Art & Design

Curriculum Subjects

Art & Design

See our Art & Design Curriculum below at Bentley Wood for KS3, KS4 and KS5

KS3 | Art & Design

Course Aims:

Students build on their experiences of Art & Design by improving their practical and critical skills and extending their knowledge of materials, processes and practices. Students actively engaging with the experience of working with a broad range of media including traditional and new technologies in order to develop into critical and reflective thinkers. Art & Design is taught through a series of projects which relate to a particular theme.

The theme will usually last for one term and each project will focus on one skill or technique. Students will develop a cultural knowledge, understanding and application of art, craft, design and media and technologies in historical and contemporary contexts. During Key Stage 3 students work with a wide variety of 2D and three 3D media, including drawing, painting, photography, ICT image manipulation, printmaking, collage, wire and paper sculpture, ceramics and papier mâché.

 

Course Content

Year 7

Autumn Term –
Formal Elements of Art & Design

Students explore the formal elements of Art & Design such as line, tone, shape and form through a range of media and techniques including painting drawing and collage. Artists explored include the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists.

Spring Term – Self Image

This project is based around portraiture. Students are taught to draw the face in proportion through observation. Artists explored include early renaissance paintings through to the celebrity based Pop Art where students produce a contemporary outcome influenced by celebrity culture.

Summer Term –
Cultural symbols and motifs

Students look at a variety of cultures including the Mayan and Aztecs to understand the importance of symbols to their history and lives. The outcomes are produced in clay as students develop relief skills in a variety of media.

Year 8

Autumn Term – Mythical Creatures

Students explore ideas and feelings about signs and symbols as the starting point for image making. They then use the idea of ‘cultural belief’ and folklore to create their own ‘Mythical Creature’ learning how to translate their imaginative ideas into three-dimensional form.

Spring Term – Narrative Art

Students react to a graphic design brief and explore ideas and feelings about a story as the starting point for image making. They learn how visual qualities can be manipulated to evoke strong reactions and to represent ideas, beliefs and values making connections between 19th century paintings and contemporary visual culture.

Summer Term – Still Life

Observe and record musical & still life forms through a range of drawing activities including making marks whilst listening to different genres of music. Outcomes developed from imagery influenced by still life from observation and marks made in response to sound.

Enrichment activities:

We offer a range of Art clubs after school and during lunch time. Students continue with the work from the lesson or develop individual interests. Activities include painting, ceramics, drawing, sculpture and print making.

 Key Stage 4 & 5 / Career Progression:

Art & Design and Graphic Communication are offered at GCSE with A Level Fine Art offered in the Sixth Form. Developing Art & Design skills at KS3 is vital for pursuing any ‘art’ related subject at GCSE, A Level and BTEC, such as Textile Design, Graphic Communication and Photography. This has the potential to then lead on to degree and to a wide range of careers.

Recommended Reading:

Numerous art publications are held in the school library, art department and local library. Students are encouraged to read magazine articles (e.g. in Sunday supplements) and keep these. The Internet is also a valuable resource for researching well known artists.

 

KS4 | Art & Design - Fine Art

GCSE Art and Design – Fine Art

 During the first two terms of Year 9 students continue to build upon their existing artistic knowledge and skills following a broad based art and design curriculum focussing on developing key skills such as drawing and painting.

At the beginning of the summer term students will begin their GCSE in Art and Design which is a broad course exploring practical and contextual work through a range of 2D and/or 3D processes, new media and technologies. It is a course where students can work within two or more of the endorsements in appropriate art, craft and design materials and processes. This syllabus particularly focuses on students’ ability to draw and success relies on this particular skill. Students must also demonstrate and ability to communicate through writing.

Examining Board: AQA

Aims of the GCSE Course:

  • To actively engage in the process of making Art and Design in order to develop as effective and independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds.
  • To develop creative skills, through learning to use imaginative and intuitive powers when exploring and creating images and artefacts that are original and of value.
  • To learn to actively engage with the experience of working with a broad range of media, materials and techniques, including, when appropriate, traditional and new media and technologies.
  • To develop cultural knowledge, understanding and application of art, craft, design and media and technologies in historical and contemporary contexts, societies and cultures.

 GCSE Content and Method of Assessment:

 

Component Component Title Requirements Duration
Unit 1 Portfolio of Work
60% of GCSE
A selection from work undertaken during course of study. Throughout the course.
Unit 2 Externally Set Assignment
(Examination)
40% of GCSE
One project of work.
Response to all assessment objectives.
Question papers issued from 1st January of examination year.
Unlimited preparation time.
10 hours of sustained focused study. (Examination)

Course is centre-assessed and moderated by AQA

 Recommended Reading

  • The complete guide to drawing & illustration – Peter Gray
  • Ways of Seeing – John Berger
  • The Art Book – Phaidon Press

 Enrichment:

  • Kew Gardens Trip
  • Outside competitions via the enrichment team.

