Key Stage 3

Art and Design is taught to students through a variety of different art projects to develop skills using the formal elements line, tone, texture, shape and colour in drawing and painting. In addition students work on other art mediums such as ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, textiles and photography to enable them to respond to cultural understanding in a creative and visual way.

When refining and developing their art work to build self-esteem within their art skills students will:

• Practise art skills, build/refine art work to develop and improve.
• Be recognised and rewarded for developing Art skills using a range of different art materials.
• Investigate Artist, Crafts people and cultural references to inspire.
• Provide evidence of developing artwork and constructive critique to value the efforts of others.

Students work using the following four assessment criteria:

• A01 Developing and investigating ideas from artist and cultural evidence.
• A02 Experimenting and building on ideas with appropriate materials, techniques and processes.
• A03 Recording ideas and insights through drawing and annotation as a work in progress.
• A04 Final response a piece of art work that links to the project brief and A01-A03.

Accessing the assessment criteria gives students a good understanding to the subject in preparation for GCSE.

They are encouraged to research and develop ideas in a variety of ways and sustain activities through to completion increasingly showing the ability to communicate through visual language. Through practical work students are introduced to the work of prominent artists and cultural styles, utilising distinctive methods in the development of their own work.

They are also encouraged to visit art galleries and develop skills in photography to strengthen their artwork as well as working by themselves and in group within a variety of different projects to prepare them for future careers in the arts.

Key Stage 4

GCSE Fine Art: Students further develop the skills learnt at Key Stage 3 and further explore the skills and techniques through a variety of experiences exploring a range of Fine Art media, techniques and processes, including both traditional and new technologies. Responses to selected source material must be shown through practical and critical activities which demonstrate understanding of different styles, genres and traditions to personalise their own direction within their artwork.

Areas of mediums studied are:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Sculpture/3D Design
• Printmaking
• Art History
• Photography
• I.T. research and Adobe Photoshop
• Graphic Design

To find out more please get in touch with Amanda Skilton on Amanda.Skilton@northgosforth.co.uk