Art & Design
In a 21st century world which relies heavily upon visual language to communicate, Art and Design continues to play a crucial role in education.
Art and Design is intrinsically different to most other subjects. It offers freedom, in that there can be a diverse range of responses. Reliance upon the acquisition of a predetermined body of knowledge is not necessary. Instead, Art and Design engages us in a highly creative and interrogative learning process.
At Harris Garrard Academy, we encourage individuality and believe strongly that Art and Design education should be accessible to all. That is why all students at Key Stage 3 have the opportunity to study the subject weekly, with a view to progressing further at Key Stage 4 to GCSE level and beyond.
Key Stage 3 Overview
The aim of the Key Stage 3 curriculum is to foster and hone students’ passion for the arts and enrich their cultural capital. Students will develop a range of subject-specific skills, techniques and art language; they will learn how to compose, design, make, create, plan, research, experiment and experience all areas of the arts in an imaginative, engaging and creative way, acquiring and embedding knowledge and understanding on their journey through Key Stage 3.
Year 7 is the FOUNDATION. Students learn the basic skills, the elements and principles of the subject – these are the fundamental building blocks and the key to success. Students explore the subject through a range of engaging and appropriate themes such as: You & Art, Colour, Human Form & Figure, Landscape/Seascape, Fantasy, Myth & Legend, Still-Life.
Year 8 is the DEVELOPMENT. Students utilise and apply their skills and knowledge to create work that is more developmental. They build upon prior learning from Year 7, whilst continuing to develop skills, knowledge and understanding. Students explore the subject through a range of engaging and appropriate themes such as: Architecture, Natural & Organic Forms, The Jungle, Abstraction – Negative & Positive Space, Sense of Place, Fashion & Body Art.
Year 9 is the REALISATION. Students would be expected to realise their intentions, building upon prior learning from Year 7 and Year 8. Utilising and applying skills, knowledge and understanding with a greater independence and proficiency. Students explore the subject through a range of engaging and appropriate themes such as: Multicultural Art, Popular Art & Design, Visual Composition, Meaning & Symbolism, Inside the Mind/Dreams & Nightmares, Exploring Art Through Time.
Key Stage 4 Overview
The GCSE in Art & Design builds upon the foundation blocks developed by students at Key Stage 3 and the National Curriculum standards that have been followed. Students at Key Stage 4 have access to a wide variety of arts-based disciplines, but with more time to experiment, develop and refine their work in a much deeper and personal way through exciting and engaging thematic projects.
We are driven by answering the call from leading employers from across the creative industries and beyond who are calling for job-ready, innovative, analytical and inventive problem solvers. They want a workforce with creative skills. The knowledge the students will acquire enables them to confidently practise techniques, both modern and age-old, including drawing, painting, printing, digital, photography, clay, sculpture and mixed media. Knowledge enables the students to adapt their skills of using these media to create work that is truly thought-provoking.
Students will practise and learn how to become resilient problem solvers, as well as creative thinkers, who can use knowledge to teach others and work well in a team. Students’ acquisition of knowledge will provide a pathway of lifelong enjoyment of the arts, and the ambition to engage with Britain’s creative industries, which play an essential role shaping how we are seen around the world and are a vital part of the economy.
At HGA, we encourage students to work far more independently and individually at this level; this means that the creative works produced by our GCSE students have varied, rich and contextual approaches. In Art & Design, Year 10 is aimed at being more explorative and experimental, with Year 11 being more developmental, personal and consolidating in terms of the work created. We aim to prepare students for the world of work and Post-16 opportunities by constantly referring to careers in the creative industries both locally, nationally and internationally.
You can download Knowledge Organisers for each year group from our Knowledge Organisers page.
For queries about the Art & Design curriculum please contact David Rose d.rose@harrisgarrard.org.uk.
Further details of the curriculum can be found below.
Primary
Every child is an artist.” Pablo Picasso
Art and Design at Harris Garrard aims to engage, inspire and challenge children to equip them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, imagine and produce works of art.
Our art provision is underpinned by several key concepts:
- Creativity
- Competence
- Cultural understanding
- Critical understanding
At Harris Garrard, we see art as a platform through which pupils can explore visual, tactile and other sensory experiences to communicate ideas and meanings. It is this self-directed nature of teaching and learning in art which provides pupils with a sense of independence in our art lessons. We strongly believe that experimentation, innovation and risk should be encouraged, but that every piece of artwork and experimentation should be reflected on and be built on a foundation of both theoretical and practical knowledge.
