Subject Leader:	Mr Tennant
Art Teachers:	Miss Kane, Mr Lewis, Miss Mills & Mrs Youngman
Website:	St Wilfrid's Catholic School:  Art

 

Overview
The department aims to provide a rich experience for all students, one where the learning environment is varied, challenging and secure. Process is emphasised and pupils are encouraged to research, plan and develop ideas that result in a range of exciting and skilful paintings, drawings and prints. Work is differentiated to ensure that all students can reach their full potential.

 

Key Stage 3 Art is taught in Years 7, 8 and 9. The content is prepared to suit the age group both in terms of the techniques used and the artists studied.

In Year 7 students follow a basic foundation course; they are introduced to artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci, David Hockney and the Fauvists. They practise their basic drawing and painting skills using a range of media and produce still life drawings in pencil, coloured pencil and a landscape painting. They are giving a strong grounding in the key art elements such as tone and line as well as the vocabulary and skills required to discuss artworks.

In Year 8 students are asked to consider the Question – Do artists’ have the power to change peoples’ minds and explore the concept of ‘Conflict and Art’. They start their studies by looking at different forms of war art such as propaganda and protest art.  They explore Picasso’s Guernica piece before developing their own piece inspired by the work. Students then move on to explore Henry Moore's work and drawing techniques. Students create a variety of Henry Moore responses from pencil/biro sketching of the Elephant Skull to wax resist paintings of the Blue Lady. The Henry Moore phase culminates in an assessment for learning mixed media piece using all techniques learned, allowing students to further develop their drawing and painting skills. This mixed media piece is based on figure in an underground shelter. In the next project students look at Pattern and develop a knowledge of the use of pattern in art before focussing on Aboriginal Art and its patterns, colours and messages. Year 8 also explore how animals are represented in this dynamic and lively genre.

In Year 9 students study the theme of movement and focus on the Futurist group and Steampunk. They study a range of artists who were key within the Futurism movement alongside the genre of Steampunk and its use of mechanical parts. They explore both areas in their work and create sketchbook work showing ideas development for abstract paintings and a Steampunk inspired piece. During year 9 students are encouraged to begin developing their own ideas more independently in preparation for study at GCSE level.

 

Key Stage 4 

GCSE Art is an optional subject in Years 10 and 11. We follow the AQA fine art specification. This has 2 components. Component 1 involves students producing a portfolio of evidence and component 2 is a controlled externally set assignment that culminates in a 10 hour practical exam. The study of artists is embedded into the course.

 

Component 1: Portfolio (coursework)

Students explore the theme of truthful representations and the genres of portrait and still life in order to develop skills in using a range of media and techniques whilst developing their own individual ideas for outcomes. Students are introduced to a range of artists both historical and contemporary and are expected to analyse work in order to inform their own work. Students then choose a starting point for an extended project where they work more independently.

Contents:

• Drawing analysis of portrait artists.
• An A1 self portrait.
• Exploration of print making.
• Ideas development towards a final painted portrait.
• Development of a themed project
• A final outcome for their themed extended project.

 

Key Stage 5

Fine Art is also offered at A Level where the Edexcel specification is followed. The course offers students the opportunity build on their art knowledge and skills of fine art practice and to develop their own personal areas for investigation.

 

Year 1

Component 1:

Students work on a skills based project on the theme of ‘Tied and Bound’ where they initially produce literal observational drawings in a range of media of objects tied and bound. They then go on to develop portrait work based on the theme and develop ideas into a final portrait. Finally they explore the theme in a more conceptual sense e.g. tied and bound by disability, social pressures or gender. They then produce a final piece which could be a painting, print, mixed media piece, series of photographs or a film/ installation.

Year 2

Component 1:

Students work on their own personal investigation. Their chosen area is decided at the end of Year 12 in negotiation with their teacher. The decision is made based on the student’s strengths and area of interest. They work in a sketchbook developing ideas and then produce a series of final outcomes. Students also produce a 1000 word essay based on their investigations for their personal study

 

Component 2:

Students have an externally set assignment. They receive their paper in February and work from this point until the timed examination in June on developing ideas based on the exam question. They then produce a final piece in the final 15 hour timed examination.