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Art and Design

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View our full course guidelines below for KS3 and GCSE Art:

Course content: 

The projects are as follows, though the order may vary. 

Year 7: 

Self-Portraiture (clay)  
  • Introduction to observational drawing.  
  • Proportion.  
  • Ceramics techniques, test tiles.  
  • Construction of a clay self-portrait.   
Natural Forms (printmaking)  
  • Exploration of colour with oil pastel.  
  • Translating drawing into design.  
  • Reduction printing using multiple colours   
  • Further development of observational drawing.   
The Weeping Woman (painting)   
  • Colour theory and colour mixing.  
  • Discussion of the significance of specific cultural and historical context, introduction to Cubism.  
  • Painting techniques.   

Year 8: 

Contemporary Ceramics (clay)  
  • Building on prior knowledge and development of observational drawing skills.  
  • Understanding the importance of preparatory work.  
  • Ceramics techniques.  
  • Construction of a clay pot, based on students own designs   
Engaging Places (printmaking and collage)  
  • Experimental drawing techniques.  
  • Drawing from life.  
  • Experimenting with approaches to image making, specifically in regard to  monoprinting, ink drawing and collage.   
Still Life (painting)  
  • Introduction to still life, observational drawing.  
  • Introduction to Pop Art, exploration of colour with oil pastel.  
  • Discussion of historical and contemporary art movements.  
  • Stylistic application to student’s chosen imagery. 

Specification: GCSE Art & Design

Edexcel GCSE and GCE 2014 (pearson.com) 

Course Content 

Year 9: 

Completion of their first, more structured, coursework project inspired by Self-Portraiture. They will work through drawings, artist research and responses and development of their ideas before creating a final clay portrait bust. 

Year 10: 

Starting their second coursework project, students will choose their own thematic and material focus but work through the same steps in terms of drawings, artist research and responses, development and then the creation of a final piece. 

Year 11: 

Students will continue working on their coursework project until January when the exam theme is released, at which point they will create a third and final project. This exam project works through drawings, artist research and responses and development. Finally, in a 10-hour (2 day) exam, students will complete their final piece for this project. 

Assessment 

Coursework, Personal Portfolio (Component 1) – 60% 

Each of the following assessment objectives are worth 25% of the total 60%:  

  • A01 – develop
  • A02 – explore 
  • A03 – record
  • A04 – final outcome 
Externally set assignment (Component 2) – 40% 

Each of the following assessment objectives are worth 25% of the total 40%:  

  • A01 – develop
  • A02 – explore 
  • A03 – record 

List of Resources 

Assessment Grid

Written Annotation

Student Guide 

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