Art and Design

Throughout the academic year, students’ comprehension of Art is enhanced in weekly 1-hour lessons. Our teaching approach uses a spiral curriculum, revisiting and building on previous knowledge while increasing in complexity over time. This tends to follow the main disciplines of Art and specialisms within the department, often sequenced as Drawing, Painting and then Sculputre, with other media and materials including screen printing woven into the curriculum.

In Year 7, students investigate the foundational elements of Art through drawing, examining how these elements are employed in the compositions of artists and designers. They are taught to use essential art terminology for critiquing their own work and that of their peers. These concepts are further explored in a culminating cross-curricular project during the summer term looking at Pop Art and Food, where students select, delve into, and create a personal piece. This project reinforces and broadens their understanding of art elements, making their knowledge deep and applicable across other subjects.

The structure continues in Year 8, with a focus on Art movements such as Surrealism, as the central theme. Students enhance their understanding by building on previous lessons and expanding their skills in material exploration and contextual connections.

Year 9 introduces Portraiture as the core theme, with students engaging deeply with contextual Artists such as Kehinde Wiley and Chuck Close. This enables them to develop highly personal and intricate project responses. They will also study other forms of Art such as Graphic Novels and Comic books, as well as delving into Architecture and completing sculptural work.

Students are encouraged to refine their artistic skills and techniques, with a strong emphasis on contextual studies and the use of specific vocabulary in both verbal and written assessments to enhance their artistic development. Classroom discussions and homework assignments prioritize the understanding of context and vocabulary to ensure students critically reflect and refine their work. The foundational skills established in KS3 prepare students to confidently select relevant research and media, understanding the critical roles of exploration, evaluation, and refinement in achieving successful artistic outcomes.

Homework, requiring at least one hour of effort per week, aims to reinforce and extend classroom learning. Students should complete their assignments in an A4 sketchbook, available from the department for £1.00. Additionally, students are invited to participate in the weekly Art Club for Key Stage 3, held most lunchtimes.

At A Level, Art students are allotted 4 hours of lesson time per week at AS level and 5 hours at A2, following the OCR specification for A Level Art, option H600: Fine Art.

At KS5, our curriculum is tailored for students planning to pursue art studies post-18. We support our students in becoming independent creative thinkers and problem solvers, equipping them with the practical skills, contextual understanding, and confidence to excel in various careers, particularly in the creative sectors.

Students engage with contextual studies, contemporary trends, and developments in Art to enhance their creative processes. They focus on four key assessment areas (A01 Develop, A02 Explore, A03 Record, A04 Present) when compiling their portfolios and examination projects. This approach helps students grasp what it means to be creative problem solvers, providing them with the competencies valued by higher education institutions and employers.

In the first year of A Level, students enhance their observational drawing abilities and experiment with diverse materials and techniques. During the Spring term, they choose and develop a theme through the summer term, concentrating on the four key assessment areas.

In their second year, students bolster their analytical and writing skills through a personal investigation linked to their practical portfolio Unit 01, completed by the end of January and accounting for 60% of their grade. The externally set exam Unit 02, starting in February and making up the remaining 40% of their grade, challenges students to develop works based on selected themes, culminating in a 15-hour exam in early May. Throughout the year, they participate in exhibitions and external Art and Design events, which broadens their exposure to the field.

A Level students must dedicate at least 3 hours per week to homework, using these study periods to access additional support from teachers, utilize available materials, and work in a conducive environment within the department. A variety of Fine Art materials are also on sale at the department, enabling students to further their work at home.

Our continuous investment in new equipment and materials ensures our students have the necessary resources to enhance their art portfolios, preparing them for university or art school interviews.

By the end of Year 13, our aim is for students to emerge as confident, self-motivated creatives, ready to succeed in Art and Design foundation courses, degree programs, or apprenticeships, equipped with the skills essential for realizing and producing their creative visions.