Aims
We aim to sustain a lively and creative working environment where high standards are fostered and maintained and where pupils recognise the subject as part of a living tradition.
Staff and facilities
The department is housed in its own building. There are 4 studios and a further resource area located on the top floor. A range of disciplines are taught including painting and drawing, print, textiles, ceramics, 3D and graphics. An important component of the subject is that ideas flow between the various disciplines and this forms an integral approach to the teaching practised in the department. There is a gallery located on the ground floor of the adjacent teaching block that is used for regular exhibitions and display. In addition, a large number of pupils’ pieces are displayed around the school.
How much time will I spend on this subject per 10 day cycle?
- Lower School – 2 lessons (2 hours) with half an hour of homework
- GCSE – 5 lessons (5 hours) with 1 hour of homework
- A Level – 10 lessons (10 hours) with at least 3 hours of individual study
Art in the Lower School
Art and Design is taught to all pupils up to and including Third Year. Pupils are introduced to a basic Art knowledge exploring themes including line, shape, tone, form, colour, texture, pattern and composition. This ensures the development of skills in a wide range of media and, combined with an introduction to the work of other artists and designers, aims to engage and encourage understanding and ability in the subject. Projects are designed to engender an understanding of cross-curricular and cultural issues.
Art further up the school
GCSE Art is a popular choice. The department follows the AQA syllabus that allows course-based individual programmes that are marked internally and moderated externally. During the Fourth Year and at the start of the Fifth Year, pupils begin to complete a a portfolio of work, the unit 1, which accounts for 60% of the total marks. A further externally set task, the unit 2, which includes a timed examination, is completed at the end of the Fifth Year and makes up the remaining 40%. The course encourages candidates to develop their technical skill levels and a wide range of media is explored. In addition pupils are encouraged to visit galleries and museums.
A Level
A Level sets in Art usually consist of between 9 and 12 pupils and teaching is divided between 2 members of staff. We follow the AQA syllabus which provides the opportunity for thorough exploration and investigation of the subject. Techniques and principles established at GCSE are expanded upon and a wider range of media is introduced. A greater emphasis is placed on a personal response and the influence of artists, designers and other secondary sources are expected to feature increasingly in the development of work.
AS
AS examination in Art consists of one practical coursework unit (the portfolio) that makes up 25% of the total marks. This is followed by an externally assessed assignment (a further 25% of the marks) which begins in the second half of the year and includes a controlled test piece.
A2
A2 examination in Art consists of a coursework unit that takes the form of a personal investigation in which the pupil has to submit a portfolio of practical work along with a related written study of approximately 3,000 words (25% of the marks). In the second half of the year and as a culmination of the course, there is an externally assessed assignment (the final 25%) that includes a 15 hour supervised piece.
Trips
It is important that pupils are aware of Art and Design in the wider context and the theoretical attachments, in both historical and contextual terms, are a major part of the department’s teaching. A pupil’s ability to discuss their own and other artists’ work illustrates their understanding of the balance between objective and subjective as well as the practical and academic, in other words the very nature of Art and Design. At the start of the course a number of visits are made to galleries, and these are complemented by a number of drawing days at sites away from the school studios. Further visits to galleries are encouraged throughout the year.
Extracurricular activities
The department runs a dedicated art and textiles club after school on Tuesday each week. Here, pupils from across year groups are able to work on projects linked to their classwork or on more specialist pieces that may introduce them to skills including batik, stained glass and ceramics. One area of work undertaken by those in the club involves the making of backdrops and props for use in the various school productions that take place throughout the year and this is a splendid way for pupils to get involved in the backstage aspects of these major productions.
