. Workshop lessons are designed in the Autumn term to develop art skills in both traditional and new media such as sculpture, printmaking, drawing and photography. Practical pieces and critical activities are designed to underpin an appreciation of artistic styles, genres and traditions. Our ambition for Year 12 is for students to be aware of art history and contemporary styles, applying their knowledge and being able to confidently create artwork in responses.

By the end of Year 11, students will be confident in using subject specific terminology, linking this with practical experimentation. Refinement of techniques and specialising in an area of art, craft and design will start to develop, students can choose from fine art, textile design, graphic communication, three-dimensional design and photography. Externally set tasks and assessment objectives are provided by the exam board in order for students to strive to achieve and choose a project theme from a list of titles, this combines with coursework and is presented as part of non-exam assessment. It is our expectation for students to present a personalised and meaningful portfolio which celebrates their own artistic skills, alongside cultural and contextual themes.

By the end of Year 10, students will have built on the KS3 curriculum and will be increasingly confident, applying art techniques and processes learnt in years 7 to 9. Learners will have chosen art as an option subject and will be proficient in using the Formal Elements terminology and applying line, tone, colour, texture, shape and form. Refinements and mastery of techniques will be ongoing and students are encouraged to visit art galleries and museums for inspiration and to further their contextual knowledge. Cohorts will follow the AQA specification for Art, Craft and Design and students’ must explore a range of two-dimensional / three-dimensional processes and mediums. Practical application of skills is required, forging links with relevant contextual sources such as contemporary artists. Students will transition towards independent development of themes, applying knowledge, understanding and skills.

By the end of Year 9, students will be becoming more confident and independent learners, developing resilience and independence. Building on the foundation skills taught in Year 7 and Year 8, students will be able to express and justify opinions on artworks and contextual sources. Students will study art and design themes such as Portraiture, Architecture, Pop Art and Typography in order to expand their Fine Art knowledge base. Artwork responses are encouraged on a larger scale, with sketchbook sizes increasing from A5 to A4 for this year group. Subject specific literacy is taught throughout with keywords and terminology embedded within the unit. Students are encouraged to extract key information when listening and reading, presenting this in the form of a ‘thought shower’ which is the presentation standard expected at GCSE.

By the end of Year 8, learners will be able to apply the Formal Elements they have learnt in Year 7, alongside the application of artists' styles. Responding to the themes such as Mexican Folk Art and Abstraction within the topic ‘Music into Shape’. Contextual sources are explored through the flamboyant work of Frida Kahlo and Kandinsky, developing experimental techniques which are required. Clay work, mixed media and personalised annotations are extended through artist research and art specific literacy developed further, to build and reflect the vocabulary required to be a successful learner in KS3.

By the end of Year 7, students will have an understanding of the Formal Elements of Art. Students will have been introduced to Line, Texture, Colour, Form, Tone and Shape and will be able to select appropriate techniques to their own artwork. Students should confidently be able to apply mediums and processes in order to refine their artwork as it progresses. Students will have some contextual knowledge introduced to artists who are relevant to their learning, such as, David Hockney, Van Gogh and Hundertwasser who all explore colour, texture and mark-making. Our ambition for Year 7 is for students to feel confident in understanding artist attributes and the rendering of historical art styles.