Art and Design
We aim to make lessons ‘fun’, and have designed the modules so that pupils experience a broad range of media, developing skills, knowledge and understanding across all areas of Art and Design through topics that will appeal, and maintain interest involving contemporary and historical and cultural references. This knowledge and skills provides a strong grounding for students to progress onto a Key Stage 4 Art course.
Sketchbooks are used throughout KS3 and KS4. They provide pupils with the ability to ‘personalise’ their work further, taking pride in the presentation of each page. In KS3 pupils are provided with a sketchbook which they directly work in and also present their work through mounting. The sketch books then become a work of art. In KS3 pupils use a wide range of techniques to enhance their drawing and making skills.
GCSE pupils choosing the AQA Art and Design course will work in multiple formats from computer aided images to 3D. The sketchbook remains at the heart of what they do, recording their journey from pupil to artist.
Find out about each Key Stage in Art:
KS3 Art
Year 7
‘Making your Mark’ (drawing and painting based on the natural world) and ‘Printmaking‘ (simple printmaking techniques developed from observational drawings). Pupils also research and gather information about current artists. The artist's work is used as inspiration for multimedia pieces.
Year 8
‘Birds and Beasts’, looking at birds and animals through line, tone and multiple 2D techniques. The pupils work towards creating their own 3D ceramic sculpture. Pupils also research and gather information about current artists. The artist’s work is used as inspiration for a multimedia piece. ‘Insects’, pupils work on their observational study skills and artists’ work to use as inspiration for their final 3D Modroc piece.
Year 9
‘Man-made’, pupils fill their sketchbook with drawings and paintings based on man-made items. The next topic is ‘Portraiture’, pupils are shown how to draw faces in proportion and create a variety of different images with their final piece inspired by the artist Chuck Close. ‘Architecture’, pupils use their observational drawing skills to produce interesting images using a variety of techniques. Research on artists’ work to aid understanding of different inspirational starting points and techniques. This will give pupils the skills and knowledge to tackle the GCSE course in Year 10 and 11.
KS4 Art and Design
GCSE Art and Design GCSE (AQA Specification 8201)
The AQA course awards a GCSE grade with a weighting of 60% coursework, and 40% ‘controlled test’.
Module 1: ‘Nature in Art’, pupils learn multiple drawing and painting techniques based on the natural world, they will produce large 2D pieces and work towards a final 3D ceramic piece.
Module 2: ‘Man Made’ project based around printmaking and mixed media techniques, pupils respond to the work of artists and designers and find new and imaginative ways of working.
Module 3: Mock exam, pupils choose a topic, and decide the media, imagery and outcome of the project this will be presented over a number of weeks with the final piece created in the classroom.
Controlled test: Pupils choose a topic according to exam paper questions
Useful Links:
- New Brewery Arts, Cirencester
- Tate
- AQA Exam Board