Welcome to the Art Department

Teacher

Miss L. Gaston

Aims

The Art Department always strives to be a hive of activity, busy and exciting in pursuit of the objectives of the department. Each pupil is treated with respect and encouraged to attain their maximum potential. As the standard of achievement in public exams is very high, good practice is essential to maintain this standard. Enjoyment of hard work and application is a core value. Overall, our aims are as follows:

• Stimulate the student’s interest and enjoyment of the arts
• Broaden the student’s knowledge and understanding of arts practice, skills and development
• Encourage independent learning skills in a safe and nurturing environment
• Enable students to develop a range of desirable personal qualities: politeness, negotiation, compromise, co-operation, initiative, respect, organisation, and listening
• Encourage the student to respect others regardless of bender, heritage, class, ability and so on
• Enable the student to perceive the arts in their historical and social context; raising awareness of the powerful communicator of ideas and emotions that the arts can be
• Encourage students to think critically about both their own work and that of others, including peers and exchange views on them so they can enhance their development
• Encourage students to use a wide range of materials to develop their ideas and concepts with confidence thus encouraging self-expression
• Ensure every pupil is treated with respect irrespective of the standard of their work
• Use a wide variety of materials as possible and communicate effectively in oral, written, and digital media format where appropriate
• Encourage self-development, empowering pupils to make informed and responsible decisions laying the basic ground for good citizenship and being able to work with others.

Key Stage 3

Pupils in key stage 3 use a wide range of techniques to record their observations, explore ideas and experiment. Pupils have the opportunities to work in a wide variety of artistic media.

Year 8

• Colour Theory
• Tonal Drawing
• Ceramics based on sea creatures
• Paper Cut Stop Motion Animation

Year 9

• Pop Art Ceramic Cupcake
• Observational Sweet/Crisp Wrapper Drawing
• Logo Design
• Spaghetti Western Film Project

Year 10

• Careers in Art and Design
• Self-Portraiture
• Printmaking Patterns
• Rango Storyboard
• Woven Photography

Key Stage 4

In year 11 and 12 students embark on the AQA Art and Design syllabus. The course engages in a critical, practical and theoretical study of Art and Design. Pupils develop an appreciation of the work of artists, designers and craft workers from a range of cultural backgrounds. They also develop their own artistic practice. In 2024, 93% of pupils studying GCSE Art and Design achieved an A* - C grade with 64% of pupils achieving at least a grade B or more.

Students can choose the following areas of study:

• GCSE Art, Craft and Design
• GCSE Graphic Communication
• GCSE Photography

Each course consists of two units:

• Component 1: Portfolio – 60%

A portfolio that in total shows explicit coverage of the four assessment objectives. It must include a sustained project evidencing the journey from initial engagement to the realisation of intentions and a selection of further work undertaken during the student’s course of study.

• Component 2: Externally Set Assignment – 40%

Students respond to their chosen starting point from an externally set assignment paper relating to their subject title, evidencing coverage of all four assessment objectives.