What will I study?
Building upon Year 9 learning, Art and Design is about communicating imaginatively and effectively, in visual form, ideas, thoughts and knowledge in response to given briefs. It involves the recording of research and experimentation which gradually lead to the development of a final, personal, response. The course is broken down into two components :
- coursework portfolio assessment across Years 10 and 11
- an externally set assignment from January to April of Year 11.
Within it, you will:
- learn how, throughout time, artists, craftspeople and designers have been influenced not only by their own ideas, but by the physical, social and cultural environments in which they have lived. You, in turn, will show similar influences in your own work.
- explore themes, such as ‘structures ‘and ‘metamorphosis’; styles including surrealism; and techniques like print-making and ceramics.
- learn how to develop ideas from research and your own imagination.
- experiment with different media, processes and techniques, sometimes in ways and combinations you may not have tried before, to increase the effectiveness of those ideas.
- learn to effectively record the development of your projects, via visual and written means, in sketchbooks and other presentation formats.
- produce final pieces that connect your ideas and learning together in a personal way.
How will I be assessed?
The qualification the course leads to is the Edexcel Art and Design GCSE.
The Unit 1 coursework portfolio element, worth 60% of the overall grade, culminates with a controlled assessment project beginning in the Autumn term of Year 11 and finishing in January.
The externally set assignment, worth 40% of final marks, is distributed to students in January of Year 11, and is then researched, planned and prepared over the next three months, culminating in a ten hour invigilated test over two days in April.
Both units are assessed to the same four criteria based around ideas development, experimentation, recording and personal response.
Teaching and learning approaches
The department employs a wide range of teaching and learning approaches at GCSE. These include: opportunities to view and analyse the work of other artists, crafts-people and designers; discussing research and opinions in whole class and peer group scenarios; use of computer-based learning, both for research and for image manipulation and ideas development; demonstration of, and practice with, a variety of techniques, materials and processes; and use of a variety of work presentation skills.
Independent Learning
Independent source gathering, research and project development is an essential part of this course. You must be willing to commit yourself to all set homework; there will be one each week, plus an extended study task each half-term. Students will also need to independently develop their personal projects as necessary, outside of set homework time.
The Future
You may want to pursue your Art studies post-16 via Art and Design A Level at the Academy. You could then go on to do a foundation diploma or degree level course at college or university.
