Art, Craft & Design

What is the overall aim of what we are learning in Art, Craft & Design?

To ensure that all students are able to produce their own creative work. It is our intention that students become proficient in the skills required for drawing, painting, image-making and sculpture. Students will learn about great artists and we will equip them to be able to talk and write critically about their own work and the work of others.

What are students learning in Year 7 & 8?

Students will learn how to develop their drawing skills through close observation from life and other sources. We have devised schemes of learning which allow students to experiment with a wide range of processes and techniques including drawing, painting, sculpture, and image-making. Students are taught how to both discuss and write about a range of artists’ work from different times and places

Why are they learning these things?

Drawing is at the very heart of our curriculum and we want to equip students with the tools they need to be able to visually express what they think, feel and see. Academic literacy is important and we intend that students are able to talk and write expressively, both about their own work and the work of others.
 

What are the students learning in Year 9, 10 & 11?

Year 9

Students in Year 9 continue to develop practical skills in disciplines such as drawing, painting, sculpture, and image-making. There is an emphasis on creative thinking and students are taught how to generate and develop their own ideas. Students' ability to talk and write about art is developed and there is an exam-taster project in the Summer term.

Year 10 and 11

Students will continue to build their practical skills in a range of media and processes. They will continue to learn how to analyse the work of recognised artists and how to synthesise this learning into their practical work.

Students will be taught how to experiment with a range of processes and materials in order to develop their work further, with the aim of producing final outcomes that link together with their artist research and development work. 

Why are they learning these things?

Year 9

All of what we teach in Year 9 is with the purpose of preparing students for Year 10 and 11, which is when they will embark on extended projects for final GCSE submission. It is important that students build their skills and learn how to generate and develop ideas.

Year 10 and 11

Most students will complete two projects in Year 10, the first of which will be a theme set by teachers, whereas the second will be generated by the students themselves. In the Summer Term of Year 10, students will decide which of the two projects they will continue to develop for submission for their GCSE Portfolio unit.

In Year 11, students will be expected to complete their Portfolio unit by the end of the Autumn Term. They will have from January until April to complete the Externally Set task, which will culminate in a ten hour exam in which they produce a final outcome.

All of the learning and teaching that takes place during Year 10 and Year 11 is to facilitate the successful completion of their Portfolio unit and their Externally Set Task.
 

How can I find out more about what students are learning?

What is the overall aim of what we are learning in Photography?

To ensure that all students are able to record, edit and present creative photographic work. It is our intention that students become proficient in using cameras and a range of editing software. Students will learn about renowned photographers and we will equip them to be able to talk and write critically about their own work and the work of others.

What are the students learning in Year 9, 10 & 11?

Year 9 

Students in Year 9 will learn the basics of photography, such as camera technology and lighting, composition, and digital techniques and the fundamentals of editing software such as Photoshop. Students' ability to talk and write about photography is developed and there is an exam-taster project in the Summer term.

Year 10 and 11

Students will continue to build their practical skills in a range of photographic media and processes. They will continue to learn how to analyse the work of photographers and how to synthesise this learning into their practical work. There is an emphasis on creative thinking and students are taught how to respond to themes and to develop ideas.

Students will be taught how to experiment with a range of processes and materials in order to develop their work further, with the aim of producing final outcomes that link together their research and development.

Why are they learning these things?

Year 9

All of what we teach at Year 9 is with the purpose of preparing students for Year 10 and 11, which is when they will embark on extended projects for final GCSE submission. It is important that students build their skills and develop their visual literacy so that they can begin to both read and create visual images effectively.

Most students will complete two projects in Year 10, the first of which will be a theme set by teachers, whereas the second will be generated by the students themselves. In the Summer Term of Year 10, students will decide which of the two projects they will continue to develop for submission for their GCSE Portfolio unit.

In Year 11, students will be expected to complete their Portfolio unit by the end of the Autumn Term. They will have from January until April to complete the Externally Set task, which will culminate in a ten hour exam in which they produce a final outcome.

All of the learning and teaching that takes place during Year 10 and Year 11 is to facilitate the successful completion of their Portfolio unit and their Externally Set Task.

How can I find out more about what students are learning?

What is the overall aim of what we are learning in Three Dimensional Design?

To ensure that all students are able  to design and create functional objects. It is our intention that students become proficient in using a range of tools and methods such as drawing, painting, design software and sculpture in order to realise their design ideas. Developing an understanding of the relationship between form and function is important. Students will learn about great designers and we will equip them to be able to talk and write critically about the work of other designer’s and the work they themselves produce.

What are students learning in Year 7 & 8?

Students will learn how to identify target audiences and how to design for their specific needs. We have devised schemes of learning which allow students to learn about a range of design disciplines such as textile design, product design and sculpture.

Why are they learning these things?

Ideas are at the very heart of the design curriculum and we want to equip students with the tools they need to be able to express what they see and think. Literacy is of utmost importance and we intend that students are able to talk and write expressively about their work and the work of others.

What are the students learning in Year 9, 10 & 11?

Year 9

Students in Year 9 will be introduced to the subject through the Design Ventura Competition. This competition is run by the Design Museum and asks students to design and develop a product for their shops. 

Students are exposed to a range of design disciplines and their ability to talk and write about design is developed. There is an exam-taster project in the Summer term.

Students will continue to build their practical and design skills through a range of media and processes. They will continue to learn how to analyse the work of designers and how to synthesise this learning into their practical work. There is an emphasis on creative thinking and students are taught how to respond to design briefs and to develop ideas.

Students will be taught how to experiment with a range of processes and materials in order to develop their work further, with the aim of producing final outcomes that link together their research and development.

Why are they learning these things?

Year 9

The Design Ventura Competition allows students to learn about product design and requires them to consider the target audience for products. Essentially, students are required to understand the relationship between form and function.

All of what we teach at Year 9 is with the purpose of preparing students for Year 10 and 11, which is when they will embark on extended projects for final GCSE submission. It is important that students build their skills and learn how to generate and develop ideas.

Most students will complete three projects in Year 10, the third of which will be a theme generated by the students themselves, but informed by their prior learning. In the Summer Term of Year 10, students will decide which of the three projects they have explored will be developed for submission for their GCSE Portfolio unit.

How can I find out more about what students are learning?