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Art

Curriculum Overview 

Vision

We aim to ignite a lifelong passion for art. Art, in all its varied forms, allows students to develop their voice driven by their own enthusiasm to make and create. Within art we want our students to develop a sense of excitement and engagement, to see beyond what they think is a fixed idea and see things from another point of view. We hope students will appreciate the visual word they live in and understand that creativity is a transferable tool.

Drawing is a vital element to all creative processes and is embedded in every scheme of work. It is important students are equipped with a thorough understanding of visual language and understand the many purposes drawings have to offer.

Disciplinary Concepts

  • Understanding the application of formal elements

  • Observational recording

  • Exploration and experimentation

  • Problem solving

  • Critical analysis and reflection

  • How artists and designers reflect and shape our culture

  • Development of an idea

  • Resolved outcome

  • Evaluation

 

Curriculum Map

Year 7

Autumn Term 

Wayne Thiebaud / Cakes 

(formal elements, colour theory, observational drawing, study Californian artist Wayne Thiebaud and influences on his style, development of ideas, 3D construction)

Spring Term  

Still Life (observational drawing, continuation of formal elements, study artists Paul Cezanne and Felix Valloton, experimentation with different painting mediums such as watercolour and acrylic, development of ideas, mixed media final outcome)

Summer Term 

Art Nouveau (observational drawing, experimentation in style of art movement, development of ideas, personal final outcome)

 

Year 8

Autumn Term  

Day of the Dead (Study of Mexican festival and its meaning, 2D paper skull using craft knives, development of ideas, creation of clay skull)

Spring Term

Portraits (Observational drawings of features of the face, study of artists from different times and cultures: Fred Hatt, Karl Schmitt and Breanna McCarthy, creating responses to artists’ work, development of ideas, final collage outcome)

Summer Term

Pop Art / food packaging (observational drawing, study of a variety of contemporary artists’ and Pop Artists’ work, re-visiting Pop Art and contemplating the social implications of food packaging, development of ideas, creation of 3D outcome)

 

Year 9

Autumn Term

Figurative Sculpture

(observational drawing, study of artists Alberto Giacometti and Henry Moore, optional trip to Henry Moore Studios and Gardens, experimentation of materials including wax resist, ballpoint pen and clay, development of ideas, 3D construction using wire)

Spring Term 

Buildings (observational drawing, study of artists Ana Serrano and Joshua Smith, development of ideas, mixed media final outcome)

Summer Term

Street Art (study of mural artist Jon Burgerman, experimentation with doodling as a creative tool, development of ideas, personal final outcome on individual theme)
 

Year 10

Under the Sea (September to February)

This  is a sustained 2 dimensional project focusing on mark making, painting and printing. Students work in a sketchbook to explore a range of different artists and techniques. The final outcome for this project will be a 2D piece of work exploring the theme of under the sea. Students will participate in a trip to Tring Natural History Museum to gain experience drawing sea creatures and birds from first hand observation.

Wire sculpture (February to July)

This is a sustained 3 dimensional project looking at the work of Celia Smith. Students employ a variety of different wire techniques to produce 3D sculptures inspired by Smith's bird sculptures. Throughout the project they will produce several pieces of work outside their book with the final outcome being a large bird based sculpture.

 

Year 11

Mock exam - Structures (September to December)

In this project students will be given a brief with a selection of artists and techniques, they then pursue a personal project inspired by their artists’ work.  This 10 week project will end in a 10 hour practical mock exam, over 2 days.

Externally set Assignment (Exam project) (January to April)

In this project students are given an externally set brief with a selection of artists and techniques, they then pursue a personal project inspired by their artists’ work.  This 10 week project will end in a 10 hour practical exam, over 2 days.

 

Year 12

Autumn Term - Noticing Project

One of the fundamental skills an artist needs to develop is that of “noticing”. It is an essential skill in observational drawing, when mixing colours or employing photography to gain inspiration, and in noticing the world around them. Whether working in an abstract manner, from direct observation or in response to social and political issues, the skill of noticing is something that underpins all art work at A Level. 

In this project students will develop skills in a variety of media through different teacher-led workshops. They will develop ideas and produce a final piece in a 15 hour practical mock exam over 3 days.

Spring and Summer Terms

Students will begin the Spring Term with a mock exam project and create a timed final piece in 15 hours, within lesson time. This project will then form the basis of their next “Creative Investigation” project where students will select an area that they would like to explore in greater depth such as a particular art movement, or themes within genres such as landscape, portraiture, installation or figurative art.

Complementing their practical studies, students are expected to produce a Personal Study comprising 1000 to 3000 words.

 

Year 13

Students will continue to pursue their independent project and produce a final piece in January of year 13 in a 15 hour practical mock exam over 3 days.

Externally set Assignment (Exam project) (February to April)

In this project students are given an externally set brief with a selection of artists and techniques,  they then pursue a personal project inspired by their artists’ work.  This 10 week project will end in a 15 hour practical exam, over 3 days.

 

Assessments

Assessments in art at KS3 are practical and designed to re-visit skills and subject matter from projects students have covered during previous terms. 

Year 7

Autumn Term AP1

Observational drawing of a “fake cake”. Students will be given an artificial cake and will draw it from observation using a pencil. They will apply their knowledge of pencil shading to give their cake a 3D appearance.

Summer Term art exam

Observational drawing of a natural form. As above, students will draw a natural form from observation, demonstrating their understanding of some of the formal elements we have covered in year 7.

At both assessment points the quality of work in the students' sketchbooks, in line with GCSE and A Level, will be taken into account when grading students’ progress.

 

Year 8

Autumn Term AP1

Observational drawing of a realistic skull. Students will apply their knowledge of observational drawing and pencil shading to give their skull a 3D appearance.

Summer Term art exam

Observational extension drawing of half of a photograph of a face. As above, students will be given a photograph of half of a person’s face and will use their knowledge of facial features and proportion to complete the other half of the image. They will shade it realistically using a pencil.

At both assessment points the quality of work in the students' sketchbooks, in line with GCSE and A Level will be taken into account when grading students’ progress.

 

Year 9

Autumn Term AP1

Observational drawing of a piece of flint rock. Inspired by the work of Henry Moore who drew from rocks and bones, students will create an observational drawing, applying their knowledge of observational drawing and pencil shading to give their drawing a 3D appearance.

Summer Term art exam

Observational drawing of a photograph of a derelict shop facade. Inspired by the work of artists we have looked at earlier in the year, students will be given a photograph of a building. They will copy the drawing freehand and shade it realistically using a pencil.

At both assessment points the quality of work in the students' sketchbooks, in line with GCSE and A Level will be taken into account when grading students’ progress.

 

GCSE 

Students follow the Pearson Edexcel Specification for GCSE Art and Design (Fine Art).

The GCSE course comprises Unit 1 (Coursework), worth 60%, and Unit 2 (Externally Set Task), worth 40%. 

Students are given continuous verbal and written feedback during lessons and sketchbooks are marked using the GCSE Assessment Objective grid at assessment points across the year. 

 

Assessment Objectives 

Students must:

AO1 - Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources

AO2 - Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.

AO3 - Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses

AO4 - Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language