Art and Design at Ffynone House School Swansea

Art and Design at Ffynone House School

Key Stage 3

In year 7, 8 and 9 pupils develop skills and techniques to form an understanding of the visual world.  Pupils learn to record, selecting analysing and developing work from first hand experiences. They are encouraged to question critically the world around them and interpret their thoughts and ideas. Pupils will start to manipulate materials to suit purpose. They will be introduced to a range of Artists and Art movements and will start to make judgements about work and the relationship to their own experiences. Pupils will be encouraged to evaluate their work and the work of other using artistic vocabulary, to express opinions and make reasoned judgements

Breadth of Study

Pupils will-

• Use range of starting points, experiences, natural and manmade.
• Work on own, with other in 2/3D and different scales.
• Use a range of materials, and processes including ICT.
• Investigate different kinds of art/craft/design, genre, style, reproduction, and in museum/gallery Internet.

Key Stage 4

GCSE Art and Design

Pupils work through the GCSE specification for Art and Design with AQA Examination Board.

In Year 10 pupils work individually and in groups on a range of topics set in negotiation with the Art Teacher. In year 10 pupils' work to expand their skills base in Art techniques, participating in a number of drawing, painting, and ICT based workshops.

In Year 11 pupils select their own themes. The themes are decided on with the support of the Art teacher and are aimed at the pupil producing a body of work that focuses on their individual interests and further explores the skills and techniques studied in Year 10.

Year 11 will also undertake a 10-hour examination.

Pupils are required to elicit a personal response from one starting point or project brief within the paper they have been entered. Pupils have an unlimited amount of preparation time.

Assessment Criteria is divided into the following four equally weighted Assessment Objectives;

Develop

Ideas through investigations informed by contextual and other sources demonstrating analytical and cultural understanding

Refine

Ideas through experimenting and selecting appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes

Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions in visual and or other forms

Present

A personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating analytical and critical understanding, realising intentions and where appropriate, making connections between visual, oral or other elements.

Coursework counts towards 60% of the overall mark.

Examination work counts towards 40% of the overall mark.

AS/A2 Art and Design

Pupils study As/A2 Art and Design through AQA Examination Board.

An ability to think creatively is an important factor in developing skills whatever pupils plan to do once they leave School and venture into the big world. Art and Design is the one area of study that is unique to each pupil who takes the course. It allows pupils to engage in work that is personal and relevant to each individual.

At AS pupils produce two units of work.

• Unit 1 relates to Coursework. Pupils will be encouraged to work through an individually selected theme.
• Unit 2 is an externally set assignment. The emphasis on this unit is the development of ideas in response to an externally set starting point. From individual investigations pupils will have a 5 hours of supervised time. This is completed under exam conditions, but work produced in not designed to be completed in this time.

Each unit carries 50% of the overall marks for AS Art and Design.

A2 is divided into two units, Unit 3 and Unit 4.

• Unit 3 is a personal investigation, which incorporates both practical and written work.
• Unit 4 is an externally set unit, culminating in a 15-hour examination.

Weighting between unit 3 and unit 4 is equal and joins together with AS makes to form the final grade.

What pupils will learn?

Art and Design helps pupils develop a number of skills:

• Develop your creativity and independent thought processes

• Learn to express yourself visually

• Extend your critical and analytical understanding

• Improve your problem solving skills

Careers in Art and Design

The skills that you will acquire through sustained study in Art and design are beneficial for all career paths. Listed below are just a few of the possibilities