Students are introduced to a variety of Art and Design techniques, using two and three-dimensional media.

Key Concepts

Students will develop their learning according to the National Curriculum in four main areas:

• Creativity (making, experimenting and taking risks/learning from mistakes).
• Competence (investigating, analysing, designing and making informed choices).
• Cultural Understanding (engaging and recognising difference, understanding roles and contexts).
• Critical Understanding (exploring, engaging, developing views and analysing and reflecting on others work).

Key Processes

Students will need to learn key skills in the following key processes in order to progress:

• Exploring and Creating (drawing to express themselves, working from first hand observations, making purposeful artefacts, developing their own ideas for art works).
• Understanding and evaluating (using research and investigation skills to appreciate and analyse a variety of visual stimuli, reflect on their own work and learn form taking risks and mistakes, organise and present their own material in appropriate ways to others).

Programme of study

Practical projects are taught in a different order according to groups and resources. The aim is that students will gain a sound knowledge of the formal elements including: tone and line, colour, form and shape and patterns and textures.

The techniques studied include: painting & drawing, printmaking with polyblock, collography and basic stencil prints, collage with found materials, papier mache, wire or ceramic construction. The use of ICT includes: digital photography, image transfer and manipulation and Internet research skills.

Suggested visit: V&A Museum and Tate Britain.

The setting arrangements and amount of curriculum time

Most students are taught in their teaching groups, although Guy and Wilson are mixed into three medium sized classes, taught at the same time. All students have one lesson a week, lasting sixty minutes, and have the same qualified Art & Design teacher for the full year. All schemes of work are in line with the National Curriculum guidelines.

Assessment

Although grades will be awarded for both class and homework, it is not always appropriate to award a mark for every piece, and written feedback is encouraged for students in line with Assessment for Learning policy. These comments are recorded in a sheet at the back of students’ sketchbooks, with clear statements about how to progress to the next level.  Exams at Key Stage 3 are designed to gradually introduce students to the requirements for the subject at GCSE level. The exam thus takes the form of a research project, which is set before the summer half term. Two school weeks and the half term are given to complete the project that is four A4 sides in length. Projects are graded for their content, quality of critical and contextual work and presentation. Information sheets are published on our website. Grades are awarded in line with National Curriculum grades.

Marking criteria

Students are given marks that correspond with National Curriculum levels. Students could be awarded a 2, which would be represented as 2c, or 2b, 2a, 3c, 3b 3a, 4c, 4b, 4a, or 5. The letters a & b indicates that a student is above that number level but yet to reach the next grade, for example 3b is half way to 4c and 3a is nearly a level 4c. All homework is graded in this way together with an effort grade of one of the following; (D) poor, (C) satisfactory, (B) good, or (A) excellent. It is hoped that all students will achieve at least a good for effort, which will require at least one hour’s work.

Homework

Students are set homework once every two weeks to ensure that a minimum of one hour is spent on the task. Homework is marked as above. All students are expected to carry out homework.  Two extended projects are set each year as a research and design task via worksheets available on our department’s website.

Curriculum opportunities

Art & Design easily links to all other subject areas; however we have specifically teamed up with the languages and ICT departments to deliver a cross-curricular approach in the second half of the autumn term. Students will study the same artist with their language and then use the information to present their ICT project.  In the summer term, students will display their 'My Journey' work in the form of a public exhibition, which they will curate themselves. 

The programmes of study provide opportunities for students to cover all the recommended personal learning and thinking skills, but three are lent particular emphasis: Creative thinkers, Independent enquirers & Reflective learners.

Extra-curricular opportunities

The Art department holds a twice-weekly Art club at lunch times. This is an opportunity for students to continue with class work, ask for help with homework, or use the department’s resources, books, computers, printers, paints etc.

We encourage students to visit galleries and exhibitions whenever possible. This enables students to gain a better understanding of art and artists’ work.

Main texts/useful websites

http://curriculum.qca.org.uk/key-stages-3-and-4/subjects/index.aspx - New national curriculum subjects page

www.artlex.com – a good overall information site on all aspects of artistic practice and history