Art and Design

Introduction

The Art & Design Department is based on two sites. For Key Stage 3 there are three art rooms on the Ealing Road site and for Key Stage 4 and post - 16, there are a further three art rooms on the Stanley Avenue site. The department is resourced with basic equipment for painting and drawing and some print-making and ceramics work. The subject is taught visually, kinaesthetically and symbolically. Students enjoy active and experiential projects as part of assessment for learning. The department contributes to school displays and actively promotes the school ethos, the development of literacy, numeracy and ICT capability. This is achieved in part through the running of special projects and support for school productions. Exhibitions of art work are held and students' work is auctioned. In addition, art teachers combine experience, versatility, creativity and enthusiasm and produce and sell their own work.

KS3

All pupils follow the National Curriculum in Art at KS3. They learn the basic elements of Art and are taught to evaluate their own work and that of others. Students experience Art every week, with Years 7 and 8 having two periods and Year 9, one period per week. Apart from practical activities, knowledge and understanding of the work of famous artists is developed at KS3.

KS4

Art is selected as an option and recently there have been three to four groups following the EDEXCEL syllabus for Fine Art. The groups are of mixed ability and students cover two units per year in Years 10 and 11. They take part in a final external 10 hour exam. Their assessed work is internally moderated and examined as well as being externally moderated.

Post 16

Students opt for A-level Art and use it as a successful platform for a range of careers, some of which may be Art-based such as illustration, graphic design, lecturing and restoring.

Groups are shared between two teachers and students produce two units over two years and are assessed on their work together with one eight-hour and one twelve-hour exam.

They are encouraged to be very independent, introducing elements into their work which reflect their artistic interests and personalities.