Aims

Art encourages self-expression and creativity and develops critical thinking. It has the potential to build our pupils’ confidence and their sense of individual identity (The Tate). It can be an expressive tool to support the mental health and wellbeing of our pupils.

https://www.place2be.org.uk/our-services/services-for-schools/the-art-room/

A high-quality art and design curriculum engages, inspires and challenges our pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to:

  • Experiment

  • Invent

  • Create

As pupils progress, they can think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They learn know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity, and wealth of our communities.

We aim to do this by teaching fundamental skills in mark making, colour theory, analysis and creating personal response work to art topics and themes. Our pupils research artists and styles of art and are introduced to art history at the start of each unit.

Year 7 students compete in creating student planner cover and practice skills of still art drawing on a cross curricular visit to the botanical gardens. Year 8 student make creative Eid cards as part of a community care package. KS3 students are selected for Artist of the Month Award, encouraging them to develop their unique style and interpretation. 

Overview of our Art curriculum

Students research art forms and artists at the start of their units. Our students develop independent research skills, analysis and evaluative skills. They use their in-depth understanding of the topic to produce work and critically assess each other’s work. Consequently, they are inspired to develop their own style.
 
Art lessons have several cross-curricular links; history, geography, mental health and wellbeing, literacy and mathematics, and study of different perspectives in buildings, architectures and grid methods.
 
We expose students to artists from various ethnic backgrounds, neurodiversity and disabilities as well art forms from around the world, such as Islamic art, aboriginal art and African Art. Students explore mental health and wellbeing through study of Van Gogh and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
 

 

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

 

Autumn term 1

 

Introduction
to the Elements of Art.
 

Covering:
Karla Horst, Line, Shape and Tone

Study of Form
and Tone in Cityscapes – Observational Drawing

Covering:
cityscape with Stephen Wiltshire, Lucinda Rogers and tonal values

Embedding
Drawing skills

Covering:
Stephen Travers, Perspective, John Piper and buildings.

Extended
Project Component 1

Growth and Decay
AO1 Develop ideas through investigation

 

Component 1:
mock exam assignment

Study from
Past Paper

Idea
explosion of images, photos and notes on theme:

‘Fragments’

Assessment

Base line test and Observational drawing

Observational drawing of cityscape

Perspective observational drawing of a building

 Portfolio

Personal Portfolio

 

Autumn term 2

The Basics of
Colour

Covering:
Colour wheel and Harmonious colours

 

Colour Theory

Covering:
Contemporary Artist Alai Ganuza and in-depth study of colour theory

Colour Mixing
& Pattern Painting –
Carolee Clark and William Morris 

Covering;
harmonious, monochromatic, and complementary colours.

Growth
and Decay

AO3 Record observations relevant to work as it progresses

Vincent
Van Gogh – Sunflowers

Georgia
O’Keeffe – Shells

Component
1: mock exam assignment

AO2 Refine and Explore AO3 Record Ideas
 AO4 Present

·        
Experimenting

·        
Presenting personal response

Formative assessment

Colour abstract painting 

Abstract painting

Abstract still life painting

Portfolio

Final Piece (Mock Exam

5hrs +)

 

Spring term 1

 

Hundertwasser
and Birmingham

Covering
contextual art and
Architecture/ buildings in Birmingham

STILL LIFE

Covering:
Jacqueline Poirier and Sarah Graham.

Sweets and
food

Surrealism

Covering:
Salvador Dali and Georgia O’Keeffe

Painting techniques
with watercolour

Growth
and Decay

AO2 Refine and Explore
AO4 Present

·        
Experimenting

Presenting
personal response

Component 2:
Externally Set Assignment

12 weeks to
complete a project following one of the directed themes provided by the exam
board.  Assessment Objectives 1, 2, 3
and 4

Assessment

Artist research page

Artist research page

Observational drawing

Final Piece

Exam Portfolio

 

Spring term 2

 

Hundertwasser
patterns and Zen tangles

Covering:
Patterns, textures, zen tangles

Develop final
piece

 

Sweets tooth
– Final Piece (Still life)

Covering:
Mixed Media crayons, water colour paint and pen drawings.

Final Piece
on Plate

Oil Pastel
Cubism

Covering:
Cubist techniques: Study Artist Mary Swanzy.

 

Oil pastel
techniques, Plants and flowers (Flora and Fauna).

Extended
Project 2

Component
1

Cityscapes project – Paul
Kenton and Ruth Allen

AO1 and AO2

Developing
(research)

Recording

Component
2: Externally Set Assignment
Investigation Experimentation
Personal Response

Preparation
for 10-hour period of sustained focus

Assessment

Final piece

Final piece

Research and  final piece   

Portfolio

Exam Portfolio 

 

Summer Term 1

 

Pop Art

History

Covering: Roy Lichtenstein and Yayoi
Kusama,

 

 

Landscape
& Mark Making
.

Covering: Georges
Seurat, Van Gogh, David Hockney, and Monet

Painting
techniques

 

GCSE Practise
Project: Contemporary Surrealism and natural form

Covering:  developing own response: Study of
immortality and Contemporary Artist Norman Duenas

Cityscapes
Project

AO2 Refine and Explore AO3 Record Ideas
AO4 Present
Refining
Experimenting

Component
2: Externally Set Assignment

Complete Final GCSE Piece: 10
hour externally set task on Canvas or Paper

Experimentation

Personal Response

Assessment

Sketchbook work

Sketchbook work

Research – GCSE AO 1,2,3

 Portfolio

GCSE External Moderation Visit

 

Summer Term 2

Pop Art 3D
Sculpture and Patterns

Covering: 3D
Shapes and repetition of Patterns


In between projects:

1. Design
School Planner

2.Islamic
geometric art

Texture and
Landscape
Covering: Composition and implied and real texture

Final Piece

In between
projects:

1. Design
School Planner

2. Islamic
calligraphy   

GCSE Practise
Project: Contemporary Surrealism and natural form

Covering:  developing own response: Final Piece
inspired by Artist Norman Duenas and Sarah Graham

Cityscapes
Project

AO4
Present a personal and meaningful response

A final piece
of chosen city produced over several hours

 

Formative Assessment

3D Final piece

Final piece 

Final piece GCSE AO4 – Present

Final Piece on Canvas or Paper

 

 

Useful links

https://www.art2day.co.uk/

https://www.studentartguide.com/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z6hs34j

https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/

https://www.artyfactory.com/index.html

https://artuk.org/

https://www.tate.org.uk/

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/explore/websites-for-artists/