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Curriculum Intent

Art & Design

Art is a way to be free, to use your imagination, and to show how you feel. It helps you understand the world by asking questions and trying out new ideas.

What You Will Do in Years 7-9

In your first few years, you will follow a program that helps you become a creative thinker. You will:

  • Try Everything: Use drawing, painting, 3D sculpture, and digital art to bring your ideas to life.

  • Meet the Experts: Look at famous artists from the past and present to see how they send messages through their work.

  • Tell a Story: Use art to talk about big ideas like who you are, your culture, and the environment.

  • Build Confidence: Learn to look at your own work and the work of others to see how it can be improved.

Why Art Matters

Art isn’t just about drawing; it teaches you how to be determined and how to solve problems. These skills help you in all your other subjects and in your life outside of school.

Photography

Photography is about more than just taking pictures—it’s about learning to see the world in a new way. It gives you the tools to share your ideas and your point of view with others.

What You Will Learn

You will go on a journey to discover how photography works and how it has changed the world we live in. During the course, you will:

  • Use Pro Gear: Learn how to use professional cameras and studio lights to get the perfect shot.

  • Get Creative in the Darkroom: Experiment with traditional “darkroom” techniques to develop photos by hand.

  • Digital Magic: Use tools like Photoshop to change and improve your digital images.

  • Be a Researcher: Visit galleries and exhibitions to find inspiration from famous photographers.

  • Work to a Brief: Learn how to take photos that follow a specific theme or “job” description, just like a professional photographer would.

Presenting Your Work

You will learn how to keep a sketchbook of your ideas and how to mount your final photos so they look professional and ready for a gallery.

ks3: Arts - Visual Art

In Years 7 and 8, you will have two hours of Art every week with a specialist teacher. You will follow the National Curriculum, which helps you build the skills you need to become a confident artist.

Year 7: The Building Blocks

Your first year is all about the Formal Elements of art. These are the tools every artist uses, like line, shape, color, and texture.

  • Learning from the Greats: You will look at how famous artists work to learn their secrets.

  • New Skills: You will practice different ways of making art to see how artists send messages through their pictures.

Year 8: Exploring Art History

In Year 8, you will take what you learned in Year 7 and use it to study famous art movements and styles. This year is about finding your own creative voice.

Projects You Will Study:

  • Aboriginal Art: Learn about ancient storytelling through symbols and dots.

  • Truth and Memory: Explore how art can capture a moment in time or a feeling.

  • Expressionist Portraits: Use bold colors and shapes to show emotions in faces.

  • Book Illustration: Learn how to draw pictures that help tell a story.

  • Modules 1, 2 & 3
    • Introducing the Formal Elements in Art
    • The Machine World
  • Modules 4, 5 & 6
    • Introducing the Formal Elements in Art
    • The Natural World
  • Modules 1, 2 & 3
    • Portraiture
  • Modules 4, 5 & 6
    • The High Street
  • Modules 1 & 2
    • My Space
    • Microscopic World
    • Lens-Based Media
  • Modules 3 & 4
    • My Space
    • Immediate World
    • Fine Art
  • Modules 5 & 6
    • My Space
    • Heliocentric Worlds
    • Mixed Media
Learning Journey

ks4: art, craft & design

In Year 10 and the start of Year 11, you will work on your Portfolio. This is a collection of your best work and is worth 60% of your final grade.

Phase 1: Your Portfolio (Year 10 – December Year 11)

You will complete three main projects to show off your skills:

  • Project 1: Organics and Mechanics You will look at things from nature (like plants or bones) and mix them with man-made machines (like gears or engines). You’ll experiment with different materials to see how these two worlds can fit together.

  • Project 2: Consumerism This project is about “shopping culture.” You will look at how much we buy and how it affects our planet and our feelings. You’ll study famous artists and use your own art to show what you think about the modern world.

  • Project 3: My Environment This is all about the world right outside your door. You will explore your local streets, your community, and who you are. You might focus on urban buildings or the people who live in your neighborhood.

Phase 2: The Final Task (January – April Year 11)

This part is worth 40% of your final grade.

  • The Starting Point: In January, the exam board (AQA) will give you a list of themes. You get to pick your favorite one.

  • Preparation: You will spend a few months researching your theme and testing out ideas in your sketchbook.

  • The Exam: In late April, you will have 10 hours (spread over a few days) in the art room to finish your final piece. Your teacher will be there to supervise, but you will work independently to show what you have learned.

Coursework comprises 60% of the final mark. This is made up of three units of work. In the past these have included Structures, Consumerism and Identity. Students will develop their work through the sketchbook, recording and experimenting with ideas and materials as their work progresses. Students evaluate, refine and modify their work as they move towards a final outcome, supporting their studies with in-depth research and annotation.

Although the course is predominantly practical work, it is worth noting that this qualification also demands a significant written element.

In addition to class studies, students will complete much of the coursework outside of lesson time. All students are encouraged and expected to attend after school Art Club where they can receive extra tuition and access specialist materials.

Students’ work is assessed throughout the course. Students will receive an interim assessment and a final assessment for each unit. All coursework will be counted towards the final grade.

