Art
Head of Faculty - Mrs Maxine Tedcastle
Art
Art is a form of expression that has the power to change people's perspectives and shape society. It is an important part of our daily lives, as it helps us to better understand the world around us. When we connect with art, we are ultimately connecting with our inner selves. Art enables us to look within and to listen to ourselves, realise who we are, and what we care about. It connects us to our thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and our outer realities and experiences. Art has always been and will continue to be an interwoven part of our existence, regardless of race, political learnings or cultural background.
Curriculum
KS3
YEAR 7
Introduction to the formal elements of Art
The formal elements are the parts used to make a piece of artwork. The art elements are line, shape, space, form, tone, texture, pattern, colour and composition. They are often used together, and how they are organised in a piece of art determines what the finished piece will look like. Artists consider each of the formal elements carefully when making their artwork. Students are introduced to these formal elements and explore a range of drawing and painting media. They also work with clay and produce a 3D model.
YEAR 8
Build skills and learning how to develop a personal outcome
The materials used in year 7 are repeated and further developed to improve understanding of colour blending and mark making. Students are also introduced to the steps of how to complete a project. They are shown how to develop a personal response to a given title. These skills are required for GCSE and give students an insight to how they will work in year 9.
Ks4
GCSE Art - AQA
YEAR 9
Autumn:
Students will develop their observational drawing skills. They will be taught how to record accurately, use techniques to improve confidence and develop their drawing and painting technique. They will be introduced to artist’s work and produce their own work inspired by the style of the artwork.
Spring:
Students will be introduced to a range of artists and will gain a greater understanding of the breath of styles and approach to creating art.
Summer:
Students continue their response to a range of artist’s styles. They are introduced to Art appreciation and analysis the artist’s work.
YEAR 10
Autumn:
Students continue to explore a range of topics, exploring styles/techniques in response to the work of an artist.
Spring:
Students decide on their chosen title for their sustained project. This will give the students the opportunity to demonstrate, through an extended creative response, their ability to draw together different areas of knowledge, skills and/or understanding from across their course of study. They will demonstrate an ability to research, collect, record and connect to the work of relevant artists.
Summer:
The students will continue this artistic journey and experiment with a range of materials in light of the artist’s work they have researched. The will develop their own work in response to the artists.
YEAR 11
Autumn:
Students complete the sustained project evidencing the journey from initial engagement to the realisation of intentions They then complete a 10-hour trial exam which is the final realisation of their personal project.
Coursework is completed by the end of this term. This portfolio consists of their sustained project which shows explicit coverage of the four assessment objectives. They will also select any further work undertaken during the course which demonstrates the student’s artistic ability.
Spring:
Students will be given their exam paper on their first lesson in January. They will then begin their preparatory work. The work should cover the four Assessment Objectives – Collect, Record, Experiment, research and respond to relevant artist’s work.
Summer:
After Easter students will sit a 10-hour exam. This is the final piece for the exam unit.
KS5
A LEVEL
YEAR 12
Coursework
Component 1 is a personal investigation unit. Students are encouraged to develop their own individual interests and style though their coursework. This is based on an idea, issue, concept or theme leading to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcome. Practical elements should make connections with some aspect of contemporary or past practice of artist(s), designer(s), photographers or craftspeople and include written work of no less than 1000 and no more than 3000 words which supports the practical work. Sketchbook work is vital part of the coursework; a large percentage of the marks are awarded to the development of an idea. Students must explore a range of materials and overcome technical difficulties through research and experimentation. They must document relevant artists/designers and produce their own work in light of this research.
YEAR 13
From the 1st February in year 13, students respond to a stimulus component 2 provided by AQA, to produce work which provides evidence of their ability to work independently within specified time constraints, developing a personal and meaningful response which addresses all the assessment objectives and leads to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes.
Exam
Student will have 15 hours supervised time to complete their final outcome. This is usually over three consecutive days.
Assessment Details
KS3
Student’s work is assessed at the end of each subject topic. In Years 7 and 8, we use these assessments to determine their attainment grade for the progress reviews (from A to E).
Ks4
The exam and coursework will be marked using the following assessment objectives.
- AO1: Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.
- AO2: Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.
All objectives carry an equal weighting of marks. The coursework is completed in December of year 11 and the exam at the end of May in year 11. Both components are marked and moderated by the AQA teachers once the exam is completed. After the marks have been submitted, a visiting external moderator visit the school to ensure standardisation of marks.
Internal assessment in the form of teacher feedback is given at intervals throughout the course. Students also receive estimated grades throughout year 10 and 11, in line with the school assessment calendar.
KS5
The exam and coursework are marked using the following assessment objectives:
- AO1: Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.
- AO2: Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.
All objectives carry an equal weighting of marks. The coursework is completed at the end of Jan in year 13 and the exam at the end of May. Both components are marked and moderated by the AQA teachers once the exam is completed. After the marks have been submitted, a visiting external moderator visit the school to ensure standardisation of marks. Internal assessment in the form of teacher feedback is given at intervals throughout the course. Students also receive estimated grades throughout year 10 and 11, in line with the school assessment calendar.
Why Study Art
Choosing to do GCSE Art opens up real prospects of studying the subject at A level in the Sixth Form. This gives an option of considering going on to Art College or University leading ultimately to possible careers in Art.
Developing an ability to express yourself artistically is a skill to be highly valued. Consider carefully the merits of the subject and the relevance of the subject to you. You may choose to do the subject at GCSE purely because you enjoy it or you may have longer term motives. What is certain, once you do start studying the subject at exam level your interest in it just grows!
Visual and emotional intelligence is as important to a student’s development as intellectual intelligence, fortunately art is a subject which contains all three. Art allows students to develop a broad approach to the world around them.
Useful Links
AQA A level – Fine art:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/as-and-a-level/art-and-design/scheme-of-assessment
Useful website to galleries:
www.birminghammuseum.org.uk/bmag
www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk
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