Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3, Art lessons cover a wide range of media. They are encouraged to use sketchbooks to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding through visual and practical exploration.
Year 7 Students follow an introduction to the visual elements and the use of materials to create a desired effect in their work. They learn about colour and how it can be used to create mood and atmosphere in their work, putting their own work into context through the study of the work of other artists.
Year 8 We are involved in the Combined Truro Schools Art Project and work with other schools and practising artists towards an exhibition each Spring at The Lander Gallery in Truro. The title or theme for the work changes each year as do the types of workshops we arrange.
Year 9 In addition to the timetabled Art lessons, students study Photography and Multimedia. Students further develop their study of materials, processes and the work of other artists through an Art and Communication project which looks at graffiti, sculpture and art from other cultures.
Units of Work
KS4
The Art and Photography GCSE results are consistently high and many students continue with their studies at Post 16 level. Students following these courses are encouraged to develop their own style and are introduced to a wide range of skills and processes to enable them to achieve their potential.
AQA GCSE Art & Design (8201), Photography (8206) or Textiles (8204)
*Please note that students can opt for both Art and Design plus Photography but not Art and Design plus Textiles.
It is important to consider the GCSE Art & Design subjects as an option if you are interested in pursuing a career in architecture, interior design, graphics, illustration and digital media eg computer game design.
This is a broad course which gives students the opportunity to explore a range of practical skills through a range of two and three dimensional processes and new media and technologies. Students can use a wide range of materials and processes in the development of their ideas, including painting, drawing, sculpture, textiles, printmaking and photography and study the work of other artists, both historical and contemporary. In Photography, students study documentary photography, photo-journalism, narrative photography and experimental imagery using media technologies and image manipulation.
The course consists of:
Component 1: Portfolio (60% of total GCSE)
The content of the portfolio will be determined by the particular requirements and nature of the course of study undertaken eg Art and Design, Photography or Textiles. There is no restriction on the scale of work, media or materials used
Each student selects and presents a portfolio representing their course of study. The portfolio will include both:
- A sustained project developed in response to a subject, theme, task or brief evidencing the journey from initial engagement with an idea(s) to the realisation of intentions. This will give students the opportunity to demonstrate, through an extended creative response, their ability to draw together different areas of knowledge, skills and/or understanding from across their course of study.
- A selection of further work resulting from activities such as trials and experiments; skills-based workshops; mini and/or foundation projects; responses to gallery, museum or site visits; work placements; independent study and evidence of the student’s specific role in any group work undertaken. Work selected for the portfolio could include: mounted studies, sketchbooks, visual diaries, journals, design sheets, design proposals, models, maquettes, prototypes, storyboards, video, photographic or digital presentations, records of transient and site-specific installations.
Component 2: Externally set assignment (40% of total GCSE)
AQA will provide a separate externally set assignment for each title; Art and Design, Photography and Textiles. Each of these have seven different starting points and students select and respond to one starting point from their chosen title. Students may discuss their starting points with the teacher.
Preparatory work may be presented in any suitable two or three-dimensional format such as mounted sheets, sketchbooks, journals, design proposals, models and maquettes, digital or non-digital presentations.
- Following the preparatory period, students undertake 10 hours of unaided focused study, under supervision in the Art room for Art and Textiles and the ELC or ICT room for Photography.
- All work submitted for this component will be marked as a whole. Students may produce a single outcome or a series of related outcomes when realising their intentions in the supervised time. Outcomes may be evidenced in any two-dimensional, three-dimensional, digital or non-digital format. There is no restriction on scale of work, media or materials used.
The Academy provides cameras and tripods for students to use as well as art materials and sketchbooks. It would be useful for students to buy their own SD cards and these can be purchased through the Academy.
Teachers:
- Mrs J Cottam, Art Teacher, Teaching Team Leader for DPT
- Mrs S Capron, Teacher of Art & Photography
- Mr J Winter, Teaching Practitioner for DPT Department