The examination unit is worth 40% of the final grade. In the final year of the course students are required to produce a personal response from one starting point or project brief within the examination paper. Students will receive their examination paper in January and complete their externally set task in April. They are expected to develop their own work informed by their preparatory studies, links to the work of other artists and in their final submission, provide evidence that meets all the assessment objectives.

ks4: photography

Think of GCSE Photography as a mix of being an artist, a scientist, and a reporter. You will spend most of your time taking and editing photos, but you will also need to write about your ideas.

What to Expect

While the course is mostly practical, you will also need to write about the photographers you study. You will learn to use professional “photo talk” to explain why you like a certain image and how you made your own.

Ways You Will Create:

  • Analogue: Using traditional film and darkrooms.

  • Digital: Using modern cameras and software like Photoshop.

  • Mixed-Media & Collage: Cutting, layering, and combining photos with other materials to create something unique.

How You Are Graded

We follow the AQA exam board rules. Your grade is split into two parts:

1. The Portfolio (60% of your grade)

This is your coursework. It is made up of one big main project and several smaller “mini-projects” where you experiment with new ideas.

  • Unit 1: Intro to Photography: Learning the basics of how to use a camera.

  • Unit 2: Built Environment: Taking photos of architecture, buildings, and structures.

  • Unit 3: Urban Experience: Capturing the feeling of city life and street photography.

2. The Exam Project (40% of your grade)

This starts in January of Year 11.

  • The Choice: You pick a theme from a list provided by the exam board.

  • The Big Finish: After practicing for a few months, you will have a 10-hour exam to create your final, best set of photos.

Good to Know

Photography uses a lot of specialist equipment. Because of this, we ask for a small donation to help cover the costs of high-quality printing, materials, and trips to galleries.

AQA GCSE Art & Design: Photography Specification Learning Journey

ks5: art & design

A-Level Art and Design is your chance to think like a professional artist. You will go beyond just drawing and painting to explore deep ideas and develop your own unique style.

Year 12: Building Your Skills

You will start the course with two structured projects designed to push your creativity:

  • Project 1: Constructing Identity You will look at how we show who we are. Inspired by photographer Cindy Sherman, you will experiment with self-portraits and explore how artists “build” an identity using costumes, poses, and themes.

  • Project 2: Deconstructing Space This project is about mazes, labyrinths, and architecture. You will look at how we move through spaces and experiment with 3D design and perspective to create work that feels physical and atmospheric.

The Major Projects

As you move through the course, you will take more control over your work.

1. Personal Investigation (60% of your grade)

This is a huge project that you run yourself. You pick a theme you love and explore it through research and art.

  • The Practical Work: You will experiment with everything from ceramics and wirework to digital art and printmaking.

  • The Personal Study: You will write a detailed essay about an artist or a style that inspires your work. This helps you explain the “why” behind your art.

2. Externally Set Assignment (40% of your grade)

In February of Year 13, the exam board (AQA) gives you a list of starting points.

  • Prep Time: You spend four months filling a sketchbook with ideas and tests.

  • The 15-Hour Exam: In May, you have 15 hours (spread over a few days) to create your final masterpiece in the art studio.

Communicating Your Ideas

A big part of A-Level Art is your sketchbook. This isn’t just for doodles; it’s a diary of your brain. You will:

  • Use specialist words to explain your techniques.

  • Compare your work to famous artists from history and today.

  • Explain your personal opinions and how your ideas have grown.

The Grand Finale

To celebrate your hard work, you will help curate and hang a large-scale exhibition. This is where you display your best pieces for others to see, just like a professional artist in a real gallery.

AQA A Level Art and Design Specification Learning Journey

ks5: photography

A-Level Photography is about moving from taking “snaps” to creating professional, meaningful art. You will have access to a full studio, a large darkroom, and the latest Adobe software to help you master both old-school and modern techniques.

How You Will Learn

You won’t just be behind the lens; you will also be a critic and a researcher.

  • Study the Pros: You will analyze the work of famous photographers to understand how they use light, shadow, and composition.

  • Find Your Style: After learning from the experts, you will experiment with your own techniques to find a “look” that is yours.

  • The Sketchbook: All your ideas, test shots, and research are kept in a sketchbook. This is a visual diary of how your project grows from a simple idea to a final image.

Your Major Projects

The course is split into two big parts:

1. Personal Investigation (60% of your grade) This is your chance to lead. You pick a theme that interests you and explore it deeply. You will produce a large body of work and a written essay that explains your artistic choices.

2. Externally Set Assignment (40% of your grade) In the second year, the exam board gives you a list of “starting points.” You will spend a few months preparing your ideas before completing a final 15-hour practical exam to create your best possible photos.

The Perks and Professionalism

  • Professional Tools: You can use our studio and PCs with Photoshop whenever you need to.

  • Trips: We organize at least two trips to galleries or interesting locations to help spark new ideas.

  • The Exhibition: At the end of each stage, you will hand-pick your best photos to be displayed in a public exhibition.

  • Course Costs: Because we use high-quality paper, inks, and chemicals, we ask for a small donation to help keep the department running with the best materials.

AQA A Level Photography Specification Learning Journey