KS3 Curriculum Overview

Students at Key Stage 3 receive one lesson of Art per week and follow a carefully planned curriculum that develops practical skills, visual literacy and creative independence. Students explore a wide range of artistic disciplines, materials and processes, drawing inspiration from artists, designers and cultures from around the world.

In Year 7, students begin by developing their understanding of the formal elements of art, including colour, tone, texture, line, shape, form and pattern. We recognise that students arrive from primary school with a wide range of experiences and prior knowledge, and our curriculum is designed to ensure that all students develop the fundamental skills and techniques needed to progress with confidence.

Students learn how to research and investigate artists and themes, record ideas through drawing and annotation, analyse artwork and evaluate their own progress. They are encouraged to experiment, take creative risks and refine their work through an ongoing process of reflection and improvement.

In Year 8, students build upon the knowledge and skills developed in Year 7 through increasingly ambitious projects that encourage greater independence, creativity and personal expression. Students explore a wider range of materials, techniques and artistic approaches whilst continuing to strengthen their observational, analytical and practical skills.

In Year 9, students consolidate their knowledge, skills and understanding of Art & Design. Projects become increasingly independent and students are encouraged to develop their own creative interests and personal responses. The curriculum provides an excellent foundation for those wishing to progress to GCSE Fine Art or GCSE Photography, whilst continuing to develop the confidence, resilience and creative thinking that benefits all learners.

GCSE Fine Art

At Gaynes School we follow the AQA GCSE Fine Art course.

Course Structure

Component 1: Portfolio (60%)
Students produce a portfolio of work that demonstrates sustained investigation, experimentation and the development of personal ideas.

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (40%)
Students respond to a theme set by AQA and complete a preparatory period followed by a 10-hour supervised practical examination.

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.

What Will I Study?

Students begin the course by developing a strong foundation of practical skills, techniques and processes. Through drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture and photography, students explore a range of artists, cultures and artistic movements whilst developing their own creative strengths.

Students develop their skills through a wide range of practical experiences including observational drawing, painting, relief printing, mixed media experimentation, sculpture and photographic processes. Projects encourage experimentation with both traditional and contemporary approaches, including darkroom photography, photograms, lumen printing and three-dimensional outcomes. Students are encouraged to take creative risks, develop personal interests and refine their work through ongoing investigation and experimentation.

As the course progresses, students become increasingly independent, investigating themes and ideas that reflect their own interests and experiences. By Year 11, students are confident in directing their own projects, conducting artist research, experimenting with materials and creating highly personal outcomes.

Students begin Year 11 with a mock examination based on a previous GCSE question, helping them develop the skills, confidence and independence required for the final externally set assignment.

Why Choose GCSE Fine Art?

GCSE Fine Art is an exciting and rewarding subject for students who enjoy creativity, problem-solving and self-expression. The course develops practical artistic skills alongside valuable transferable skills including resilience, critical thinking, organisation, research, analysis and independent learning.

Students learn how to communicate ideas visually, take creative risks and develop original responses to themes and concepts. The course encourages curiosity, imagination and confidence whilst providing opportunities to explore personal interests through creative investigation.

Whether students pursue a creative career or not, the ability to think creatively, solve problems and communicate ideas effectively is highly valued by colleges, universities and employers.

Future Pathways

GCSE Fine Art can support progression into A Levels, vocational qualifications and careers including fine art, illustration, graphic design, architecture, fashion, interior design, animation, game design, set design, teaching, marketing, advertising, museum and gallery work, and many other creative industries.

GCSE Photography

At Gaynes School we follow the AQA GCSE Photography course.

Course Structure

Component 1: Portfolio (60%)
Students produce a portfolio of photographic work that demonstrates investigation, experimentation and the development of personal ideas.

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (40%)
Students respond to a theme set by AQA and complete a preparatory period followed by a 10-hour supervised examination.

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.

What Will I Study?

GCSE Photography introduces students to the creative and technical aspects of image-making. Students learn how to use photography as a form of visual communication, exploring how images can tell stories, communicate ideas and express personal viewpoints.

Throughout the course, students develop skills in camera handling, composition, lighting, image editing and digital manipulation. They explore both traditional and contemporary photographic processes, including DSLR photography, darkroom techniques, photograms, lumen printing and Photoshop. Students are encouraged to experiment with a wide range of creative approaches whilst developing a personal photographic style.

Projects encourage students to photograph a variety of subjects including portraiture, landscape, architecture, still life and documentary photography. As confidence grows, students develop increasingly personal projects that reflect their own interests and creative ambitions.
 

Students begin Year 11 with a mock examination before completing the AQA externally set assignment, enabling them to approach the final examination with confidence and independence.

Why Choose GCSE Photography?

Photography is an exciting subject for students who enjoy creativity, technology and visual storytelling. It combines practical image-making with research, analysis and creative problem-solving.

The course develops technical skills alongside creativity, independence, organisation and critical thinking. Students learn how images influence the way we understand the world and how visual communication plays a powerful role in modern society.

Photography is particularly suitable for students who enjoy working digitally, exploring ideas visually and developing personal creative projects.

Future Pathways

GCSE Photography can lead to further study in photography, media, graphic design, film, animation, advertising, marketing, journalism, architecture, game design, digital content creation and a wide range of creative and visual communication careers.

Art Design curriculum overview

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. Workshops and activities this year have included painting, sculpting, spray painting, polymer clay, ceramics, enamelling and charity work.

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 yearly whole school photography competition which has proved very popular and produced some very successful outcomes. Our students enter the annual Havering Young Artist competition with regular success and this year a Year 9 student enter the Royal Academy summer exhibition.

KS3 & KS4

Google Classroom – Homework is recorded on Google Classroom for students to access support and links at home. Here you will also find student examples, digital exhibitions of student work, entries into competitions and the winning art work, support for GCSE, links to galleries and much more.

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, as well as the numerous displays of work around the school.