The Year 7 curriculum starts with the formal elements of art and design: line, tone, shape, colour, pattern, texture, form and space. This core knowledge provides the foundation for all other elements of the curriculum students will encounter. Students develop their drawing skills by studying and practising tonal value in a variety of media including pencil, colour pencil, oil pastel and paint. The study of artists such as Hundertwasser, Kandinsky, Matisse and Rana Begum. This enables students to build up knowledge of key elements and motifs in order to design and create their own pieces. Drawing from primary observation is utilised as much as possible, so that students develop an understanding of form and space. This also helps build upon studentʼs fine motor skills and their knowledge of colour theory.

Base Line 

• Students are tested on their core skills through a variety of short tasks. 
• Drawing and recording skills from Still Life 
• Primary Observation 

Environment 

• Discovering the artists Hundertwasser and Gina Tripplet
• Exploring cultural symbols and patterns 
• Designing buildings and landscapes using different media, in the style of the artists
• Collage 
• Explore use of 2D media and core skills through mark making, colour mixing/ blending, line experiments and recording methods
• Mark making 
• Patterns 
• Collage 
• Main Formal elements used: Colour, Line, Shape. Tone and Composition 

Natural forms 

• This is a drawing and painting fine art unit designed to improve student’s observational skills
• Drawing from real life and capturing realistic tone and 3D form
• Primary observation 
• Use of detail 
• Shading for tone and 3D form 
• Paint: colour mixing, layering & brush marks 
• Main Formal elements used: Colour, Line, Shape. Pattern, Texture and Composition

Mini Beasts 

• Explore and observe ‘mini beasts’ 
• Mixed media and print with a background inspired by puzzle/maze/camouflage’ and technology today
• Fantasy bug design 
• Clay bugs & recycled bugs 
• Graphics – stamp design 
• Group/paired paper mache bugs 
• Graphic design – stamp bugs 
• Exploring 3D form
• Ongoing development of 3D media use
• 2D – mono printing, illustration and mixed media
• Main Formal elements used: Form, Shape, Texture and Colour 

Knowledge Organisers:

Knowledge Organisers are used to help and support student learning and understanding. They include key points and knowledge for each project. 

KS3 Assessment:

Home learning is allocated on a 2 week basis by each department. It may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it.

Assessments are taken in lessons at specific points each term. The assessments help to reinforce students learning and understanding of what has been taught. Throughout the Year students will be assessed on their knowledge and skill of the formal elements of art and design.

In Year 8 the curriculum continues to build upon the formal elements covered in Year 7 as a starting point for critically evaluating and making artwork. Students study portraiture and Manga and utilise the grid technique to transfer and enlarge images, explore proportion and develop their spatial awareness. Students build on the cultural perspectives from Year 7 by exploring artists such as Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) and the visual imagery of the skull. Students use clay to create their own design based on this research. The final unit provides students with the opportunity to investigate landscape and architecture, as well as using sounds to make more abstract outcomes.  Students make their option choices in Year 8 to study  Art Craft and Design in Year 9.

Portraits 

• Traditional primary observation using proportion and tone. Use of a grid method. Mang portrait 

Day of The Dead 

•  3D project to develop understanding and technical ability with clay/3D. Students develop a 3D design for a ‘fantasy’ skull based on The Day of The Dead and make it

Environment 

• 2D - The piece demonstrates perspective skills as well as mixed-media and the illusion of space and depth. 

• 3D - Sculpture: teacher selection: card, wire, clay, architectural design. 

Knowledge Organisers:

Knowledge organisers are used to help and develop student understanding of key points within each project. 

KS3 Assessment:

Home learning is allocated on a weekly basis by each department. It may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it. 

Assessments are taken in lessons at specific points each term. The assessments are observational recording activities that consolidate the learning taught in class. Throughout the Year students will be assessed on their knowledge and skill of the formal elements of art and design. 

Students opt to take art in Year 9 and will be given an experience of 2 possible endorsements for further study at KS4. In Year 9 students are made GCSE ready. Responding to the theme of Light and Dark, students are guided through activities and make multiple outcomes throughout the year in Art Craft and Design and in Photography. Students are given regular Home Learning and learn about the requirements of studying Art Craft and Design or Photography further at KS4.

Light and Dark- Art and Design

Students are introduced to a range of new techniques for recording portraits. Students explore the theme of Light and Dark leading to a sustained outcome using a range of media. 

Light and Dark- Photography

Students are introduced to photography and explore ways of using photography as an art medium to create a response to the theme of Light and Dark.

KS3 Assessment:

Home learning is allocated on a weekly basis by each department. It may be an isolated piece of work, a project, research or an alternative task which challenges the students to solidify their knowledge and / or extend it. 

Students are assessed each term in lesson on their knowledge and use of the formal elements in creating a personal and meaningful response to the theme of Light and Dark.

Students opt to take Art, Photography or Graphics at KS4. It is a two-year course.

Art Craft and Design and Photography are assessed through a mixture of coursework,( Portfolio) completed throughout the course, and a final practical examination (Set Task). Students will learn the knowledge and skill required to successfully complete the two-year course. Students will undertake a skills building course in the first term of Year 10 before beginning a project on Natural Forms. Their second project will focus on their Identity.

KS4 Assessment:

All students who follow a Fine Art, Graphic Design or Photography course will be given home learning every other week. Regular assessment will occur each term and students will be given verbal and written feedback on their work. Wider reading is always useful either from the websites offered, the text book or as directed by their classroom teacher. 

Examination Board:

EDUQAS  

 

Useful Reading Material:

EDUQAS GCSE Art and Design 

In Year 11 students will be completing their Portfolio. This will be completed by December of Year 11. Students will have a mock practise exam in November/December where they will create a sustained personal and meaningful outcome over 10 hours. The Identity project is worth 60% of their final GCSE grade.

KS4 Assessment:

All students who follow a Art Craft and Design or Photography course will be given home learning weekly. Regular assessment will occur each term and students will be given verbal and written feedback on their work. Wider reading is always useful either from the websites offered, the text book or as directed by their classroom teacher.

All Art courses are assessed through a mixture of coursework (Portfolio) completed throughout the course, and a final practical examination. Portfolio (60%) to be completed by January; final practical examination, Set Task(40%) in May.

GCSE Art & Design

Portfolio worth 60%

Set Task worth 40% 

Examination Board:

EDUQAS 

Course Specification:

601/8087/0 Art Craft and Design

601/8087/0 Fine Art

601/8087/0 Graphic Communication

601/8087/0 Photography

Qualification obtained:

GCSE Art and Design

 

Useful Reading Material:

EDUQAS GCSE Art and Design