Art & Design

A curriculum fit for the 21st Century:

Already 1 in every 8 businesses are creative, as are 1 in every 11 jobs. Workforce projections suggest that creative jobs will continue to grow at a fast pace and that our future economy will be built on creativity and technology. With artificial intelligence taking over routine tasks, there will be immense opportunities for people who combine creative, technical and social skills – skills that are resilient to future automation. (Nesta, Creativity and the future of work report, 2018)

Through project based learning, visits and workshops we aim to provide our students with a global perspective on different religions, cultures, travel and employment. As well as focussing on creative output, we have a duty to develop our students’ language skills so that they can articulate their thoughts and understanding in an effective way (be that verbally, in writing or in pictures).

Intent

Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. (National Curriculum 2013)

A range of diverse interactions with a huge variety of art, craft and design will open the student’s eyes to the highly visual world we are surrounded by. Reading & interpreting imagery; having personal emotional reactions to art, craft and design; developing creative problem-solving skills and the pure joy of making using a wide range of materials & techniques; are all part of a child’s experience and learning through a visual and tactile means. Our curriculum is grounded in a firm belief in what excellent art and design education should look like. This belief is formed from looking at excellent examples from the past and present, keeping a close eye on the needs of contemporary professional practice. We believe that art and design is for everyone- that all can achieve with the appropriate support and teaching. As such, it is important that our provision is broad to engage all students and that students can specialise as they progress through the school.

The curriculum at Tor Bridge High encourages students to develop a passion for Art and Design to include high quality outcomes both academically and personally, to be innovative with their ideas and development and be creative in their approach. We believe that teaching and learning should be adaptable and relatable for all students having an inclusive curriculum. The creative process that we teach to students embodies confidence, critical thinking, technical skills and problem-solving skills.

Implementation

Through a varied art experience at KS1 and KS2 we begin students journey with us by introducing them to the fundamental art skills and knowledge. We want students to be confident in their knowledge and understanding of the work of key artists to engage them within art, craft and design activities. Throughout, opportunities to highlight potential pathways are signposted and the importance and value of art, craft and design education is emphasised.

The Art Curriculum is designed to cover a range of skills and knowledge over each key stage and repetition of core practices in drawing, the application of the formal elements, critical and contextual understanding and analysis, and the personalising of responses in order to build skills across the key areas. Disciplines are led by specialist teachers providing the highest quality schemes and knowledge.

We strongly focus on the creative process across all disciplines, building students understanding of research, experimentation, developing ideas and realising intentions. This builds into our GCSE and A-Level cohorts as they develop their independence and personal investigation to become excellent artists.

Teaching scaffolds and supports student development in such a way that all students have access and are provided with the feedback to move their progress forwards. Encouraging questioning, formulating ideas and finding ways in which to express them lie at the heart of what we do.

Impact

Through the study of Art & Design, students will have explored and developed a range of skills exploring the creative process. Students will be confident in communicating about artists, art movements and their own work. Students will understand the creative process and be able to apply it to their own practice.

Progress is mapped at key stage 3 through reviews and assessment where we can understand students’ learning and adjust the curriculum/delivery in accordance with gaps in knowledge. Students will clearly link the work of artists with art styles they have explored and will be confident in the use of media and materials. The three cycles explored across year 7 and year 8 provide students with the fundamental skills and knowledge they need to be excellent artists. Students in year 9 will explore disciplines within greater depth developing their creative process further, building independence and knowledge of their art practice. By the end of key stage 3 students are equipped with the tool kit to move into GCSE and A-Level to specialise and develop their artistic style.

Within key stage 4 and 5, progress is assessed through the 4 key assessment objectives aligning with the creative process. Students are articulate and knowledgeable about Art, Craft and Design, knowing the areas of practice they excel in and developing their personal investigation within that area of Art and Design. Students are encouraged to create work using their chosen media and material, drawing upon staff's expertise to be successful.

KS3 Curriculum Content

What Will I Study?

Throughout year 7, all students will experience and gain skills in the following areas: architecture; drawing; painting; textile design; sculpture; ceramics; graphic design and digital media. They will complete 7-9 week projects, each with a different theme. Where possible, projects address social and cultural issues. There are also opportunities for cross-curricular links. Students will develop an understanding of the creative process, using research and experimentation to solve problems and develop ideas for an imaginative and skilful outcome. They will develop language skills (visual, written and oral), reviewing their work and that of others.

