Art

The aims of the Art Department

In the art department, we aim to:

• Understand the relevance of Art in today’s modern landscape
• How traditional art has influenced Art and Design in today’s world
• How creativity can be applied to everyday life and other subject areas
• Understand the impact of the Creative Industries in the UK, and the world

Facilities

The Art department has two well stocked art rooms which hold all the equipment students need to make their work. We also have a wide range of IT equipment to help the students complete research their and make art works. The department has two sets of laptops, a set of iPad minis and two iPad pros. The incorporation of IT into the curriculum ensures that students of all abilities are able to access a range of mediums.

We have facilities for printmaking, kiln firing and batik work. All rooms have high quality displays of student work and project boards.

Curriculum

Our key stage 3 curriculum is built around mastering skills and techniques that will prepare students for the GCSE qualification and broaden the experience of the subject for all students. It helps students to develop their creativity and celebrate diversity of culture in the world in which they live.

Year 7: one lesson a week

What’s in a building : observational drawing and colour theory

• Introduction to the Formal Elements
• How to draw from observation
• Introduction to colour theory
• How to use and apply paint and colour theory
• Understand how artists / designers create artwork

Print Project: Collograph and Monoprinting

• Introduction to print making processes
• Use printmaking techniques to create artwork
• Understand how artists / designers create artwork

Skate Sessions: culture and identity

Students are tasked to design a skateboard around a topical event at time of teaching. Past skateboards have been based around; The Olympics and Paralympics, the Football World Cup and issues such as the environment.

They will draw on skills learned in the two previous projects to develop their own skateboard design.

Skill based project

Students will learn how to use a grid to achieve accuracy when drawing from observation, a method that will become essential in the years to come. Students will then apply tonal techniques to the drawing, learned in the colour theory project (paint, mark making, tonal (monochromatic)

Year 8: One lesson of per week

James Jarvis in Crowd

• Character design
• Develop 3D skills using plasticine 
• Applying a concept (stereotype) to artwork
• Understand how artists / designers create artwork
• Understand the relevance of art in the real world (Advertising)
• Animation

What's in a Portrait: Self Portrait Observational Drawing

• How to draw from observation to create a self portrait
• Introduction to Symbolism through the work of Van Gogh and Frida Kahlo

What's in a Portrait part two: Comic Con Painting

• Character Design (Superhero/alter ego)
• Developing painting skills
• Applying a concept to artwork
• Understand the relevance of art in the real world (Film/Comics)

What’s in a Portrait Part three: Pop Art

Student will look at the art work of Andy Warhol and Julian Opie and develop their own masterpiece focusing on pop culture.

Banksy’s Rats

Student will be inspired by the controversial and innovative work of the famous street artist Banksy. They will create a 3D sculpture that will be a social commentary of the world in which we live.

Year 9 creative block

Comprises of one lesson a week, students can decide to drop the subject after the year or carry on to study it in year 10 and 11 for their GCSEs. The creative art block is split up into 4 modules. Each module continues to develop the student skills leaned in year 7 and 8. The lessons are based on how the GCSE course is taught, focusing on the four Assessment objectives: record, refine, develop and present.

• Module 1:Photograpy
• Module 2: Drawing
• Module 3: Clay
• Module 4: Print

GCSE art option: Years 10 and 11

3 lessons a week. Spanning two years

Preparation for the controlled portfolio

• Understand how to create and develop a concept
• Further development of skills such as drawing, photograph and print.
• Introduction to new materials

Figures in the city Controlled portfolio 60% of GCSE grade

• Student will look at the work of two artists and create a portfolio based on the AQA Assessment objectives and present a response.

AQA Exam Paper: 40% of GSCE grade

• Create a portfolio or work based on the AQA Assessment objectives
• Preparation and participation in the AQA GSCE Art exam paper