1. What is the curriculum rationale in Art?
Intent: purpose and values of Art
At Wilmslow High School we believe that high quality art lessons will inspire our students to think innovatively, as well as developing creative and procedural understanding. Our aim is to ensure that all students learn more and know more about visual language and how to interpret and respond to this. It is our shared aim to encourage all student to speak fluently with passion and insight about visual literacy, seeking opportunities to further explore the vast array of careers within the creative industries.
Through a stimulating and ambitious art curriculum, built upon the needs of individual learners, we aim to promote independence, creative and social development. We believe our curriculum drives the success of all our students regardless of their initial starting point and creative background, thus providing children with opportunities to develop substantive and disciplinary knowledge regardless of ability.
As a department we believe it is paramount that art work should be purposeful, be this as a means of expression or to explore the works of other artists and crafts people in order to secure an extensive and connected knowledge base.
Throughout Key Stage 3 students will complete a total of six projects. Each project has been carefully constructed to facilitate and build upon prior knowledge, integrating old and new seamlessly to intergrade connections to their schemata of existing knowledge.
Projects are designed to develop and underpin the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to provide a solid foundation in art and design as well as being given the opportunity to reflect critically on their own and each other’s work as it progresses. Embedded within each of our exciting projects are both historical and contemporary artists and designers, introducing pupils to wider disciplines and themes (Photography, Graphic Communications and 3D Design), helping to establish the inclusion of diverse voices within the field of Art, Craft and Design.
Our Key Stage 4 curriculum offers both holistic and individual opportunities to study a creative subject at GCSE and beyond. The three GCSE endorsements delivered by the art team (Art Craft and Design, Graphic Communications and Photography) follow the AQA specification where they explore and work within a range of assessment objectives, themes and practical outcomes.
Within the department we pride ourselves on our proactive and intuitive approach to teaching and learning and we actively encourage students to do the same.
2. What is the 'big picture' in Art?
The ‘big picture’ outlines how the Big Ideas and areas of knowledge of each subject fit together:
The Big Ideas of Art are:
- Artists use materials to create an aesthetic object, act or event
- Art is shaped by tradition, change and beliefs
- Interpretations of art are variable
We shape students understanding of the Big Ideas by teaching, exploring and re-visiting the formal elements:
There are four key areas of knowledge which are necessary to become a subject expert in Art:
- Conceptual understanding: That our students build declarative knowledge (knowing that) of the formal elements and the laws of the subject through e.g. studying the work of artists, designers and crafts people and art movements
- Procedural fluency: That our students build procedural knowledge (knowing how to) through active participation and practice e.g. refining observational skills in order to record accurately
- Disciplinary knowledge: That our students know how to design for purpose as well as powerfully message through creative expression, e.g. that they have the technical know-how and through practice can achieve fluency
- Language: interpreting and responding to what they see e.g. developing their visual literacy by critiquing the work of others
We expect GCSE students to be able to:
- Aim High - At the start of the course students will be introduced to the AQA marking criteria, language and terminology. Pupils will be encouraged to work towards their projected grade as well as aim to reach aspirational targets.
- Demonstrate rigour and resilience - Pupils are expected to complete the 1.5hrs of home learning and attend study support sessions where appropriate. The GCSE is challenging and pupils will need to demonstrate grit and determination to achieve their target grades. Working above and beyond, challenging their learning, and practical skill will ultimately secure pupil progress across the two-year course.
- Task Completion- Failure to complete coursework tasks will inevitably hinder pupil progress, in order to receive timely feedback and access subject specific guidance all students must comply with deadlines set by their teacher(s).
- Research - An integral element of the course, students will be expected to be autonomous in their research actively seeking ideas for themselves in order to enhance subject knowledge as well as develop their project(s).
- Demonstrate skill development - All students will be expected to practise key skills and techniques taught outside of lesson time. This will help to inform tutorial discussions as well as enhance their developing practice to secure exam success.
- Organisation - Students will be expected to bring their sketchbook to every lesson without fail. All loose coursework will be stored in A2 plastic folders which may be purchased at the start of the year, and will be located within the various art classrooms. Pupils are required to bring their ‘essential’ equipment to every lesson, this will be more traditional tools and materials such as: Shading pencils, Fine liner, Pritt stick, Paint brushes etc.
- Time manage - Students will be encouraged to follow the course guidelines, ensuring that deadlines for class or homework are met. Pupils will abide by the AQA examination guidelines and will meet the stated deadlines for portfolio and examination submissions.
3. What does knowledge look like in Art?
4. What do we teach and when?
Key Stage 3
By the end of Key Stage 3 all students will:
- Retain and recall knowledge of artists and craftspeople, using this knowledge to underpin their practical engagement within the classroom.
- Understand and feel confident using subject specific language .
- Explore opportunities to analyse, evaluate and problem solve.
- Apply their emerging practical skills to a wider range of context and discipline.
- Use a range of techniques, media and material to record their observational skills.
- Increase their proficiency in the handling of a range of artist materials (Paint, ink, Found materials)
- Analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others to underpin and strengthen their visual understanding.
We expect GCSE students to be able to:
- Aim High - At the start of the course students will be introduced to the AQA marking criteria, language and terminology. Pupils will be encouraged to work towards their projected grade as well as aim to reach aspirational targets.
- Demonstrate rigour and resilience - Pupils are expected to complete the 1.5hrs of home learning and attend study support sessions where appropriate. The GCSE is challenging and pupils will need to demonstrate grit and determination to achieve their target grades. Working above and beyond, challenging their learning, and practical skill will ultimately secure pupil progress across the two-year course.
- Task Completion- Failure to complete coursework tasks will inevitably hinder pupil progress, in order to receive timely feedback and access subject specific guidance all students must comply with deadlines set by their teacher(s).
- Research - An integral element of the course, students will be expected to be autonomous in their research actively seeking ideas for themselves in order to enhance subject knowledge as well as develop their project(s).
- Demonstrate skill development - All students will be expected to practise key skills and techniques taught outside of lesson time. This will help to inform tutorial discussions as well as enhance their developing practice to secure exam success.
- Organisation - Students will be expected to bring their sketchbook to every lesson without fail. All loose coursework will be stored in A2 plastic folders which may be purchased at the start of the year, and will be located within the various art classrooms. Pupils are required to bring their ‘essential’ equipment to every lesson, this will be more traditional tools and materials such as: Shading pencils, Fine liner, Pritt stick, Paint brushes etc.
- Time manage - Students will be encouraged to follow the course guidelines, ensuring that deadlines for class or homework are met. Pupils will abide by the AQA examination guidelines and will meet the stated deadlines for portfolio and examination submissions.