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Art
What will your child study in Year 9?
In Year 9 the broad based theme is ‘The Human Form’. Pupils develop ideas based on ‘Identity’, ‘The Figure’ and ‘Relationships’. Projects in Year 9 are designed to stimulate creativity and individuality whilst building on previous foundation skills within drawing, painting, printmaking, digital media and sculpture. Teachers strive to make the lessons as diverse and adventurous as possible whilst still contextualising work through Art History.
How will they be assessed?
Year 9 homework gives pupils greater opportunity for independent thinking. We encourage pupils to build on their ideas as well as developing their creative and conceptual thinking in preparation for GCSE. Homework is marked by their teacher, who will give written feedback and grades. Pupils are also encouraged to take part in group discussion where they can feedback constructive ideas to each other.
Why study GCSE Art?
Studying GCSE Art and Design will give pupils the opportunity to develop and broaden their practical skills and creative language. Pupils will learn to develop their own ideas over a sustained period of time, experiment with a variety of media and gain a greater understanding of Art and Design through contextual studies.
What will your child study at GCSE?
In the Middle School pupils study the OCR Art and Design syllabus.
GCSE Art is made up of two units which together make up GCSE grade.
- Art and Design Portfolio A111 (60% of the GCSE)
- Art and Design OCR Set task A121 (40% of the GCSE)
Art and Design Portfolio A111
The portfolio will be made up of two major projects that represent 15 weeks of work. Pupils are given a starting point, such as Natural Forms, The Machine Age or Expressive Portraits, from which they develop individual paths of discovery. Pupils move between disciplines such as painting and drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, computer-generated imagery and photography. Drawing forms a foundation skill that is used to gather information as well as idea development. Computers and digital cameras are often used to record information and develop visual ideas quickly. Outcomes are always varied and often involve a variety of media. Annotation of their work, as well as placing it in the context of Art History, is required and is ever present in their sketchbooks. Coursework runs from the beginning of Year 10 to the end of January in the Lent Term of Year 11. The teacher and pupil will then select the best work from the portfolio ready for assessment. This selection will represent 15 weeks work.
Art and Design OCR Set Task A121
The Art and Design OCR Set Task is an early release paper comprising 12 starting points. Pupils choose one starting point and develop and plan ideas for up to six weeks prior to the exam. At the end of this period pupils undertake a 10-hour controlled assessment where they create their planned finished piece.
How will they be assessed?
Pupils are set one hour of homework on a weekly basis. This may include research, sketchbook and developmental practical work, reading and visiting galleries. Early in the course homework takes the form of set tasks which will be reviewed each week. As the course develops this time is allocated for independent art making and research. Pupils write homework into a record sheet in their sketchbooks and their teachers provide feedback directly on to this record sheet.