Throughout our provision of Art and Design, our pupils learn to appreciate and value images and artefacts across different eras and cultures and to understand the contexts in which they were made. This more theoretical understanding will feed into their making; their ideas will become more complex and well thought out, linking to more diverse meanings and ideas behind the art works. It is this balance between the development of practical skills and theoretical engagement which we believe will produce well-rounded artists who have a profound engagement with art and other artists.
We aim to provide a systematic and progressive development of practical skills through the exploration of different techniques and materials like charcoal drawing, screen printing and clay sculpture which underpin the students’ theoretical and critical understanding of art.
Mrs Fisher Primary Art Lead
Year 7
In Year 7, students learn to become confident in the foundation skills in Art & Design. Students will know and understand the importance of the formal/visual elements and the art principles and be able to recognise and apply this knowledge when doing their own practical and theoretical work.
Students will know about the fundamentals of drawing and mark-making and be able to use a variety of drawing and techniques to create effective work. Students will have an understanding of colour theory, be able to use it successfully and apply this to their own work. They will know how to mix colour confidently and use a variety of painting techniques appropriately.
Students will be able to draw the human figure and face accurately and in proportion. Students will understand the importance of depth, perspective and composition when planning and developing own landscape/seascape work. Students will know how to explore imaginative and creative ideas and will be able to express this through the appropriate use of mixed media. Students will become confident in drawing from direct observation.
They will know about the tradition of the still-life in art, be able to construct a still-life and use it as a primary source for drawing. Students will be able to research and analyse artists, art movements and genres effectively using art specific language. They will know how to talk about artworks, including their own and other students’.
Year 8
In Year 8, students explore a range of themes within art that build upon and strengthen the foundation skills learnt in Year 7. Students will know about the different types, styles and genres of architecture. They will be able to use 2D and 3D drawings skills, one-point perspective and also collage and mixed-media techniques to create effective outcomes.
Students will know about natural forms and will have explored how natural forms can be a source of inspiration for creative ideas. They will be more confident in using a wider range of media and materials, understanding that experimenting with unusual drawing media can produce different effects and outcomes. They will know about the aesthetic qualities that can be found in the natural world that can be used to develop artworks and have an increased appreciation for natural beauty.
Students will be able to plan and develop a sustained piece of work with a focus upon narrative, meaning and their own imagination. They will have knowledge of foreground, middle-ground and background and be able to use artists as inspiration for the ideas, planning and development of their own original compositions. Students will know about negative and positive space, abstraction, symmetry and balance within images and be able to use this knowledge and skills effectively.
Students will learn about artists who paint and draw the human figure in situ – creating a specific mood, atmosphere or narrative. They will understand the use of scale in images to show the contrast between the power and grandeur of nature compared to humans.
Students will have developed their knowledge and awareness of artists that use their bodies as a means of expression, know about the significance of body art and the variety of self-expression and human individuality around the world. They will know about and appreciate different cultures from around the world and the various ways that people decorate, embellish and paint their skin to ascertain cultural identity and a sense of belonging. Students will be able to research and analyse artists, art movements and genres more effectively using art specific language. They will know how to talk about artworks, including their own and other students’ work using art language.
Year 9
In Year 9, our students are guided towards the GCSE in Art & Design. Students will have knowledge of multicultural and non-western art and know about cultural differences and global styles, they will have explored the use of pattern, motifs, decoration and design.
Students will have knowledge of Pop Art and the artists connected to the art movement. They will be able to create effective artwork using printing processes and techniques. They will know how to enlarge images and understand the importance of scale. Students will understand text and image in art, advertising and graphics. Students will understand about good composition. They will know how to create successful compositions through planning and drawing and be able to arrange a picture effectively. They will know how to place ideas using classic techniques. They will know about different compositional techniques and be able to understand and apply them.
Students will have an understanding of meaning and symbolism in art and be able to analyse relevant artworks. They will know about symbolic colour, objects and hidden meanings. Students will understand how to develop more personal and meaningful art. Students will have knowledge of the art movement Surrealism. They will understand about changing scale, altering contexts, juxtaposition and the subconscious mind.
