Highlights of our KS3 curriculum
In Year 7 our students enjoy building their confidence in applying media with success. Their learning is designed to introduce them to the importance of sketchbook development and mark making to give them the basis for the rest of their KS3 Art learning and beyond. Students focus on learning about the elements of art—line, shape, texture, pattern and colour. We learn to critique each other’s work and speak like an artist while we study the skills needed for illustrating surface texture and creating tonal shading. We also initiate wider learning about styles of art in the Op Art project and the introduction to art in world culture through the Emma Gale pattern project.
In Year 8 students develop observational drawing techniques whilst learning to analyse the work of more than one artist for comparison, using local inspiration to work from in the ‘Make your Mark’ project, students have the opportunity to develop one of three preferred drawing styles to produce their individual compositions of a local North-East landmark. They also enjoy learning how to write like an artist, giving informed opinions in group critiques and reading around other artists and cultures to develop critical understanding. Students continue to develop and refine their skills using the elements of art with greater focus on tone and composition. They enjoy starting to master proficiency with their drawing from various sources and cultures, with the ‘Gamelan’ project which links to their Music curriculum and ‘The Day of the Dead’ 3D modelling project, which allows them to refine their previous learning of pattern and colour.
In Year 9 students develop their knowledge through workshop type projects that build skills in a breadth of media to widen our expertise and experience, including projects in graphics, 3D sculpting techniques, photography and textiles. We also begin to study the history of Art in year 9 and each practical project allows students to refine their descriptive written rationale of their own art. We enjoy small group critiques so that we can continue our thinking and speaking like an artist.
Highlights of our KS4 curriculum
In Year 10, our GCSE Art students will experience two terms of intense Art specialism workshops to build their skills, giving them a wider variety of experiences, which will help them focus on their individual areas of strength in the subject to develop for their portfolio project that begins at the end of Year 10. Term 3 of year 10 GCSE and term 1 of year 11 focuses purely on component 1, the portfolio project, which is their GCSE coursework. This is where students enjoy producing their own individual project that is designed to showcase their research, experimentation and development of ideas sketchbook along with a sustained piece of art. Term 2 and part of term 3 is dedicated to completing the AQA exam board component 2 work. The students get to select one of the exam board set topics to develop into their own ideas and this work contains a timed, practical, controlled test where the students independently complete the final piece of art.
Extracurricular opportunities
Students have the opportunity to use their Art skills in a cross curricular homework with Maths, where they can show off their grid drawing techniques. In timely lessons, we also update our students with a what’s on guide to seeing Art in the local area so that they can chose to visit museums and galleries in their spare time, or with their families or friends, and we often try and research exhibitions that link to work they cover in school as well as wider learning in Art. We have two 7UP Art clubs which cover several Art specialisms including drawing, 3D and Textile projects. Our students are also encouraged to take part in producing our whole school displays which develops wider skills in mounting and displaying artwork collaboratively.
Where can Art take me in the future?
GCSE Art is the building block to an array of further and higher education opportunities in Art and Design. You might choose to do an A’ Level in Art, Graphics, Textiles, Photography or Ceramics and then go on to university to study fine art, fashion, photography, interior design, illustration, to name but a few. You might also choose a college course in the many areas of art & design. Alternatively, you could follow an apprenticeship as a garment maker, product designer, art therapist or a story board artist, although the creative industry employs more than two million people; about 1 in 8 UK businesses is in creative industries, so there are many more specialist fields. Studying Art can be the beginning to many careers, including architecture, designer, theatre and costume, photography, marketing and teaching, but GCSE Art & Design is a gateway to many more creative careers.
Please take the time to read our curriculum overview, assessment and feedback information and learning journeys for each topic.