Overview

Art is a practical and creative subject that aims to develop the fine art skills of learners alongside building their knowledge of different artists’ works.

Our mission is to build confidence and encourage independent learning, equipping learners with the skills and qualifications to become the next generation of creative practitioners. Engagement in the creative process of art develops learners who are critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds. Learners will become confident in taking risks and learn from experience when exploring and experimenting with ideas, processes, media, materials and techniques. The art curriculum intends to develop knowledge and understanding of art  in historical and contemporary contexts, societies and cultures. 

All learners will study art in Years 7, 8 and 9. At GCSE we offer 3 qualifications which learners can opt to study.

Outline of Course Content

 Year 7 topics include:

• Introduction to Art and the Formal elements - colour, tone, line, form, shape, pattern, texture and space. Understanding what makes up a piece of artwork and how to use them.
• Exploring Media - watercolour, oil pastels, pencil crayon, acrylic paint, chalk, charcoal and more. Building skills in using different media to eventually go on to apply these skills in creating a piece of artwork using them.
• Mini Beasts - Project based on application of media and formal elements. Bringing together the knowledge and skills learnt in the first two terms to create artwork around the theme of ‘Mini Beasts’. 

 Year 8 topics include:

• Dia De Los Muertos  - Project focused on the cultural links between art and the festival Dia de los Muertos. Creating art and decorations linked to the festival. Exploring how art can be important within different cultures and through this developing scissor skills and fine motor skills.
• Art History - Developing knowledge of different art movements and artists in history through investigating and recreating their work. Understanding how the context of an artwork can tell us about it’s creation and meaning. Developing their contextual understanding of art.
• Surrealism - A project exploring Surrealism in depth through looking at artist work and using a variety of media to create responses including an introduction to photography as part of art. 
• Pop Art - A project exploring Pop Art in depth through looking at artist work and using a variety of media to create responses including a 3D outcome.

 Year 9 topics include:

• Portraiture and Identity - Project exploring pencil skills, developing drawing ability and exploring portraiture. Then going on to look at identity and creating artwork around this theme. Representing yourself with symbols, objects and words. 
• Creatures and Characters - A 3D based project to develop skills in sculpture and 3D outcomes. Looking at links with industry and careers in art. Considering how all characters in film/tv start life as a sketch. 
• Flora and Fauna - A project exploring and experimenting with different printing methods. Monoprinting, lino printing, relief printing etc, using nature to inspire these.
   

Year 10 and 11:
At GCES learners can opt to study one or more of the following qualifications.

• Art and Design: Fine Art: GCSE
• Art and Design: Photography: GCSE
• BTEC Tech Award Art and Design

AQA Art and Design (Fine Art) GCSE

• AQA Fine Art GCSE is made up of two components. Component 1 is a portfolio of work including a sustained project alongside further work. Component 2 is an externally set assignment where learners are given a preparatory period followed by 10 hours of supervised time in which they respond to their chosen title. 
• In Component One, learners develop a portfolio of work showcasing their skills in art, looking at artists' work to inspire them, experimenting with media and creating personal outcomes.
• Learners are given starting points to explore and respond to through any interpretation they find inspiring to them.
• They will create pieces of work that show their understanding of different artists’ and cultures’ work, demonstrating a critical understanding of the work. 
• Art skills and techniques are explored. Learners have access to cameras, Photoshop, acrylic paint, inks, pastels etc.
• Learners evaluate and reflect on their work throughout their project through written annotations. 
• Learners are encouraged to be independent and creative in their final outcomes.
  Work is mounted and presented with annotation. Component 1 is worth 60% of the total marks for the learner's grade.
• Component 2 is worth 40%, where the learners investigate a title/theme chosen from their exam paper. They then have a set amount of time to prepare i.e. investigate artists, explore ideas and experiment with media, before completing 10 hrs of supervised time in which they use their acquired art skills and techniques to produce a final outcome to respond to their chosen topic.

Please find more information here - AQA GCSE Fine Art subject specification: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/gcse/art-and-design-8201-8206/subject-content/fine-art

 AQA Art and Design (Photography) GCSE

 AQA Photography GCSE is made up of two components. Component 1 is a portfolio of work including a sustained project alongside further work. Component 2 is an externally set assignment where learners are given a preparatory period followed by 10 hours of supervised time in which they respond to their chosen title. 

• In Component One, learners develop a portfolio of work showcasing their skills in art, looking at artists' work to inspire them, experimenting with media and creating personal outcomes.
• Learners are also taught how to properly use a camera, understand the exposure triangle, how to compose a photo, lighting techniques and how to edit their photos in photoshop.
• Learners are given starting points to explore and respond to through any interpretation they find inspiring to them.
• They will create pieces of work that show their understanding of different artists’ and photographers’ work, demonstrating a critical understanding of the work. 
• Art and photographic skills and techniques are explored. Learners have access to cameras, digital editing software and means of creating ‘physical’ edits e.g. with paper and paint.
• Learners evaluate and reflect on their work throughout their project through written annotations. 
• Learners are encouraged to be independent and creative in their final outcomes.
  Work is mounted and presented with annotation. Component 1 is worth 60% of the total marks for the learner's grade.
• Component 2 is worth 40%, where the learners investigate a title/theme chosen from their exam paper. They then have a set amount of time to prepare i.e. investigate artists, explore ideas and experiment with editing, before completing 10 hrs of supervised time in which they use their acquired art skills and techniques to produce a final outcome to respond to their chosen topic.

Please find more information here - AQA GCSE Photography subject specification: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/gcse/art-and-design-8201-8206/subject-content/photography

BTEC Tech Awards Art and Design Practice 

• The Tech Award gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific applied knowledge and skills through realistic vocational contexts.

• Learners will develop key skills that prove aptitude in art and design practice, such as generating and visually communicating creative responses to art and design briefs. They will investigate processes that underpin effective ways of working in the creative industries such as generating ideas, prototyping, development, review and refinement. 

• Learners are required to complete 2 components in the qualification. At the start of Y10 pupils will recap different skills and media used in Y9. They will then complete component one which is an internal assessed unit released in November each year. With the deadline in May, learners will spend the last term of Y10 learning about component 2 which they will complete in Y11.  

• At the start of Y11 learners will continue their mini project started in Y10 based around component 2. In Y11 we will complete the unit 2 component. In this component, learners will interpret a creative brief that asks them to produce specific art or design work for an identified audience. 

Please find more information here - BTEC Tech Awards Art and Design Practice (2022) subject specification: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-tech-awards/art-and-design-practice-2022.html

Extracurricular and Enrichment Opportunities

 Art department is usually open after school most evenings for learners to come and do extra art work. There are several opportunities for both Fine Art and photography learners to have a variety of trips to enrich their curriculum. 

 As part of the Creatives Department we offer after school Creative Workshops which are open to all learners at UBHS. We also offer an annual residential trip to London so learners can visit a range of places to enhance their subject knowledge. Our recent London trip included a visit to the Tate Art Gallery, Design Museum and the opportunity to see a West End show. 

Other Information

Visits to art galleries, museums and exhibitions are an excellent way to encourage a love of and engage with the vast Art and Crafts world out there. Parents/carers can also support their child by:

Taking an interest in your child’s Art work and ensuring that they are spending an appropriate amount of time on it.

• Encouraging your child to visit exhibitions, galleries, museums, watch programs on TV etc.
• Encouraging any form of art work for pleasure (drawing, painting, photography, textiles).
• Providing Art materials at home for them to use and explore.