Art

Our Key Stage 3 Art curriculum is designed to inspire creativity while building strong artistic skills. Students are introduced to the key processes and techniques used by artists, giving them a solid foundation in how great art is made. Across Years 7 to 9, the curriculum is carefully structured to help students grow in confidence and ability. Each project encourages students to explore the formal elements of art—such as colour, line, shape and form—while developing their own creative ideas.

Students experiment with a range of materials and techniques, learning to express their personal vision in imaginative ways. We also introduce students to important artists and movements, helping them to understand how art connects to history and the wider world.

Projects are themed to spark curiosity and allow students to develop their ideas over time. Reflection is an important part of the creative process. Students regularly evaluate their work through teacher feedback, self-assessment and written comments, helping them improve and take pride in their progress. Students are taught in mixed-ability groups and have one hour of Art per week.

What Students Study

Year 7 – Building Foundations

• The Elements of Art: Students begin their artistic journey by exploring the basics of art-making, creating an abstract watercolour inspired by Kandinsky.
• Symbols of Identity: Students explore who they are through art, developing portrait drawing skills and personal expression.
• What’s in a Building?: Students investigate architecture, learning about space and perspective while creating a 3D card construction.

Year 8 – Exploring Ideas and Media

• Objects and Viewpoints: Students develop their drawing and painting skills through observation, while also experimenting with Cubism to create more imaginative work.
• Animating Art: Students explore art beyond the traditional, creating their own graphic novel page and learning about visual storytelling.

Year 9 – Developing Style and Independence

• Changing Styles: Students explore design and the applied arts by creating imaginative 3D shoe sculptures using paper mâché.
• Icons: Students return to portraiture with greater depth and creativity, developing ideas through a full artistic process that prepares them for GCSE and A-level study.

The course enables all students to gain a coursework based qualification with no final written papers. The course builds on the skills of investigation and research learnt on the Key Stage 3 course. The emphasis within the GCSE is on the process of developing and documenting work using a work journal similar to a sketchbook.

The Edexcel GCSE in Art and Design encourages an adventurous and enquiring approach to Art and Design. Successful students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of past and contemporary Art and Design practice and be able to produce a personal response that embraces a range of ideas. Students will produce a portfolio worth 60% of the final grade, as well as an externally set assignment (Unit 2) which is worth 40% of the final grade. Submissions for each unit must contain a work journal. The coursework unit starts with the examination of ideas associated with a broad theme, which then provides the springboard for the students own personal response. Coursework is carefully structured to ensure that students are supported in the development of their ideas. Students will be given the opportunity to produce work in a range of art, craft and design processes in two or three dimensions including, where appropriate, information and communication technology. The course is suitable for all students who have an enthusiasm and interest in Art, craft and design and if you have an aptitude for the subject – if you are creative, or ‘good at drawing’, you may have the basic skills to succeed.

Course Organisation Students will need to complete a coursework portfolio and an externally set assignment. The Coursework Portfolio Students will study two major themes in Year 10 and 11. They will have the opportunity to submit work from either of these themes for examination. This will be the basis of their coursework portfolio. The Externally Set Assignment This is taken in Year 11. Students have ten weeks to produce a work journal on a theme set by the board. Students complete their final response to this theme under examination conditions. All work is regularly assessed and, at intervals, during a project or theme, interim evaluations are carried out to ensure that students are aware of their strengths and weaknesses.

The course aims to give you the technical skills and understanding needed to develop outstanding coursework. A six-to-eight-week introductory course gives you an insight into materials, artists, and ideas that could be the starting point for your Personal Investigation project. After completing the work related to the introductory project, you will then select and develop ideas for your personal project. This theme is negotiated with your teacher and will be the basis of your coursework unit. This coursework unit will run until December of YR13 and will include an essay component of 3,000 words. In January of YR 13, you will be given a copy of the exam theme set by the board. The rest of the course will be spent developing your response to the exam theme.