Subject Head: Tara Parker-Woolway
Contact: tparkerwoolway@farmors.gloucs.sch.uk
During their first three years all students will study Art and Design for two periods each fortnight. During Key Stage three, we aim to give pupils a solid grounding in all the skills required to create interesting and diverse artwork. We look at the work of artists, designers and craftspeople to support and inform each pupils’ work and to initiate research in to the historical context of certain themes within Art. We aim to help each pupil to understand the art and design visual elements on which they can build as they progress through the school.
In Year 7, all pupils will work through the main elements of art, looking at mark making, colour theory, 3D clay work and painting. Year 8 students are offered the opportunity to visit the Pitt Rivers museum in Oxford, to research the theme of Masks. They are given a talk about how to create a sketchbook page and spend time looking and drawing the many artefacts.
Still building on skills, we give pupils a taste of a GCSE project, where they develop a project based on the theme of Surrealism. The table below sets out the structure of this Key Stage in more Detail.
7
Baseline project Reflecting on and developing basic skills.
3D clay project
Cross curricular project working with Science creating clay tiles on the theme of plant and animal cells.
Medieval Art
Mark making, patterns and Printing using Durer’s “Rhino” as a starting point to create a fantasy creature extending from part of the Rhino. This is then developed into a collagraph print and fantasy painting.
Colour theory and painting
Using an Artists’ work to inform painting style and the use of media.
8
A sense of place
“Journeys”. In this project, students look at their own journey to school through different media and explore the wider concept of what a journey means. They look at Aboriginal Art and produce a history timeline depicting journeys/ migrations through art.
Portraiture
Understanding basic Portrait proportions and produce a portraiture timeline. Art detective- to investigate a portrait painting.
Art from another Culture
Pitt Rivers museum trip- Developing research and designs on the theme of Masks. They work in a range of media to record different types of masks.
3D extension
Making masks from own developed designs.
Contour plants/Doodle Art
Observational still life/plant drawing combined with Doodle Art.
9
Visual Elements investigation
Exploring the formal elements inspired by Artists and techniques.
Surrealism - Studying Dreams in a Landscape.
Understanding the concept inspired by the artists; Rene Magritte, Dorothea Tanning, Salvador Dali and Georgio de Chirico. Pupils investigate the artists and explore the theme through different drawing activities. Students create a surreal landscape using digital media.
Independent development. Developing skills in sketchbook work and creating a final piece based on the theme of Surrealism.
Graffiti project- exploring styles of lettering
Qualification: GCSE
Specification: AQA Fine Art (8202)
GCSE Art and Design is an option choice for students and as such is studied for four hours each week. In this course students have the opportunity to further develop their skills in using different art and craft media in both 2D and 3D form. They will look at a range of artists and explore different types of art work in order to help develop their own ideas and personal styles. As students move through the course they are encouraged to find their own voice with their work and the results become increasingly personal; emphasis is placed on the development of a personal style based on each student’s interests and abilities. Success requires a high degree of involvement and a willingness to work seriously
What should students expect to be doing during the course?
Art and Design at KS4 is a rigorous course which offers the individual an opportunity to develop and refine skills in a range of media. It provides a challenge for the student’s intellect as well as his or her skill. It provides students with the opportunities to develop personal responses to ideas, observations and experiences in practical, critical and contextual forms. They will learn creative thinking skills and develop their knowledge of art practitioners through analysis and visits.
The course consists of two major projects which take place over the two years. Emphasis is placed on sketchbook work which should show the exploration and development of the project, culminating in a final piece at the end of the project. A visit to a Gallery, Museum or Botanical Garden will take place in both years which enables the students to study art works at first hand and draw from observation.
The course is assessed through two elements. The first is a piece of controlled assessment which places value on a student’s sketchbook and is worth 60% of the final grade. There is also a final exam which is worth 40% of the grade. This exam involves 6-8 weeks of preparation and a ten-hour final exam. All work is presented in a folder for marking and moderation in May of Y11.
We offer a successful and well established A-Level in Art at Farmor’s School. Students could also study other art or design based courses including BTECS and NVQs at local colleges.