Art & Design

What Is Art & Design?

The Year 7-9 courses seek to develop student’s abilities in core skills, to include use of line, tone, texture and colour through a variety of different media and processes. Each one centres on the processes involved in creating art work. Projects include research, investigation and experimentation and in addition core skills like drawing will be focussed upon throughout the course. All students learn about the history of Art and the diverse nature of Art within other cultures. The work of other artists play a major party in all lessons; to this end students will have the opportunity to visit galleries and museums.

Aims & Objectives

Students will:

• start with research and observational drawings and examine other artists work, before experimenting with techniques and realising a final piece
• analyse their own work and the work of other craft workers, artists and designers
• compare and contrast and record
• keep a sketch book
• express feelings and communicate meanings
• explore and experiment
• use a wide range of techniques
• work collaboratively and individually
• modify and refine

In Year 7 students will study:
The colour wheel and use of colour, a 3D cultural project, a 2D printmaking project, a textile project based on iconic fashion.

In Year 8 students will study:
A 3D project on the theme of ‘Fantasy Shoes’, a 2D project based on ‘Narrative Paintings’, then during the Summer term pupils will design and print a T shirt with typographical embellishment.

In Year 9 students will study:
Following a museum visit students will produce drawings and a large 3D tile based on ‘Fossil Forms’, during the Spring Term students will design a Zodiac based lino print from specific design brief. In Term 3 students will produce a mixed media 2D work based on the theme of ‘Self’.

Assessment

The department believes marking is integral to effective teaching and learning. Marking is vital in rewarding successful work and targeting future improvement.  Homework will be set every fortnight and sketchbooks will be collected and marked, pupils will be given an effort and attainment comment. Merits will be awarded for
outstanding effort and personal achievement. Homework throughout Key Stage 3 will support lesson work. Pieces set will include researching and investigating topics and artists as well as developing skills, examples of grade descriptions are displayed in the Art room for pupils to see.

Trips, Exhibitions & Clubs

In Year 9, we take students to visit the National Museum and Gallery of Wales, Cardiff. 

Pupils are given the opportunity to submit their work for exhibition in the Porthcawl based ‘Silures Gallery’.  It is also displayed throughout the school during the school year.

All students in Years 7 and 8 will have the opportunity to study Art in extra-curricular time. More able students are encouraged to participate in extension work, which will be provided throughout the year. Those students who require additional support with their studies will have the opportunity for one-to-one tutorials.