Curriculum Intent

To take art students on a journey of discovery, giving them a cultural awareness of the arts, craft and design world. For students to discover their potential through expressing themselves creatively whilst increasing their skills, knowledge and confidence whilst gaining a passion for art, craft and design. Students to understand the techniques and processes through research and experimentation whilst increasing their cultural and social awareness and appreciation of the world around them.

Key Stage 3 overview

At KS3 students follow a programme of study that builds skills, understanding and knowledge in a wide range of art forms including drawing, painting, developing use of colour, 3D work and looking at existing art from a wide range of sources. This gives the students the opportunity to be creative, boost confidence, reduce stress whilst creating the building blocks to be prepared for GCSE. 

Key Stage 4 overview

Students explore their own themes and make connections to social development in personal ways. This journey gives our students a voice with which to express their thoughts on, feelings about, and responses to the world around them. and one exam. We cover a variety of skills and aspects of art, craft & design including drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, photography, printing and mixed media. The course is through AQA and consists of 60% coursework and 40% exam. The exam paper is set in the January of year 11 and prep work takes place in class and as independent study.

Coursework

The GCSE course consists of 2 projects that we start in Sept of Year 10 and finish by Jan of year 11. The coursework section is marked out of 96 marks and is 60% of the final grade. Students explore the coursework brief and are assessed on four assessment objectives. Each objective is marked out of 24 marks. The four assessment objectives are:

AO1- Research

Develop ideas through investigations informed by contextual and other sources demonstrating analytical and cultural understanding.

AO2- Experimentation

Refine ideas through experimenting and selecting appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes.

AO3-Recording

Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions in visual and/or other forms.

AO4- Final Piece

Present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating analytical and critical understanding, realising intentions.

Exam

The exam consists of exam preparation and a final piece. It is marked in the same way as the coursework using the 4 assessments and out of 96 marks. The exam is 10 hours which is split over various sessions over a few weeks. You will choose one question from the set given by the examining board. The exam questions will be given out at the beginning of January and you will have until March to complete the preparation work for the exam.

Skills covered through the coursework and exam prep:

Observational Drawing                                                               

Painting Skills

Mixed Media

Written Analysis of an Artist/Work/Style

Annotation Skills

Creative Design

3D Design

Course Specification link:- https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/gcse/art-and-design-8201-8206/specification-at-a-glance