Visual Arts Faculty
Learning Director
Miss Emily Hannant
Faculty Introduction
The different pathways within the Visual Arts Faculty are Fine Art, Art textiles, 3D design and Photography and we also offer Fine Art and Photography for students in Post 16.
There is no such thing as a typical lesson in the Visual Arts Faculty as students participate in activities that are dependent to the theme being covered. Students are given the opportunity to be creative using a variety of medias such as paint, fabric, clay, collage and much more whilst undertaking practical artist/designer investigations.
Key Stage 3
Students have three, one-hour lessons per fortnight. The key concepts of key stage 3 are built around the formal elements, with a curriculum tailored around creative development. During this key stage we explore landscapes, portraiture and still life. There is an emphasis on students building and mastering key artistic and creative skills, such as painting and drawing using a range of materials, sculpting, mixed media as well as carrying out contextual investigations through artist research.
In year 9 students will have chosen an Art discipline to focus on, lessons are tailored around this discipline and students complete a year focused on responding to Artists work using the desired media.
During Key stage 3 our students will also experience Food and Cookery lessons which are additional to their Visual Arts lessons.
Assessment:
Students follow the Visual Arts Faculty key skills curriculum, and the course is delivered through projects which focus on exploring and developing a wide range of techniques and processes to build those key skills.
Homework:
Homework is set using extended tasks, based around a theme or artist being covered in their art and design lessons. These are an opportunity for students to demonstrate and build on skills learnt in lessons and are assessed along with the completed project.
Key Stage 3 Enrichment Activities:
Students can attend after school sessions to work on their projects and prepare extra outcomes for art challenges. G&T Students have the opportunity to enter local and national competitions and we also run enrichment art trips for all students, these have involved visits to Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park in Warwickshire and the Natural History Museum/ Pitt Rivers collection in Oxford.
GCSE Fine Art
GCSE Fine Art comprises of 60% coursework and 40% Externally Set Task.
This course has a clear structure to help students take a practical approach whilst learning a variety of skills. They will develop knowledge and understanding by carrying out in-depth investigations of other artists and practitioners. This leads to exploring a range of techniques and processes, for example: painting, drawing (using a range of media), printmaking, mixed media etc. Students start their coursework portfolio immediately, creating a sketchbook and large-scale pieces on the theme of Portraiture. They develop the skills to demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of contemporary and historical practice and can translate that to inform their own work and meet the assessment criteria.
Preparation for the externally set task starts at the beginning of term 3 in Year 11 and they have approximately 12 weeks to prepare for the 10 hour controlled assessment on one of the chosen themes.
GCSE Art 3D
GCSE Art 3D Design comprises of 60% coursework and 40% Externally Set Task.
This course has a clear and structured scheme to help students take a practical approach and encourages them to design and make with creativity and originality. GCSE students develop knowledge and understanding by carrying out in-depth investigations of artists, designers and practitioners. This leads to exploring a variety of practical skills by using a range of materials and techniques, for example: clay work, wire, wood, mixed media, paper sculpture etc. Students start their coursework portfolio immediately, creating a sketchbook and sculptures along the themes of Structures and Natural Form. They develop the skills to demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of contemporary and historical practice and can translate this to inform their own work and meet the assessment criteria.
Preparation for the externally set task starts at the beginning of term 3 in Year 11 and they have approximately 12 weeks to prepare for the 10 hour controlled assessment on one of the chosen themes.
GCSE Art Textiles
GCSE Art Textiles comprises of 60% coursework and 40% Externally Set Task.
This course has a clear structure to help students take a practical approach whilst learning a variety of skills. They will initially develop knowledge and understanding by carrying out in-depth investigations of textile artists, designers and practitioners. This leads them to explore a range of techniques and processes, for example: embroidery, felt embellishing, machine embroidery, printmaking etc. Students start their coursework portfolio immediately, creating a sketchbook and larger textile pieces and structures around the theme of Natural Form. They develop the skills to demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of contemporary and historical practice and can translate that to inform their own work and meet the assessment criteria.
Preparation for the externally set task starts at the beginning of term 3 in Year 11 and they have approximately 12 weeks to prepare for the 10 hour controlled assessment on one of the chosen themes.
GCSE Photography
GCSE Art Photography comprises of 60% coursework and 40% Externally Set Task.
This course has a clear structure to help students take a practical approach whilst learning a variety of skills. They will initially develop knowledge and understanding by carrying out in-depth investigations of other photographers. This will lead them to explore a range of techniques and processes for example: photographic conventions such as composition, focus, aperture, depth of field and shutter speeds. Students start their digital coursework portfolio immediately, with themes and ideas for the work, generated and created by the students to tailor their specific interests in photography. They develop the skills to demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of contemporary and historical practice and can translate that to inform their own work to meet the assessment criteria.
Preparation for the externally set task starts at the beginning of term 3 in Year 11 and they have approximately 12 weeks to prepare for the 10 hour controlled assessment on one of the chosen themes.
Preparation for the photography set task requires students to be independent and organise their own photoshoots in readiness for the 10 hour externally set task, (exam).
Assessment:
Students work is graded against the OCR GCSE specification.
Homework:
Homework is set regularly to support delivery of the individual project that is being studied at that time and is crucial to ensure students do not fall behind in meeting the GCSE criteria. It could be theory based to help develop knowledge and understanding of artists, designers and practitioners or a more practical challenge.
Enhancement & Enrichment Activities for GCSE students:
Students are able to attend after school sessions to work on their portfolios and complete homework with access to studio facilities. We arrange several trips for our GCSE Visual Arts Students in order to enhance and support the work carried out in class. In recent years we have visited The National Portrait Gallery in London, Kew Gardens, Pitt Rivers and the Natural History Museum in Oxford. We regularly arrange trips for Photography students to carry out photoshoots.
GCE A’Level Photography
A’Level Photography comprises of 60% coursework (personal investigation and related study) and 40% Externally Set Task. Year 12 start coursework immediately, building their practical portfolio, usually completed digitally. They carry out supporting contextual research in response to a set theme. In Year 12 we encourage our students to explore a wide range of approaches to photography, to carry out in-depth investigations exploring a range of associated techniques and processes. Towards the end of term 4, students are then guided and supported by their teacher to select an independent direction for their work to carry into Year 13. The portfolio may be presented in a format appropriate to the specialism and area of study chosen.
Preparation for the externally set task starts at the beginning of term 3 in Year 13 and they have approximately 12 weeks to prepare for the 15-hour controlled assessment on one of the chosen set themes.
GCE A’Level Fine Art
A’Level Fine Art comprises of 60% coursework (including a related study) and 40% Externally Set Task. Year 12 start coursework immediately, building their practical portfolio, usually completed in a sketchbook and large-scale work on canvas and paper. They also carry out supporting contextual research in response to a set theme. In Year 12 we encourage our students to explore a wide range of approaches to making Art, to carry out in-depth investigations exploring a range of associated techniques and processes. Towards the end of term 4, students are then guided and supported by their teacher to select an independent direction for their work to carry into Year 13. The portfolio may be presented in a format appropriate to the specialism and area of study chosen.
Preparation for the externally set task starts at the beginning of term 3 in Year 13 and they have approximately 12 weeks to prepare for the 15-hour controlled assessment on one of the chosen set themes.
