Curriculum Lead

Miss V Hime - Curriculum Lead Art, Design & Technology, & 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.

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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.

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BTEC Specifications

BTEC Extended Certificate in Art & Design

Exam Board: Pearson

Level of Course: 3

Aim of Course:

The qualification is designed for post-16 learners who want to progress to higher education in an Art and Design related discipline. It is an opportunity for learners to understand more about the scope of art and design and develop knowledge of the creative process. The optional units allow learners to study areas such as fashion, textiles, photography, and fine art. In order to follow either an Art or Fashion pathway, the Foundation Diploma is offered in a single option block which is the equivalent of one and a half A levels. 

Course Content:

BTEC Nationals require applied learning that brings together knowledge and understanding with practical and technical skills. The BTEC is structured so individual interests and future plans can be incorporated into studies, allowing students to develop areas of expertise.

There are 4 mandatory units which all students study. These are:

• Visual Recording and Communication
• Critical and Contextual Studies in Art and Design
• The Creative Process
• Materials, Techniques and Processes in Art and Design

Within these units, there are opportunities to pursue your own individual interests   and achieve a bigger BTEC qualification. There are several optional units you can take including:

• Photographic Materials, Techniques and Processes
• Fine Art Materials, Techniques and Processes
• Textile Materials, Techniques and Processes
• Fashion Materials, Techniques and Processes

Mode of Assessment:

There are two externally assessed units which test students through a set research task and written submissions and a task set and marked by the exam board and taken under supervised conditions. The other units are internally assessed portfolio units.