OVERVIEW

The Art department offers a supportive environment which enables Art students to develop imaginative and intuitive ways of problem solving. Students are actively encouraged to find their own voice, building upon creative skills through learning and doing. Skill development, creative thinking and independent learning are integral and pupils are encouraged to explore their artwork and ideas using a wide range of media, processes and methods. This enables us to uphold the Christian ethos of the school by taking every opportunity to investigate issues regarding self –esteem, identity and bullying.

In KS3 students explore key artists and their approach to symbolism and expressing emotions.

Whilst in KS4 students create artwork, investigating and exploring their own identity figuratively, metaphorically and literally.

After school clubs are run on a number of evenings and cater for all age groups. These clubs aim to enrich the opportunities available to students by enabling them to further explore the art practices that they have learnt in class but also to try out new practices, enter competitions and produce art work for various local establishments such as Overslade Community Centre and Brandon Marsh Visitors’ Centre. The clubs have also been invaluable to GCSE students by giving them crucial staff support and extra time in which to do their work.

KS3 CURRICULUM

The focus within KS3 is on developing students’ artistic, investigative, exploratory and creative skills. They do this through a variety of art projects such as developing their observational drawing skills and a range of painting skills. There will be a different skill focus for each half term but students will have the opportunity to experiment with different materials, media, techniques and processes throughout every project.

Students are encouraged to broaden their understanding and knowledge of different artists and art movements in order to help them get inspiration and generate ideas. As well as developing their own style through a range of individual tasks, students also get the chance to work in teams and produce collaborative artworks to be displayed in the school grounds. Students develop their skills in critiques and also to be able to interpret criticism as a progressive and informative tool to enhance and develop their learning.

KS4 CURRICULUM

This course allows students to explore a diverse range of art and design materials, techniques and processes. It enables them to investigate a variety of specialist areas and develop your knowledge and understanding of traditional and contemporary art, artists and designers. Taking what they learn, they develop their own ideas and artworks based around a given theme to be interpreted in their own individual way. This course has been thoughtfully developed to provide students with an extensive understanding of the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare them for A-Levels or for employment in the world of art and design.

To pass this course students need to complete:

A PORTFOLIO OF WORK:

A portfolio of work will be produced through undertaking two assignments based on a range of inspiring themes and concepts. Students explore a wide variety of artistic materials, techniques and processes as well as investigating traditional and contemporary art, artists and designers.

Each portfolio will be developed and composed by selecting the most imaginative creative and well executed work undertaken during the course of study and this must include more than one project.

EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT/CONTROLLED EXAM

Students will be provided with a range of starting points to stimulate and inspire the development of an exam based project. They then have a short time to prepare and develop a response to their chosen theme of study. The controlled test will then require 10 hours of sustained focused study in which to produce their outcome to meet all assessment objectives.

SMSC IN ART

The art course lends itself to a wide range of Spiritual, Moral, Cultural and Social studies. Students will analyse, engage with and question their own and others work, identify how beliefs, values and meanings are expressed and shared. Students are encouraged to express themselves through their art, which is supported by strong research into the wider world around them. This is reinforced by trips and outings to museums, galleries and field studies that are strongly linked to projects. The department undertakes a number of extra-curricular activities that enhance the students’ experience of the arts and its context in the world.

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT IN ART

The Art and Design course is dependent on the students’ ability to enquire and communicate their ideas, meanings and feelings. Students will investigate visual, tactile and other sensory qualities of their own and others work. We encourage independent thinking that will enable students to develop their ideas and intentions and express these in an appropriate manner.

MORAL DEVELOPMENT IN ART

Throughout the course students are encouraged to look at work that will often pose a moral question. The student’s outcomes are supported with a rationale or a meaning that will often convey a message.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN ART

Students' work is celebrated throughout the school and displayed in many areas. Pupils work independently and collaboratively to develop public and community artworks that express relationships between the students and local community. Students partake in numerous discussions of a range of artists and art work, encouraging and developing communication skills. Extensive displays of student art work in the art department and around the school boost self-confidence and underpin a sense of student ownership of their environment. Regular group and paired work in photography and art, supporting one another in a variety of projects enhances team working skills. Eg. Collaborative art panels, large scale work and community projects. Students are taught to give and receive positive criticism in order to inform ideas and decisions about their work.

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ART

Throughout the units of work explored, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of artists’ ideas and concepts, identifying how meanings are conveyed. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of cultures, beliefs and religions. Through their investigations they will research and explore the religious and non-religious beliefs adopted by a variety of cultures from around the world.