Art and Design

Head of Department: G Dean

We live in a digital and image-saturated age that requires young people to be able to navigate what they see and create art that understands traditions as well as utilising the most up to date technologies and opportunities. In Art and Design, pupils develop a range of skills and knowledge across many media and areas of art history. Our aim is to produce ‘the informed practitioner’. This model of the art student gives equal weighting to the range of skills learnt and to the breadth of knowledge and cultural capital that the course contains. We also look to make this an enjoyable and inspiring experience that allows pupils to find themselves through exploring their own creative pathways and voices with the skills and knowledge we provide.

If you would like to view related Key Stage 5 courses, please click the links below:

A Level - Art & Design

A Level - Art & Design (Photography)

Key Stage 3

Our KS3 curriculum has been carefully designed to offer a wide range of practical skills taught over term-length projects to provide the sufficient depth for expertise. It is designed as a three-year course to cover a great range of skills and a sequential run of art history, from Egyptian art to Pop Art, that links into their class studies.

 Over the classwork projects pupils will develop deep practical knowledge in; lettering, painting, observational drawing, architectural design, computer-aided design, portrait and figure drawing, protest poster design, animation, tonal drawing, photography and editing. Approaches to drawing and building a wide range of drawing skills underpin and develop throughout all the projects, as does the incorporation of iPads and digital skills. All practical work will have links to the theoretical and disciplinary knowledge from our Art History programme.

In Art History projects, pupils are introduced to thirteen key periods through presentations, analysis sessions and a choice of practical responses to produce art inspired by the period. There are opportunities for homework extensions to visit our amazing local range of museums and galleries to really experience the artefacts, architecture and artworks. At the end of each project there is a core knowledge test that aims to build up a strong sequential knowledge of art history.

There are additional opportunities for after-school clubs to extend skills further. We also run art activities weeks for Year 8s and 9s each year to spend 5 days on advanced skills in spray painting, mural painting and printmaking. All pupils take our Art KS3 course with the option to continue into an Art or Photography GCSE in Year 10. Uptake is high for these courses and often sees students continuing to A-level and beyond.

Our detailed curriculum for all year groups can be viewed via the downloads section on this page.

Key Stage 4

What are my GCSE options within Art and Photography?

1. Art and Design GCSE in school
2. Art and Design GCSE after school
3. Photography GCSE in school

What syllabus will I follow?

We follow the GCSE in Art and Design/Photography using the Eduqas (formerly WJEC) exam board.

What will the courses look like?

Art and Design GCSE can be taken in school as a standard option or after school as an additional option. The after-school course is identical to the course in school and will involve the same projects and deadlines throughout. On the course, pupils will work through a series of foundation skills in Year 10 before completing a major coursework project and exam project in Year 11. The work is exhibited in a display at the end of the course.

Photography GCSE will focus on a range of photography approaches using devices and editing apps. Pupils will learn an array of skills across Year 10 before specialising in more individual styles of photography in Year 11. Pupils will not need an expensive DSLR and can instead use alternative devices such as phones and tablets for much of their work.

Can I take both Art & Design GCSE and Photography GCSE?

Our options approach advises a broad and balanced curriculum although we will also look at individual requirements throughout the process. Please select on your form either Art and Design GCSE or Photography GCSE. If you would like to do both then consider taking Photography GCSE alongside the after-school Art and Design GCSE option. The qualifications count as two separate GCSEs towards pupils’ overall total.

What homework will I get?

Homework is set most weeks and is an essential part of the coursework. The homework tasks cover all the basic skills required for the GCSE course as well as extending project ideas.  Homework activities will also include research work for current projects.

How will I be assessed?

The work for both courses is marked and standardised within the department and then has a two-day external moderation by an examiner. The marks are formed from your coursework project (60%) and your exam project (40%). Pupils will get regular feedback on their current grade levels and targets to improve them.

What jobs or further courses of study might this lead to?

The creative industries are a thriving sector of the British economy. We have been world-leaders in graphic design, photography, advertising and illustration for a long time. There are routes in fine art as well as in the commercial sector. The creative thinking and visualisation that art courses teach you are hugely employable skills across many areas outside the arts too.

We have outstanding A-Level provision, including an excellent photography studio and a suite of iMacs, which for many is the next step on their journey into the creative arts after GCSE.

What else do I need to know about the after-school Art GCSE?

We try and accommodate everybody that wishes to take Art GCSE. For those with a serious interest in the subject and who may wish to study it as an additional GCSE, a two-year course is offered for a limited number of pupils on Monday evenings (moving to Wednesdays in Year 11) from 3.00 to 5.00 p.m. This follows the same structure as the in‑school syllabus. 

For after-school options, there is a £300 per year charge to cover the cost of teaching and resources

If I need additional support, what can I access?

We run many art activities after school in which GCSE students are welcome to join in and receive extra support from teachers. Sometimes pupils can use the photography studio, with supervision, outside of school hours.

Mr Feijoo has art examining experience and is on hand to offer pupils support from his experience and expertise. Of course, pupils are always welcome to pop in to speak to our staff at lunchtime too!

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