The Grange School

Staff and Responsibilities

Miss K Slavin - Subject Leader of Art
Mrs S Cavanagh - Teacher of Art

KS3

 In Year 7 and 8 students focus on the concepts of line, tone, shape, space, pattern, texture, form and colour. Projects may be 2 or 3 dimensional, developing skills in drawing, painting, design, construction etc. All students in Year 7 will follow a benchmark assessment in Art and Design in the first three weeks, which will allow end of year targets to be set on an individual level. Students will then follow the schemes of work, which will focus on learning transferable skills which can be used across the curriculum. The three units of work in Year 7 are based on Colour, Adornment and Fantasy. In Year 8 students will build upon the knowledge and understanding of the previous year and will study a further three units of work based on observational drawing, perspective and distortion and words and image.

Students are encouraged to expand their specialist vocabulary and are introduced to making and keeping a sketchbook in order to experiment, record and investigate materials and ideas, encouraging independent working. Integral to each project is reference to the work of the artist, designer or craft person from different cultures and periods.

In addition to classwork, students will be set regular homework tasks, which will involve accessing the internet to research visual and written information on artists and their work. They may also be asked to produce drawing and sketching activities, collect materials and evaluate their work.

Regular assessment and monitoring ensures progression through the Key Stage, linked to the National Curriculum Levels for Art. At the end of each project work is evaluated and students decide where improvements can be made in future pieces. Work is displayed in the Art department and in a variety of venues around the school to celebrate the success of the student.

KS4

All GCSE students studying Art and Design follow the new AQA Specification and will be given the opportunity to experience painting and drawing, 3D construction and mixed media.  The timetable provides pupils with three sixty minute lessons per week. The class groups are mixed ability. The Coursework portfolio completed by each pupil accounts for 60% of the final mark, and the controlled test takes place between January and March at the end of the second year of the course, which is worth the remaining 40%.

In the first year of the course, pupils will be expected to produce two units/projects of coursework, engaging with, analysing and reflecting upon the artwork of artists, craftworkers and designers. They will be given guided project themes in which they will have the opportunity to use a range of processes, techniques and media throughout their sketchbooks to develop ideas, record observations and research artists. In the second year of the course, pupils will be given a more individual project, based on their level of skill and capability; this will also be assessed as their mock exam and will take place during the autumn term.

Homework will be given throughout the course, which will include research, sketchbook work and preparation work. This will always be discussed with pupils on an individual basis.

Students experience a structured approach to the teaching of Art and Design which focuses on continuity, progression, breadth of experience and high expectations. The schemes of work have been developed to give the students a broad experience of art skills as well as developing the understanding and appreciation of different kinds of Art.