Introduction to Department

Our Art department consists of 6 full time teachers and a technician.

Mrs H. Burnett - Head of Art
Mrs P. Waterhouse - Head of Textiles
Mrs L. Williams
Miss E. Worrall
Mr A. Lamb
Mr J. Lonsdale
Miss K Lewis

Our Art Department has a suite of 5 specialist art rooms and a graphics room that is shared with ICT. All rooms are a generous size and well equipped. Each classroom is designed to promote a different aspect of a working art department. They are allocated to textiles, drawing and painting, 3D design with a connecting kiln room and a multimedia room. In addition there is a classroom assistant work area/ technicians office.

A wide range of resources are available for departmental use:

Each classroom is generously resourced with materials and equipment.
Each room has 5 computers linked to the school network along with internet access, an A3 scanner and a colour printer.
All staff have their own laptop.
The department has 4 digital cameras at present, other digital camera are available within the school.
Ceramic facilities including two kilns.
Machine embroidery facilities.
The school has a good LRC, which along with the department, offers a well stocked selection of books on artists and art movements.

Key Stage 3

All pupils follow the National Curriculum for Art and Design. Each pupil is individually assessed at the end of Pupils in KS3 have one art lesson per week. Throughout the academic year, pupils are taught in both 2 and 3 dimensional art and design disciplines.

Working on a three term basis, all pupils undertake a balance of work involving:

Drawing and Painting
Surface Decoration
3D Design

The projects have been well designed and resourced to ensure that pupils have all the appropriate materials to undertake tasks. Each classroom is well stocked with visual resources particular to topics.

Year 7
Term 1: Colour Theory & Josef Albers
Term 2: Cultural—African Art

Year 8
Term 1: Tone and Contrast
Term 2: Natural Form—Picasso
Term 3: Cultural—North American Indian

Year 9
Term 1: Tone and Contrast
Term 2: Natural Form—Hundertwasser
Term 3: Cultural—Aboriginal

Throughout years 7,8 and 9, pupil’s are assessed in line with National Curriculum guidelines. Each pupil will be assessed at the end of each terms project. The three terms marks are worked on aggregate to give a National Curriculum level for the end of each academic year.

Key Stage 4

At present we offer three GCSE courses and an AS course at KS4

AQA Art and Design Textiles
EDEXCEL (unendorsed) Art and Design
AQA Graphic Design

We also offer an AS level course for pupils who have completed the Accelerated GCSE course.

Course Requirements

For art and design pupils will complete two units of coursework over the two years.
Pupils will need to provide a selection of backup/storyboards for each unit of work including the timed exam. This will include a wide variety of art samples and research based on the topics set.

All pupils coursework and exam work is marked in line with exam board requirements.

60% marks for coursework
40% marks for timed exam

Unit 1 - Structures with a 2D and 3D outcome
Unit 2 - Natural and Manmade with a 2D outcome
Timed exam

For Graphics and Textiles pupils will complete three units of coursework over the two years. Pupils will need to provide a selection of backup/storyboards for each unit of work including the controlled test. This will include a variety of samples including machine work and computer based work.

All pupils coursework and exam work is marked in line with exam board requirements.

60% marks for coursework
40% marks for Controlled Test

Unit 1 Natural Form
Unit 2 Wrapping and Weaving
Unit 3 Abstracting images
Controlled Test

Additional Information about Department

Early doors and after school activities are popular with our KS4 pupils.

An Art Club runs on a Thursday afternoon which is popular with pupils in KS3

Through the Excellence in Cities initiative out Gifted and Talented pupils have been able to work in a variety of “master classes” where practicing artists visit the school and work with groups of pupils.

To date, workshops have been organised on theatrical makeup and screen printing.