Art

As an Art Department, we aim to stimulate curiosity, interest and enjoyment in Art and encourage the development of critical and analytical skills and self expression in an imaginative and creative way. Throughout the course of the curriculum, students are able to experience different disciplines and mediums of Art, supported by the expertise of the Teachers within the department, whilst also being introduced to a range of different artists. Students develop their ability to explore an increasing variety of techniques and materials whilst developing a greater understanding of the visual language of Art and Design, enabling them to develop their ability to observe and record sensitively, analytically and expressively. Extra-curricular opportunities, such as Art Club and opportunities to visit galleries support our students’ learning and interest within the subject, and provide them with experiences which they can take with them in later life. We aim to foster an enjoyment and an appreciation of Art for all students, regardless of whether they go on to study the subject beyond the Key Stage 3 Curriculum.

Year 7 Core Learning Objectives in Art 

Year 7 students will be taught units of work on Line, Colour, Pattern, Texture, Form, Tone.   In addition to investigating the work of a range of artists, students will also investigate art and culture from India.

Year 8 Core Learning Objectives in Art 

Year 8 students will be taught units of work on Line, Colour, Pattern, Texture, Form, Tone, learning to strengthen their understanding and skills learnt in Year 7 to a higher standard of control and creative application.  In addition to investigating the work of a range of artists, students will also investigate art and culture from Africa.

Investigate sources including analysis of artist reference

• Compare and contrast visual qualities in artists’ work
• Collect information about the background knowledge of artists’ with reference to how this has informed the artists’ work
• Explain this knowledge in their own words through initial annotation and extended writing
• Collect images to support their analysis of artists
• Write about how their research has inspired their own work
• Use primary and secondary sources to begin to develop their practical work

Refine work through experimentation of ideas and media

• Create a set of experiments with appropriate media 
• Make selections for the most appropriate of experiments to inform a developed piece of work
• Demonstrate a good level of manipulation control with a variety of different tools
• Demonstrate a good level of manipulation control of the formal elements in art
• Annotate their experimentation to outline successes
• Revisit their observations in order to work towards an outcome
• Plan compositions and/or 3D designs in thumbnail drawings

Record ideas, observations and insights

• Record initial ideas
• Record through annotation demonstrating a focus for development within the project
• Record through observational drawing
• Demonstrate good manipulation control with drawing tools as appropriate to outcomes
• Demonstrate good manipulation control of the formal elements (line, tone, form, pattern, texture, colour) with regards to drawing for purpose

Complete a final outcome

• Showing visual influence from the artists’ investigated in the topic
• Containing visual elements that have been explored or recorded during prep work for the topic
• Using appropriately selected media that has been manipulated to a good standard with control

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Year 9 Core Learning Objectives

The curriculum in Year 9 extends students holistic understanding of applying formal elements when developing a Fine Art project with greater independence.  In addition to investigating the work of a range of artists, students will also investigate art and culture from China.  The Summer Term unit of work for Year 9 follows investigation of photographic artists and processes through personal photographic outcomes.