Curriculum : Art Art Teaching Staff Ms Lyons (Head of Art Department) Ms Bullough Ms Prince Blog: http://gchartdepartment.wordpress.com/ Key Stage 3 Our aims are: To learn basic rules of art To develop social skills to facilitate work To organise ideas into practical work To assimilate and work from basic instruction To encourage experimentation through the use of materials and media To encourage observational skills, using observation from life and involvement in their own environment To recognise other people’s art and other artists’ methods, using and applying them in their own work To develop their own idea through the design stage and till the end product To give confidence, enthusiasm and a sense of achievement After pupils have worked through the Art and Design curriculum at KS3, they will have had the opportunity to have gained experience of building, still life painting and drawing, landscapes, portraits, mosaics, pattern making, masks, clay work, rubbings, collage, lino printing, wire construction, abstract art and papier mache. GCSE Art GCSE in Art is open for students who have an interest in Art and who would be willing to draw regularly, be creative and complete research, in their own time in preparation for their Art and Design lessons. Art at GCSE level consists of three projects and an exam in March of Year 11, (with four weeks of preparation time).  All the projects will give students the opportunity to build on strengths and try out different materials.  Themes this year have included ‘Domestic’ ‘The Bathroom’ and ‘The Figure’.  All Students gather information about the theme, completing sketches, ideas and designs in their sketch book. This research could then be developed through a variety of different media, including drawing, painting, print-making and three dimensional work. Students are encouraged to develop their own ideas producing many different outcomes. Throughout the course, visits will be made to galleries and students will be expected to use the Art and Design section of the school and/or local library. This approach stimulates ideas and helps students to complete the Critical Studies aspect of the course. Throughout the year, students are given feedback on their work.  Most of this occurs through discussion and verbal appraisal.  We mark projects against GCSE assessment criteria and pieces of work, giving students grades and written comments.  Reports and parent evening events give students formal feedback, whilst the students' teacher is available to ask for advice and discuss ideas. Projects are marked out of 60.  During the project students will have an interim assessment which gives them a clear understanding of where they are at.  At the end of the course, students are entered for the AQA Exam Board GCSE in Art and Design.  The work is marked as a whole, in the first instance by the Art Department and then by an external examiner. The key to success in the GCSE course is: Enthusiasm and dedication independent research, consistent hard work reviewing and improving work as you go along making sure that you work to deadlines  being fully aware of how you are being assessed. AS/A2 Level Art and Design Exam board: AQA Specification:            Unendorsed option: students work in at least two media Course Description The course aims to: Develop in candidates an understanding of the nature of visual thinking Encourage experience in a wide range of materials Help to develop an understanding of cultural change and contextual studies Develop an awareness of both analytical and intuitive value judgements AS course is worth 50% of the A Level and stands alone as a qualification.  Students will be required to produce sketchbooks, work journals, and final pieces for internal and external moderation New specification for 2008-2009 for AS: 2 units of work in the AS course Unit 1 - Coursework Unit 2 - Exam Exhibition - displaying the work will be in May in AS/A2 year 2 units of work in the A2 course Unit 3 – Personal investigation Unit 4 - Exam Exhibition - displaying the work will be in May in AS/A2 year Special Requirements/other Information Minimum grade B at GCSE Art and English The key to success in the AS course is enthusiasm and dedication, excellent drawing skills independent research, consistent hard work, reviewing and improving work as you go along, making sure that you work to deadlines, being fully aware of how you are being assessed. Every year students go on to Foundation Courses at London Art colleges in preparation for various careers in Art and Design including Media, Interior Design, Fashion, Jewellery, Ceramics, Product Design, Theatre and Film, Theatre/Set Design and Fine Art.