Art

Curriculum Lead

Miss V Hime - Curriculum Lead Art & Child Development

Curriculum Principles & Intent

Over the course of studying Art at KS3, we aim to build students’ knowledge and ability within Art as well as inspiring a love and enjoyment of Art. Over the course of the three years we always have the core intent of developing students' experimental and observational skills. We work to give students understanding and basic skills with a breadth of different media, including watercolours and clay. These are explored through a variety of different themes such as the environment in which we live, sweets and portraits.

At Key Stage 4 we offer GCSE Art which develops students' fine Art skills further. Within the different themes we look at we often incorporate artists, both contemporary and classic, linked to the theme we are studying. This gives students a wider understanding of the art world and often helps to inspire their own work. We aim to inspire our students for their own personal development as well as broadening their cultural understanding. Art is not just a subject of study in school. It enriches all of us, opening our minds to the world of possibilities and our understanding of people.

GSCE Specifications

GCSE Art & Design

Exam Board: Pearson

Art and Design is both a form of communication and a means of expression of ideas and feelings. It is a language that can complement literary, mathematical, scientific and factually based subjects. It is especially concerned with the development processes involved in visual perception and aesthetic experiences. Art and Design encourages creativity through self- expression, use of the imagination, conceptual thinking, and powers of observation, analytical abilities and practical skills. The subject can give great personal joy.

Course Content

The Art and Design GCSE is made up of two different marked sections. The first is Coursework; this is completed through Year 10 and the beginning of Year 11. This work allows students to explore different materials, which develops their skills and allows them to demonstrate a wide range of techniques. This work is always related to a theme or topic but gives students some freedom to develop their own personal responses. The coursework units account for sixty percent of their final grade.

The second section is the external set examination work, which is set by the examination board during the January of Year 11. Students are given approximately ten weeks preparation time to create another body of work based on a theme given by the examination board. This body of work then supports the students' 10-hour exam in which they produce a final piece based upon their preparation work. The exam unit accounts for forty percent of their final grade.

All the work is internally assessed before being externally moderated

Mode of Assessment

Both the coursework and Externally Set Task will be marked in the same way, using four Assessment Objectives. The assessment objectives are:

AO1: Develop ideas through investigations informed by contextual and other sources demonstrating analytical and cultural understanding.
AO2: Refine ideas through experimenting and selecting appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes.
AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions in visual and/or other forms.
AO4: Present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating analytical and critical understanding, realising intentions and where appropriate, making connections between visual, written, oral or other elements.

A Level specifications

A Level Art & Design

Exam Board: AQA

Level of Course: A Level

Aim of Course:

Students will be introduced to a variety of experiences that explore a range of two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional media, processes and techniques. They will be made aware of both traditional and new media. Students will explore the use of drawing for different purposes, using a variety of methods and media on a variety of scales. Students will explore relevant images, artefacts and resources relating to a range of art, craft and design, from the past and from recent times. This will be integral to the investigating and making processes. Students' responses to these examples will be shown through practical and critical activities that demonstrate their understanding of different styles, genres and traditions.

Course Content:

The Art, Craft and Design A Level is made up of two different marked sections. The first is Coursework; this is completed through Year 12 and the beginning of Year 13. This work allows students to explore different materials, which develops their skills and allows them to demonstrate a wide range of techniques. This work is always related to a theme or topic but gives students some freedom to develop their own personal responses. The coursework units account for sixty percent of their final grade. There is an essay to accompany this piece of coursework too.
The second section is the external set examination work, which is set by the examination board during the February of Year 13. Students are given approximately ten weeks preparation time to create another body of work based on a theme given by the examination board. This body of work then supports the students' 15-hour exam in which they produce a final piece based upon their preparation work. The exam unit accounts for forty percent of their final grade.
All the work is internally assessed before being externally moderated

Mode of Assessment:

Both the coursework and Externally Set Task will be marked in the same way, using four Assessment Objectives. The assessment objectives are:
Assessment objective 1- Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
Assessment objective 2- Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
Assessment objective 3- Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
Assessment objective 4- Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.