In year 8, students are able to pursue their interests in more depth, working on longer projects. Following an evaluation process at the end of year 7, students are placed in specialist groups that reflect their interests (drawing and painting; textile design; 3D design and ceramics; graphic design and digital media). They will remain with the same teacher throughout the year, allowing time to investigate themes and briefs in more detail and practise skills in greater depth

Our delivery model is informed by GCSE specifications.

How Will I Be Assessed?

Every lesson, students receive feedback and technical assistance to help them to improve their work. Formal assessments will occur at the end of each project, with detailed feedback and opportunities to reflect upon and improve their work.

When assessing students’ work we are making judgements on:

How clearly ideas are developed and presented
Ability to make links between own practice and that of professionals
Skill and control with media
Willingness to experiment with a range of materials and processes
Ability to draw with care and accuracy
Ability to reflect upon and refine work to produce outcomes
Presentation

What Experiences Will I Get?

All projects are supported by the contextual study of art, craft and design movements and practitioners, thus opening a window onto the world, both past and present. Students are actively encouraged to discuss the issues and concepts involved, forming their own opinions whilst also appreciating the opinions of others.

There are opportunities for students to further their passion for art and design by attending the weekly art and photography clubs. There are also opportunities to work with visiting artists and to visit galleries and exhibitions.

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

KS4 Curriculum Content

What Will I Study?

Art & Design is an optional subject that is very popular. Students can choose a general art and design route, or a more specialist course. They can study both Art & Design and Photography if they wish. Options are as follows: Art & Design; Textiles; 3D design; Graphic Design and Digital Media; Photography. Following on their experience in years 7 and 8, students can make an informed choice.

Our aim is to develop the skills and confidence that enable students to become more independent as the course progresses. Students will need to respond to numerous challenges, using the creative process to develop imagination, skilful and personal responses. The Art & Design/Photography curriculum is very flexible and does not dictate subject matter. Therefore, the theme varies group to group, year to year. Our aim is to inspire the next generation of young artists.

How WIll I Be Assessed?

Every lesson, students receive feedback and technical assistance to help them to improve their work. Formal assessments will occur at regular intervals throughout each project, with detailed feedback and opportunities to reflect upon and improve their work.

When assessing students’ work we are making judgements on:
How clearly ideas are developed and presented
Ability to make links between own practice and that of professionals
Skill and control with media
Willingness to experiment with a range of materials and processes
Ability to draw with care and accuracy
Ability to create ‘technically good’ photographic images using different cameras and editing software (GCSE Photography)
Ability to reflect upon and refine work to produce outcomes
Presentation

Other Art Experiences

There are opportunities for students to further their passion for art and design by attending extra studio sessions after school. There are also opportunities to work with visiting artists and to visit galleries and exhibitions.

Every day our studios are open to students after school, providing the opportunity to ask for extra support or to use the specialist materials and equipment on offer. We have a discounted art store if students wish to purchase materials to use at home.

It is essential that Photography students have access to a camera at home. SLR or Bridge cameras are best – ask the photography teachers for advice before buying!

Year 10

Year 11

KS5 Curriculum Content

Qualifications on offer: GCE A-Level Art, Craft and Design; GCE A-Level Photography; BTEC Nationals Extended Certificate in Art and Design (L3); BTEC Nationals Diploma in Art and Design (L3).

Students can pursue several specialisms through the above courses, developing their interest and skill levels at a higher level. Smaller group sizes, greater maturity and expertise allow for increased levels of independence. The start of year 12 is more teacher led with a focus on skill development and learning how to meet assessment criteria. As students progress they lead their own investigations (with the support of teachers), tackling subject matter of personal interest. Formal instruction in a wide range of techniques and processes, alongside one-to-one tutorials, ensures high levels of success.

Assessment is carried out in accordance with the exam board specifications. We make regular reference to the assessment criteria to ensure that students understand how to improve. They receive verbal feedback every lesson, helping them to progress with their ideas. Formal assessments will occur at regular intervals throughout each project, with detailed feedback and opportunities to reflect upon and improve their work.