What You Will Learn

KS3

Year 7, 8 & 9 students experience Art for 1 hour per week. We offer a broad and balanced curriculum which encompasses a wide range of learning experiences. Skills are built up throughout the Key stage to increase students’ knowledge of drawing, painting, design work, printmaking, collage, mixed media, clay and 3D construction.  It is an exciting subject where students have the opportunity to develop their ideas in a wide range of media and to use high-quality facilities. We have a well-equipped Art department with experienced specialist teachers who will bring their love of the subject into each lesson.

WHAT WORK IS INVOLVED IN KEY STAGE 3?

Students are given a sketchbook to record their work and ideas in school. Over the three years, students will have 1 hour of art lessons a week. They will explore a range of different media and will study different artists and movements to help influence and inspire their work.

YEAR 7

In year 7, students will work on a diverse range of projects that are linked to developing key skills. We work to extend understanding of drawing, mixed media, painting, printing and sculpture.  Students will be encouraged to research artists varying in style and periods. Students will learn to understand why and how the art was made, as well as develop an informed knowledge of different periods, styles and techniques. Students will then respond to artists’ artworks using appropriate techniques and will be helped to plan and develop their ideas. Each student will develop exciting and individual outcomes.

Additionally, they will be inspired by the art produced by students at Abbs Cross School, which is displayed on the corridors and within the department

Projects taught: Key skills, Fauvism, 3D letters, Insects, Hundertwasser landscape, Paper sculpture.

YEAR 8

In year 8, students will work on a range of projects that will enable them to create cross curricular and cultural links. The students will extend their understanding of drawing, mixed media, painting, printing and sculpture. Students continue to research and respond to artists’ work using appropriate techniques and will be helped to plan and develop their ideas. Each student will develop exciting and individual outcomes.

Additionally, they will be inspired by the art carried out by students at Abbs Cross, which is displayed on the corridors, within the department as well as at the end of year exhibition. We are always a busy department as many students spend their lunchtimes in the department working on ideas or improving their homework.

Projects taught: Expressionist Portraits, Ugly Clay Mugs, Constructivism, Natural forms, Caricatures, Comic Art.

YEAR 9

In year 9, students will work on a range of exciting topics linked to their identity. They extend and consolidate their understanding of drawing, mixed media, painting, printing and sculpture. Students are encouraged to research and to respond to artists’ work with more creativity and detail, as well as form their own opinions. Students are given every opportunity to refine their skills should they wish to take a GCSE in Art.

Additionally, they will be inspired by the art carried out by students at Abbs Cross School, which is displayed on the corridors and within the department as well as at the end of year exhibition. We are always a busy department as many students spend their lunchtimes in the department working on ideas or improving their homework.

Projects taught: Pop Art Junk Food, Printing, Sweets, GCSE Unit.

WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THIS SUBJECT

• Exam Board: AQA

• Coursework – 60%

• Exam – 40%

Art and Design Specification

Art and design is the main subject for students looking to develop their creativity and understanding through a visual language. Many companies, businesses and institutions value the skills developed on an Art and design course as students will be extremely self-motivated, industrious, creative and talented individuals. There are also a wide range of careers that involve the sort of visual awareness that an Art GCSE will develop. Art at its most fundamental level develops your understanding of the world through enquiry and observation. Responding creatively to your environment is a way of learning more about yourself and other people. It is, therefore, a subject which is worth studying for its own intrinsic value.

ART

Year 10

Project One: Natural and Mechanical Forms

Students will develop a response to the theme, ‘Natural and Mechanical Forms’, evidencing the journey from their initial engagement with an idea to the realisation of an outcome. This will give students the opportunity to demonstrate, through an extended creative response, their ability to use a range of media such as; biro, clay, pencil, paint and print.

Project Two: Colour

Students will develop a response to the theme, ‘Colour, Pattern and Texture’, evidencing the journey from initial engagement with an idea to the realisation of an outcome. This will give students the opportunity to demonstrate, through an extended creative response, their ability to use a range of media such as; biro, clay, pencil, paint and print.

Year 11

Project Three: Fragments

Students will develop a response to the theme, ‘Fragments’, evidencing the journey from initial engagement with an idea to the realisation of an outcome. This will give students the opportunity to demonstrate, through an extended creative response, their ability to use a range of media such as; biro, clay, paint, pencil and print. 

Exam Unit

Students will have the opportunity to choose their theme and artist, with the support of their teacher. Students will then develop their ideas by evidencing the journey from initial engagement with an idea to the realisation of an outcome. This will give students the opportunity to demonstrate, through an extended creative response, their ability to use a range of media such as; biro, clay, paint, pencil and print. 

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving 75% grades 9-4.

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving 94.4% grades 9-4.

• Animator, cartoonist or games designer
• Illustrator (medical, botanical, food, children’s books etc)
• Fashion or millinery designer
• Textile designer
• Interior designer
• Community arts worker
• Art teacher, tutor or lecturer
• Display and visual merchandiser
• Architect
• Ceramicist
• Photographer
• Art therapist
• Graphic designer
• Commercial artist
• Museum or gallery curator, manager or educator
• Make-up and prosthetics artist for stage and film
• Theatre and costume designer
• Set designer and model maker

The Art Department is open on Tuesday and Thursday after school for KS4 students. Art club takes place every Friday at lunch so students can explore their own creative pursuits or further develop what they are working on in class.

The Art Department also conducts gallery visits and field trips for Year 10 and 11 art students. The students get the opportunity to view artwork first-hand gaining inspiration to interpret the artist’s style and techniques. We encourage students to follow up on their interests in Art and Design by visiting galleries. We also support some students with artist-led workshops.

Every student is invited to visit Kew Gardens as part of their first coursework project, and also to the British Museum as part of the second project in year 10. All students are taken to a Gallery visit as part of their examination unit in year 11. 

KS3

• nationalgallery.org.uk
• vam.ac.uk
• tate.org.uk
• npg.org.uk
• britishmuseum.org

KS4

As above plus the following;

• whitechapelgallery.org
• nhm.ac.uk
• sciencemuseum.org.uk
• wellcomecollection.org
• thephotographersgallery.org.uk
• barbican.org.uk
• www.bbc.com/bitsize/subjects (Art & Design)