Students will explore art through time, they will have an understanding of art history. Furthermore, students will know about different art movements, genres, styles and artists – they will have knowledge of the art timeline and a contextualised understanding of art history.
Year 10
Year 10 students will have built on concepts, skills and knowledge from KS3 in line with the Edexcel assessment objectives for GCSE Art and Design. They will know and understand the GCSE assessment objectives. Students will begin to know how to develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources. They will begin to know how to refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.
Students will be able to record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses. They will begin to know how to present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language. Students will understand how to explore a theme in line with GCSE assessment objectives. They will know of issues based around the themes of ‘IDENTITY’, ‘SURFACES’ and ‘PAST, PRESENT &/OR FUTURE’.
Students will know of a diverse range of artists/designers/craftspeople/architects related to the themes. They will have knowledge of how to develop a GCSE Sketchbook. They will know how to handle materials and techniques competently, confidently or exceptionally. They will begin to know what a ‘creative journey’ looks like within a sketchbook and be able to make strong connections in their work (creative process). Students will have developed their use of more complex art vocabulary when writing/speaking about artwork – comparing and contrasting theirs and other’s work.
They will be able to research a diverse range of established artists/craftspeople/designers/architects from different times and places, which will inform the development of own work. Students will have developed their skills in observational drawing using a wide range of methods and medias (range of dry and wet media). They will be able to experiment and explore the potentials and limitations of materials and techniques, taking risks and developing the ability to review progress and justify decisions.
Students will know how to make connections and links, developing projects through appropriate documentation within sketchbooks. They will further develop the ability to successfully explore the expressive characteristics of different media, processes and techniques, to express personal ideas, and communicate meaning and intentions.
Year 11
Before sitting their GCSE in Art & Design, Year 11 students will have a thorough and in-depth understanding of the course. They will have completed Component 1 and be prepared to do the Externally Set Assignment using the work developed for Component 2. They will know and understand the GCSE assessment objectives. Students will know how to develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources. They will know how to refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes. Students will be able to record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses. They will know how to present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.
Students will understand how to explore a theme in line with GCSE assessment objectives. They will become confident in developing personal ideas based around the ‘ESA THEME’. Students will have developed their knowledge of how to develop a GCSE Sketchbook. They will be able to handle materials and techniques effectively, having developed projects independently and with perseverance. Students will know of the properties and specific qualities of materials used. They will know of a diverse range of artists/designers/craftspeople/architects (related to their themes) from different times Art & Design KS3 & KS4 and places and will know of the political/historical/social and cultural contexts of these artworks. Students will be able to present work in a range of formats.
Students will know what a ‘creative journey’ looks like within a sketchbook and be able to make strong connections in their work. Students will have developed the use of more complex art vocabulary when writing/speaking about artwork – comparing and contrasting their own and other’s work. They will be able to research a wide range of established artists/craftspeople/designers/architects from different times and places, which will have informed the development of their own work. Students will have developed further skills in observational drawing using a wide range of methods and medias (self-selected). They will have developed skills in working with further 3D materials and processes (self-selected) Students will know how to experiment and explore the potentials and limitations of materials and techniques, taking risks and will have developed the ability to review progress and justify decisions. They will be able to demonstrate their ability to make connections and links developing projects through appropriate documentation within sketchbooks.
Furthermore, they will have developed the ability to successfully explore the expressive characteristics of different media, processes and techniques, in order to express personal ideas, and communicate meaning and intentions. Essentially, students will understand how to develop their own ideas based on all previous learning, they will know how to develop personal and meaningful ideas for the ESA and be able to prepare with confidence for their ESA final outcome. They will complete the ESA, Component 1 and submit it. They will finalise and complete Component 2 and submit it. All work for Component 1 and Component 2 is submitted by the strict deadline 31st May 2024. Work is assessed and moderated by the art team and the exam board.
Careers
Art and Design helps students with a wide range of future career options including:
- Graphic designer
- Artist
- Photographer
- Fashion designer
- Computer animator
- Architect
- Interior designer
- Product designer
- Jewelry designer
- Website designer
- Comic book artist
- Gallery curator
- Illustrator
Find out more about the careers programme at Harris Garrard Academy.
