Intent Statement
To develop the creativity and understanding of all Art and Design techniques and processes. To inspire and challenge students’ thinking and facilitate them to develop their own thoughts and ideas visually. To promote a love for learning culture and an environment that allows students to progress independently in order to achieve their full potential.
Implementation
All documentation such as Schemes of work, marking policies and assessment sheets are saved in the QA folder. Students will follow schemes of work that are designed to cover all aspects of art and design and allow students to progress and create work that meets all AAA skills/GCSE assessment objectives.
Students will be taught:
- To use a range of techniques to record their observations in sketchbooks as a basis for exploring their ideas.
- To use a range of techniques and media, including painting
- To increase their proficiency in the handling of different materials
- To analyse and evaluate their own work and the work of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work
- about the history of art, craft, and design, including periods, styles and major movements.
Art Staff have made links with primary schools to ensure a smooth transition from KS2 to KS3 and students are given a baseline at the beginning of year 7. Schemes of work in year 7 build upon key skills to develop student’s confidence with a range of materials. The GCSE assessments objectives have been used to develop the assessment criteria at KS3 to ensure students are prepared for KS4. During KS4 students get the opportunity to visit post 16 art establishments such as the Northern School of art to give them an insight into opportunities after year 11.
Schemes of work are constantly updated and reviewed. Staff continue to share good practice and T&L strategies which creates consistency across all teaching groups.
Impact
Student independence is clear to see through the journey students go on when looking through their sketchbooks. The students take pride in their work and there is evidence of engagement and a love for learning for the subject. Throughout KS3, students will be assessed in line with the KS4 art specification. Students will be graded 9-1 using the same assessment objectives. This prepares students for taking GCSE art and design at KS4. KS4 students follow AQA fine art or Photography specifications. Work scrutiny and department standardisation/moderation of work takes place regularly within the department and allows all teaching staff to make sure students are meeting expected targets and identify any areas that can be improved upon. Students’ results and outcomes have been consistently high over many years and these outcomes show that the curriculum taught within the department is fit for purpose.
COVID implications
Due to COVID restrictions 2020-21 KS3 students have been working in non-specialist classrooms in bubbles. This has had an impact on the use of materials being used within SOW. Schemes of work have had to be updated to account for the lack of media being able to be used. More of a focus has been put on building key drawing skills from yr7-y9 using pencils and coloured pencils.
Year 10 were in non-specialist classrooms until year 11 left and then worked in specialist rooms for the summer term. All classes are now based in specialist classrooms and photography students have all now had the opportunity to go out on a visit to photograph landscapes. This will improve photography outcomes and progress going forward.
Year 11 students will have access to the Art rooms for P6 after school and any underachieving students will be identified and selected for intervention after school to catch up with any missed curriculum.