Visual Arts
Art & Design
The Art Department aims to give each student the opportunity to engage in a range of exciting and inspiring practical art projects ranging from Printmaking to Manga and Portraiture. Our aim is to ensure that every student has access to a number of artistic disciplines and to encourage independent learning through being creative, independent and imaginative. Students study a range of artists, designers and craftspeople by experimenting and developing their skills and knowledge through working with different materials, techniques and processes.
Key Stage 3
At the start of year 7 all students are issued two sketchbooks - one for classwork and the other for homework. Each term, students are set three main homework tasks which are aimed at developing a students’ observation drawing skills. Each year students will complete three themed practical projects based on studying different artists and styles of art. The projects are as follows:
Project 1 – Line & Mark Making
Project 2 – Colour Theory
Project 3 – Birds and Animals
Project 1 – Drawing Techniques
Project 2 – Aboriginal Art
An example of Key stage 3 Aboriginal art showing the predominant reds and oranges and the use of dots around typical wildlife subjects.
Project 3 – Georgia O’Keefe – Life and Decay
Georgia O'Keeffe: Faraway, Nearby
Every student will produce work in their sketchbook documenting the artistic processes carried out in key stage 3. This working journal shows student’s progress throughout years 7-9.
Examples of good quality Art sketchbooks (PDF Archive)
Key Stage 4: GCSE
Art, craft and design
This is an excellent general introduction to the study of art, craft and design. You’ll look at different approaches to art and use lots of different media, techniques and materials. You will also study two more areas from the list below.
Three-dimensional design
The design, prototyping and modelling or making of products, objects, and environments, using intellectual, creative and practical skills. Areas of study could include sculpture, ceramics, product design, jewellery design and 3D digital design.
Children could experiment with textiles, graphic communication and collage.
How will you be assessed?
There are two components:
- Component 1 Portfolio: You will produce a sustained project and a selection of further work that represents the course of study. This is worth 60 % of your overall marks.
- Component 2 Externally set assignment: You will work on a separate externally set task paper for each title. It features seven tasks and you have to complete one of them. You get preparation time, plus ten hours of supervised time. This is worth 40 % of your total marks.
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| Example of Michael Craig Martin style work in tackled in year 9. Use of scale in everyday objects and strong outlines with flat background colours typifies MCM's work. |
Useful Web Links
BBC Bitesize Art & Design home page
Year Ten Specific web pages