 Key Stage 5 Progression/ Career Prospects

A Level Fine Art is offered in the Sixth Form at Bentley Wood. Studying a broad based Art & Design course at GCSE is a basic requirement for pursuing any ‘art’ related subject at A Level and BTEC, such as Textile Design, Graphic Communication, Photography, 3-D including Sculpture and Ceramics. This will then lead on to degree and to a wide range of careers.

 

These would include:
 Advertising Animation Architecture Artist illustration
Fashion design Fine art Furniture design Graphic design interior design

 

KS4 | Art & Design - Graphic Communication

During the first two terms of Year 9 students continue to build upon their existing graphical knowledge and skills following a broad based curriculum focussing on developing understanding on the key elements of design through small one-off workshops.

At the beginning of the summer term students begin their GCSE in Art and Design – Graphic Communication. Students are expected to produce practical and contextual work using art skills as a base in one or more area(s) including illustration, advertising, packaging design, design for print, communication, lens-based media: animation and photography. This syllabus will particularly focus on students’ ability to draw and an ability to communicate through writing is a requirement.

Examining Board: AQA

Aims of the GCSE Course:

  • To actively engage in the process of making graphic design in order to develop as effective and independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds.
  • To develop creative skills, through learning to use imaginative and intuitive powers when exploring and creating images and artefacts that are original and of value.
  • To learn and actively engage with the experience of working with a broad range of art media, materials and techniques, including, when appropriate, traditional and new media and technologies.
  • To develop cultural knowledge, understanding and application of art, design and media and technologies in historical and contemporary contexts, societies and cultures.

GCSE Content and Method of Assessment:

Component Component Title Requirements Duration
Unit 1

 

Portfolio of Work
60% of GCSE
A selection from work undertaken during course of study. Throughout the course.
Unit 2 Externally Set Assignment
(Examination)
40% of GCSE
One project of work.
Response to all assessment objectives.
Question papers issued from 1st January of examination year.
Unlimited preparation time.
10 hours of sustained focused study. (Examination)

Course is centre-assessed and moderated by AQA

Recommended Reading

Enrichment:

  • Kew Gardens
  • British Museum

Key Stage 5 Progression/ Career Prospects

A Level Fine Art is offered in the Sixth Form at Bentley Wood with Graphic Design offered within the Collegiate. Studying an art based Graphic Design course at GCSE is a basic requirement for pursuing any ‘art’ related subject at A Level and BTEC, such as Textiles, Graphic Design, Photography, 3-D including Sculpture and Ceramics. This will then lead on to degree and a wide range of careers.

 

These would include:
advertising book binder and finisher cartoonist/animation desktop publisher
editorial designer film/graphics effect designer graphic designer illustration
Internet/multimedia medical illustrator packaging designer photography
print media designer theatre/TV/film design video games designer web site designer

 

 

KS5 | Art & Design - Fine Art

Is Art and Design the subject for you?

Yes, if you wish to study art, craft and design at a higher level usually at Art College or are looking to take up careers for which an art background is relevant. For example careers in advertising, publishing, architecture, design, fashion design, textiles, museums, theatre or education. Fine Art is also suitable for students who have an interest and an aptitude for the subject but do not intend to study it further. The skills developed within this subject are highly transferable and will tell future Universities and employers that you are a creative thinker and a versatile worker.

Course content

The main purpose of any course in art, craft and design is to develop your ability to appreciate the visual world and to respond in a personal and creative way. The skills you will develop will be varied. Among them, you will develop a working knowledge of materials, practices and technology in one or more of your ideas and feelings using art, craft and design.

Methods of study

  • Intellectual, imaginative, creative and intuitive powers.
  • Investigative, analytical, experimental, practical, technical and expressive skills, aesthetic understanding and critical judgment.
  • Independence of mind in relation to developing your own ideas, refining your ideas, intentions and personal outcomes.
  • Experience of working with a broad range of media, including traditional and new technologies.
  • Knowledge and understanding and application of art, craft and design and media and technologies in contemporary and past societies and cultures.

How will it be examined?

This is a two-year linear A Level.

Component Weighting Requirements Duration
Personal Investigation

 

60% A sustained project with the topic chosen by the student. 6 months
Externally Set Assignment
(Examination)
40% One project of work.
Response to all assessment objectives.
Question papers issued from 1st February of examination year.
Unlimited preparation time.
15 hours of sustained focused study. (Examination)

Career opportunities

  • Designers work on products ranging from clothes to cars, kitchen appliances, magazines and mobile phones, making sure that they are visually attractive, functional and, where possible, environmentally friendly.
  • Artists produce paintings, sculpture and other pieces that decorate homes and public spaces.
  • Craftspeople, such as engravers, picture framers and model makers, produce products using traditional techniques or innovative ideas and materials