Art Curriculum

“The aim of art is not to represent the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” ARISTOTLE

 

Rationale:

To develop pupil creativity and ability to critically reflect on their own and the work of others. To research the Historical context of Art and explore a range of movements and skills. To explore how art and design is linked to a range of careers and embed an aspirational culture within the classroom. To develop independent working and confidence in their own abilities. Pupils are introduced to the work of a range of artists, designers, crafts, movements and cultures throughout the three years as the entirety of the core principles are taught.

Intent:

Our curriculum is designed to develop pupil creativity and allows pupils to critically reflect on their own work and the work of others.  Our pupils will study the historical context of Art and explore a range of art movements making connections with the techniques and skills being taught.  We explore how art and design is linked to a range of careers and embed an aspirational culture within the classroom.  We develop independent working and confidence in pupils’ own abilities.

Implementation:

In key stage 3, Art creatively engages students, inspiring, challenging, and equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and generate their own works of art, craft and design. Students are guided to record their own ideas, insights and experiences. They are taught to experiment with and explore a range of ideas, materials and media to realise their intentions.

Students in key stage 4 are encouraged to look more deeply and creatively into their own Artistic practice, allowing them to develop as imaginative, reflective practitioners.  Students are guided to make links to other Artists, cultures and craftspeople, showing in-depth critical and contextual understanding within their studies. This should be used to impact their thought process and ideas generation. Students refine their use of media and develop a wider understanding of materials, techniques and processes, in order to fully explore their concepts and personal outcomes.

Impact:

Pupils will develop a purposeful creative confidence, pupils will have the ability to work independently and take risks when exploring possibilities within their own creative process. Pupils learn to become resilient learners who realise the potential for sustained engagement and experimentation through working with a variety of media and techniques.  They will have an understanding of the position of art in shaping the world in which we live and its potential to enrich our lives.

Outline of content:

Our curriculum vibrantly explores themes including: still life, colourful cities, surface pattern design, 2D relief cultural masks, portraits within the contemporary world and 3D design and sculpture.

Year 7

Pupils are introduced to Art as a rigorous subject within Year 7 through the teaching of drawing using the formal elements with references to traditional and contemporary still life artists and colour theory looking at colour in architecture.  Both projects include studies into some of the key movements within the history of art to broaden pupils’ cultural understanding and implement artist thinking processes and techniques when developing ideas.

Year 8 and 9

This is expanded and developed through Year 8 and into Year 9 where pupils build a secure and comprehensive knowledge of and develop skills in printing, construction and drawing and painting, focusing on the natural and living world and themselves for inspiration.

Year 10
The Y10 curriculum encourages pupils to further develop their knowledge, skills and understanding in art and design gained at KS3.   The first project in Y10 is based on either a 3D Artwork or Visual Communication Design artwork, both looking at the World around us e.g. Climate change or Endangered animals.  Pupils develop drawing and painting skills, research artists investigating their work, and develop ideas demonstrating critical understanding.  Pupils continue to develop their work exploring through experimentation and then move onto developing a final piece of artwork in their chosen technique.  Pupils will then move onto their second coursework project towards the end of Year 10.
Year 11
In Y11, pupils continue to work on their second project for their GCSE which is Fine Art based.  Pupils will study the theme of Disguise and look at Fine Artists whose artwork involves Portraiture.  Pupils investigate from a selection of artists, writing and drawing their work and subsequently developing their own ideas.  Pupils will be required to take their own photographs to use a source for their work.  Following this, pupils explore their ideas further experimenting with a range of appropriate materials and techniques.  The project is completed under mock examination conditions where pupils develop a final artwork for the project.

Specification Links:

At GCSE we follow the AQA Exam board and both Art and Design and Photography are offered at this level. Please click below for more information.

Art and Design | GCSE | Art and Design