Art, Graphics, Textiles, Photography

Term 1 & 2 - What do great artists have in their tool kits? Observational drawing techniques using lines to show tone and form. Understanding scale and proportion. Exploring pencil and pen mark making techniques. Research and contextual studies identifying choices artists have made. Exploring colour theory.

Term 3 & 4 – Precious Planet: Can art save the planet?  Observational drawing techniques using geometric shapes and patterns to create 3D forms and a final piece. Printmaking techniques studying mono printing and mixed media techniques. Taking inspiration from other artists and annotating to explain our ideas. Exploring wider environmental social issues and endangered animals.

Term 5 & 6 – Landscapes: What colour is nature? Recording from primary and secondary sources – landscapes. Taking inspiration from other landscape artists. Composing photographs looking at formal elements. Painting techniques understanding how to mix and apply paints. Learning how to plan and design a final piece responding to our local area; South Oxfordshire.

Terms 1 to 3 –Pop Art Pillow: Is a can of soup art? Observational drawing techniques of food and its packaging using marks to show texture, tone to show 3D form and shadows. Printmaking techniques of reductive poly printing. Exploring the meaning of colours, patterns and symbols to design a 3D fabric piece. Using textile techniques of hand embroidery stitch and applique to complete a final outcome. Understanding ‘Pop Art’ linking it to wider American and British culture.

Terms 4 to 6 Portraiture: How can a ‘selfie’ be artistic and tell us about the artist? Portrait drawing techniques showing understanding of portrait portions, composition and layout. Experimental drawing techniques and use of pattern. Painting techniques focusing on blending and layering paints. Digital and physical image manipulation taking inspirational from other artists.

Term 1 & 2 - Building on observational drawing techniques in pencil and acrylic paint. Painting techniques using acrylic paints and developing colour mixing, blending and layering paint. Using the brush to create texture and detail.

Term 3 & 4 – Messages. Using textiles to express messages linked to social issues. Observational studies through digital and photographic techniques. Graphic techniques using computer manipulation and experimentation. 

Terms 5 & 6 – Expressing ideas in three dimensions. Using clay to practise construction skills and studying the history of sculpture. Understanding of how to create personal reflections on our own work and how that can impact our work moving forward. Creating a personal and informed final piece.

Art – Component 1 (Non-Examination Assessment NEA)

Term 1 & 2 - Evolution of Portraiture – The History of the Face. Observational drawing of facial features using curved lines and mark making to show skin texture and subtle details. Using lines to create expression. Contextual study of Leonardo da Vinci and the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’. Research and understanding of the different sins and their visual representations. Portrait photography learning the formal techniques to compose individual photos.

Term 3 & 4 - Capturing the face: science or art? Contextual study of German expressionism and in depth analysis of Ernst Kirchner’s work and the effect it creates on viewers. Reductive printing techniques, lino printing using mark making to show expressions and dynamics. Experimentation with colour and mixed media to give expression and link to the chosen them.

Term 5 & 6 - Planning and design a final outcome based on portraits and one deadly sin. Using in depth research and personal ideas to create a range of individual designs. Experimenting with composition, pose, expression, colour. Textures and accessories. Learning to work in 3D with clay. Applying knowledge to create a clay final piece.

Textiles – Component 1 (Non-Examination Assessment NEA)

Term 1 & 2 – How do artists enhance our perception of buildings?  Observational drawing and photography of architecture. Exploring the topic through textiles techniques of stitch, dying and batik.

Term 3 & 4 – Contextual studies understanding different artists' work. Exploring textile techniques of screen and lino print as well as developing applique and reverse appliqué textiles techniques.

Term 5 & 6 – Planning and designing a final outcome based on chosen area of study. Developing textiles techniques of machine free stitch and printing onto fabric. Applying knowledge to create a textiles final piece.

Graphics – Illustration - Component 1 (Non-Examination Assessment NEA)

Term 1 & 2 – Visual images – more than a pretty picture? Can an image make you cry? Observational studies using line to create emotions responding to different artists’ work. Research into types of illustration comparing styles and considering how style impacts on how we view work. Developing digital colour techniques and how it can impact work.

Term 3 & 4 – What tells the story – the words or the image? Contextual studies of Surrealism and collage techniques. Building on knowledge of typography using it to convey a message in our own design work and understanding how font style can impact on how we view companies, products and poster designs. Learning to combine hand drawn and digital techniques.

Term 5 & 6 – How can graphic designers make us feel differently about our environment and our responsibility over it? Planning a final outcome based on a design brief using academic articles to enhance understanding of environmental issues. Learning about promotional materials and how these can effectively convey a message. Using this understanding in own poster design work, whilst also being able to reflect personally about the decisions being made whilst producing it.

GCSE PHOTOGRAPHY

During the GCSE Photography course, the students will have the opportunity to work with a variety of techniques and media including digital photography as well as Photoshop skills and how to compose a photograph. This portfolio of work that they start in year 10 will equate to 60% of their GCSE. ​

Art, Graphics, Textiles – Completion of NEA and ‘Additional Work’. Term 3 Exam Board brief for Component 2.

Photography - During Year 11 students will undertake their Photography exam. This will take place over four months and culminate in two days off timetable to complete their finished piece in exam conditions. Exam questions are decided by the exam board and the students will have the opportunity to choose from a list of seven. Examples of questions could be ‘Landscape’ or ‘Movement. This exam unit is worth 40% of the GCSE. Students will develop many of the skills and media which they have begun using in KS3. This includes producing drawings, photographs and lots of computer design work, such as Photoshop and photo editing and manipulation.