Art and Photography

Curriculum Overview

All students at KS3 have 1 hour of art lessons a week. They explore a range of different media, including painting & drawing, printmaking and sculpture and study different artists and movements to help influence and inspire their work. Homework projects are set each term and form an integral part of the course of study.

In Year 7 students begin with learning about the visual elements of colour, tone, texture, line, shape and pattern. Students arrive at secondary school with a range of knowledge, very much dependent on their experiences at primary school. We ensure that our curriculum enables all students to develop the fundamental basic knowledge, skills and techniques to progress with confidence and ease.

Students learn how to research and investigate, how to record ideas and information through drawing, annotation and analysis. Students evaluate and assess their own and others work, working individually and in groups. They learn how to refine and develop their work and ideas and make informed decisions as to how their work progresses.

In Year 8 students continue to develop and refine their skills and techniques, building upon and following on from work in Year 7. All projects are designed to extend and enrich student’s knowledge and understanding, as well as giving more opportunity for independent and personal study.

In Year 9 students begin to consolidate their knowledge, skills and understanding of Art & Design. They work increasingly independently and begin to hone their skills in preparation for standards required at GCSE.

At Gaynes School we follow the AQA GCSE Art & Design and Photography course:

AQAThis consists of: Coursework – 60%; Exam – 40%

Assessment components

• 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

Main activities

Art & Design and Photography students begin their GCSE course by developing their foundation skills and techniques and widening their knowledge and understanding. This means that the nature of the course is more directed with students completing set tasks and activities. However, as the course progresses, students are encouraged to develop their own ideas and work becomes increasingly independent and tailored to students own interests and abilities. We aim for students to be able to have the confidence to direct their own course of study by term 3, which results in a sustained and final outcome, similar to the structure of the GCSE exam.

Students start Year 11 with a mock exam. They are given the opportunity to select their own project title from a range of previous GCSE questions. We believe this prepares students well for their GCSE exam in January, so that they can enter the exam period with confidence. Students work independently to research and investigate their own course of study before refining and developing their ideas culminating in a sustained final outcome.

From January in Year 11 students start their GCSE exam preparatory period with the 10-hour exam taking place in April.

Why you should consider this subject for GCSE

The GCSE Art & Design and the Photography course aim to offer students the opportunity to investigate and experiment with a wide range of media, materials and processes. However, the benefits of art classes are much wider reaching than the obvious artistic skills and techniques students learn. The internet has created an explosion of opportunity for digital designers and multimedia artists and a surge in demand for multimedia artists, animators, and illustrators is projected for 2020, due to companies’ demand for advertising in online and digital formats. Students with a wide skill set have an advantage in any career and young people who are multi-skilled are more useful, well-rounded, hireable and capable of excelling in a much wider range of professions. As a coursework-based subject creating a portfolio also teaches you self-discipline, focus, organisational and time management skills, as well as enhancing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, problem solving skills, lateral thinking, complex analysis and critical thinking skills. If you love Art & Design and Photography, it is also worth remembering that outstanding marks, in any subject, indicate skill; intellectual rigour; strong work ethic and a commitment to fulfilling

one’s potential. All of these things are desirable traits in an employee or university applicant, as well as providing students with a deep sense of personal achievement.

“Creative activity is essential for the future well-being of society and the economy. It can unlock the potential of individuals and communities to solve personal, local and global problems. Creativity can be an individual or collaborative activity. By engaging in creative activities, young people can develop the capacity to influence and shape their own lives and wider society. Everyone has the potential for creative activity and it can have a positive impact on self-esteem and overall achievement.”

Future Careers

An Art & Design and/or Photography GCSE can be beneficial to routes such as fine art, illustration, humanities, fashion design, architecture, advertising, politics, new media, photography, art history, cultural studies, animation, graphic design, animation and web design.

Congratulations to the Year 11 Students on achieving 100% 9-4

Congratulations to the Year 11 Students on achieving 87.5% 9-4

The department offers a range of school clubs and competitions. KS3 Art club and Homework support take place every week and all students are welcome. At GCSE, intervention is available after school with the Head of Department. We run an open-door policy where students have access to the Art rooms at lunch and after school to develop their portfolio and to find a friendly place to work.

We regularly take part in local and school competitions and run a whole School Photography Competition which has proved very popular and produced some very successful outcomes.

KS3 & KS4

• Pinterest – A very useful app for researching and investigating homework Images
• Galleries: National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, TATE Modern and TATE Britain, The V & A, The Royal Academy, The Saatchi collection, The British Museum…

There are also example art books, portfolios and sketchbooks available to see in the art room.