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Art

Mr Ares - Subject Leader  
Miss Atkinson Teacher of Art
Miss O Horn Teacher of Art
Mrs Estes – Art Technician

Art Vision

Become creative, critical, independent visual thinkers

Curriculum Intent

Our visual arts curriculum is designed to inspire students on a lifelong journey of enjoying, investigating, creating and being actively involved in the world around them.

We strive to:

  • foster the natural curiosity of young people supporting them to wonder, express, imagine, empathise and question through their artwork
  • support students to build confidence and self-esteem by encouraging them to embrace difficulty and to know that failure is part of the learning process
  • gain the knowledge and skills required to make their own mark on their visual landscape
  • support young people to discover how humanity has expressed emotions, relationships and stories throughout history and places, and to appreciate different viewpoints and ideas
  • support our students in becoming creative, critical, independent, visual thinkers in order to develop unique ways of knowing, doing, and belonging in both a local and global community

Year 7 to 13 Learning Journey

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 3 – Art, Craft and Design

The key stage 3 curriculum is broad ranging and introduces students to a wide variety of materials, techniques and processes in art, craft and design including drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture and digital media. It is here, at the beginning, that students begin their journey on becoming creative, critical, independent, visual thinkers. For details on individual projects, key learning and assessment, please click on the documents below.

Year 7 Long Term Plan 2022-23
Year 8 Long Term Plan 2022-23 

GCSE Fine Art 

Year 9 Foundation Fine Art

The year 9 GCSE fine art course aims to support you to develop your own visual style in projects encompassing still life, the environment, and socially engaged art, continuing to build your confidence in communicating and expressing personal ideas through your artwork. Working with a range of 2D, 3D and digital disciplines including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, and photography. You will research a range of traditional and contemporary artists, helping you to build on your artistic knowledge, critical understanding, and skills which will prepare you for the personal projects in year 10 and 11.

Through this creative process, you will continue to develop your abilities to ‘critique like an artist’ and be encouraged to wonder, question and respond to the world around you. Critiquing like an artist involves:

  • Communicating the context, ideas and processes behind your artwork in the form of annotations and group critiques.
  • Analysing context, ideas and processes behind the artworks applying learning through the making of your own artworks.
  • Developing your abilities to review your artwork as it progresses, refining your ideas as you move through the creative process.
  • Enhancing your literacy capabilities through practice as you make, see, design, create, curate, and explore ideas and concepts.

Year 10 and 11:

Component 1 Personal Portfolio (worth 60% of your final GCSE) consists of two projects. Tasks are initially set by your teachers and will then be self-directed. You will have the opportunity to generate ideas, research from primary, secondary and contextual sources, experiment with a wider range of materials, techniques and processes and further develop your abilities to critique like an artist. You will learn to develop and refine your ideas towards producing large final pieces.

Component 2 Externally Set Assignment (worth 40% of your final GCSE) represents the culmination of the GCSE course and continue your journey in becoming creative, critical, independent, visual thinkers. The exam project consists of one broad-based thematic starting point for which you will develop preparation work from the end of January in year 11.  At the end of this time, you will produce a final piece in a ten-hour period of sustained focus under exam conditions.

For details on individual projects, key learning and assessment, please click on the documents below.

Art & Design Assessment Grid
Art Design Spec Updated Full
Year 9 GCSE Foundation Year Long Term Plan 2022-23
Year 10 GCSE Long Term Plan 2022-23
Year 11 GCSE Long Term Plan 2022-23 
Art Disciplinary Literacy Framework

GCSE Photography (Sixth Form Only)

Key Stage 5 – GCSE Photography

The 1-year GCSE Photography course is offered to students who are new to creative subjects or simply want to improve on a previous GCSE art grade before embarking on level 3. Initially, students will be immersed in teacher-led workshops to develop confidence with using a digital camera, photographic equipment and software. Students will then develop projects in independent directions. The course aims to support students to develop:

  • an understanding of the creative process
  • an increasing confidence in their practical ability to create, imagine, communicate and express their ideas, thoughts, and feelings in their artworks.
  • investigative, analytical, experimental and interpretative capabilities, aesthetic understanding and critical and enquiring minds, with increasing independence
  • cultural knowledge and understanding of art methods and of the media art produced in different times, contexts and societies
  • habits of mind including self-confidence, collaboration, resilience, independence, and discipline. 

For details on individual projects, key learning and assessment, please click on the documents below.

Art and Design Assessment Grid
Art Design Spec Full  
GCSE Photography Long Term Plan 2022-23

A Level Fine Art

Key Stage 5 - A Level Fine Art

The Key Stage 5 Fine Art curriculum builds on the learning from the GCSE Fine Art course. Students begin to learn, behave and act as if they are working in a professional creative studio. The course encourages students to develop:

  • intellectual, imaginative, creative and intuitive minds
  • investigative, analytical, experimental, practical, technical and expressive skills, aesthetic understanding and critical judgement 
  • independence of mind in relation to developing their own ideas, refining their own intentions and personal outcomes 
  • an interest in, enthusiasm for, and enjoyment of art
  • experience of working with a broad range of media, including traditional and new media technologies 
  • an understanding of the interrelationships between a diverse range processes and an awareness of the contexts in which they operate
  • experience of working within relevant and real frameworks and, where appropriate, make links to the creative industries 
  • knowledge, understanding and application of art, media and technologies in contemporary and past societies and cultures 
  • an awareness of different roles, functions and audiences and consumers of art practice 
  • habits of mind including self-confidence, presentation, collaboration, resilience, independence, and discipline

For details on individual projects, key learning and assessment, please click on the documents below.

A Level Assessment Grid Practical Work and Personal Study Combined
GCE A Level Art and Design Specification
 A Level Fine Art Long Term Plan 2021-23  
A Level Fine Art Long Term Plan 2022-24

A Level Photography

Key Stage 5 – A Level Photography

The Key Stage 5 Photography curriculum builds on the learning from the GCSE Fine Art course. Students begin to learn, behave and act as if they are working in a professional creative studio. The course encourages students to develop:

  • intellectual, imaginative, creative and intuitive minds
  • investigative, analytical, experimental, practical, technical and expressive skills, aesthetic understanding and critical judgement 
  • independence of mind in relation to developing their own ideas, refining their own intentions and personal outcomes 
  • an interest in, enthusiasm for, and enjoyment of photography
  • experience of working with a broad range of photographic media, including traditional and new media technologies 
  • an understanding of the interrelationships between a diverse range processes and an awareness of the contexts in which they operate
  • experience of working within relevant and real frameworks and, where appropriate, make links to the creative industries 
  • knowledge, understanding and application of art/photography, media and technologies in contemporary and past societies and cultures 
  • an awareness of different roles, functions and audiences and consumers of photographic practice 
  • habits of mind including self-confidence, presentation, collaboration, resilience, independence, and discipline

For details on individual projects, key learning and assessment, please click on the documents below.

A Level Assessment Grid Practical Work and Personal Study Combined
GCE A Level Art and Design Specification
A Level Photography Long Term Plan 2021-23
A Level Photography Long Term Plan 2022-24