YEARS 7, 8 and 9 

It is the aim of the department to develop in all our pupils visual and aesthetic awareness and art skills so that they can understand and appreciate the richness of a major part of their own culture, and practise self-expression.

The Art programme will cover the following elements. COLOUR, TEXTURE, LINE, SPACE, TONE AND FORM.  Topics also include an element of Art History.          

COLOUR:
The pupils should be able to work with an unlimited range of colour. They should make personal, discriminate choices about colour which are appropriate to the design or expressive needs of the work in hand.

TEXTURE:
The pupils should show awareness of distinctly different or comparatively similar textural surfaces.  They should be able to create convincing drawings in a range of materials and use those studies as the basis of a design project.

LINE:
The pupils will produce a design as a pattern project.  The elements of rhythm, movement, pattern and colour will be brought together. Emphasis will be put on originality of design.

SPACE:
The pupils will use diagrammatic special lettering and shapes as part of an expressive project.  They will be able to recognise and produce 3D effects. This is most likely to be a separate element at this stage.

TONE AND FORM:
The pupils will be able to produce tonal effects in both black and white and colour in both drawn and painted work.  They will learn to use a full range of materials.

Work will be assessed at the end of each project on the overall effect and use of the combined six elements.

Homework is not set on a weekly basis but the pupils will be required to collect information or work on drawings relevant to their projects.

GCSE

Art and Design is the study of our expressive culture and the opportunity to develop visual intelligence and the skills needed for self-expression. Our course is designed as a foundation course for Further Education or as a complete course in itself.  The course can be a preparation for candidates who would like to prepare for vocational design courses such as GNVQ or "A" level courses. Candidates will be able to prepare a portfolio of work to help their applications.

The Art and Design syllabus covers the following skills: 

• Painting, Drawing and Mixed Media

• Fashion, textiles and silk painting (optional)

• Photography (optional)

There is a ten hour timed test with an externally set examination paper at the end of the course.