Art and Design

Creative Arts Faculty

Why do we learn this subject?

In Art, pupils build powerful knowledge and learn distinctive ways of thinking, communicating and solving problems. The curriculum is ambitious for all pupils and is designed to build confidence, independence and readiness for the next stage.

Our curriculum journey

Year 7 – Fundamentals & Surrealism

Pupils develop core skills in drawing, shading, colour and observation before exploring imagination and creativity through Surrealism. Inspired by artists such as Salvador Dalí, they learn how artists communicate ideas, emotions and experiences through drawing, painting and sculpture. The course encourages curiosity, creative thinking and self-expression whilst building confidence in using a range of materials, techniques and artistic processes.

Year 8 – Portraits & Groups

Pupils refine observational drawing skills through portraiture before exploring themes of identity, community and belonging. Through studying artists including Gustav Klimt, Michael Craig-Martin and Yellena James, they develop technical, analytical and creative skills whilst investigating how artists communicate meaning. The course encourages personal expression, reflection and cultural awareness whilst helping pupils understand the role of art in representing people and experiences.

Year 9 – Journeys, Surroundings, Pop Art & Portraiture

Pupils explore themes of place, identity and contemporary culture through artist research, perspective drawing and personal responses. Inspired by artists including Grayson Perry, Craig Redman and Camille Walala, they investigate how art reflects experiences, environments and modern society. Through experimentation with a range of techniques and media, pupils develop independence, creativity and critical thinking whilst preparing for GCSE Art & Design.

Year 10 – GCSE Art & Design

Pupils begin the Eduqas GCSE Art & Design course through the theme of Natural Forms and a series of pupil-led projects. They investigate artists, experiment with materials and develop increasingly personal responses through drawing, painting, mixed media and visual research. In line with the GCSE Assessment Objectives, pupils record observations, refine ideas and create meaningful outcomes. All work contributes towards the Component 1 Portfolio, worth 60% of the final GCSE grade.

Year 11 – GCSE Art & Design

Pupils continue the Eduqas GCSE course by developing both their Component 1 Portfolio (60%) and Component 2 Externally Set Assignment (40%). Through sustained investigations, artist research, experimentation and personal responses, they demonstrate the GCSE Assessment Objectives whilst refining increasingly independent and personal projects. The course encourages resilience, critical thinking and creative confidence, culminating in a resolved outcome that showcases pupils’ artistic skills and creative journey.

Knowledge that connects our curriculum

Observation, materials, techniques, artists, developing ideas and refining outcomes. These ideas are deliberately revisited so that pupils remember more and make increasingly sophisticated connections.

How pupils get better

Pupils improve in Art through explicit teaching, modelling, purposeful practice, retrieval of prior knowledge, increasingly challenging application, feedback and opportunities to explain, evaluate or refine their thinking.

Reading, vocabulary and communication

Pupils are taught the vocabulary and forms of communication that matter in Art. They read and interpret appropriate texts, questions, sources, instructions, data or representations and learn to communicate ideas accurately.

How we know pupils are learning

Teachers use day-to-day formative assessment, questioning, retrieval, pupil work and appropriate summative assessment to identify what pupils know, address misconceptions and plan next steps. At Key Stage 4, assessment also prepares pupils for the requirements of their qualification.

Beyond the classroom

exhibitions, creative projects and responses to local environments.

Where can this subject take me?

This subject develops knowledge and transferable habits valuable for fine art, illustration, architecture, fashion, photography, graphic design and film.

How families can support learning

Regular attendance, discussion about current learning, reading and completion of home learning all make a difference. Subject support includes Google Classroom, GCSEPod where relevant and sketchbook/portfolio work. Google Classroom remains the first point of access for home learning.

Art Resources