Art

Year 9

All Year 9 students follow a course in art aimed at stimulating curiosity, interest and enjoyment in the subject. They are introduced to art and design from different times and places and are encouraged to develop an appreciation for the visual and tactile world. The students are provided with opportunities to use a wide range of materials and techniques including painting, ICT, printing, graphics, textiles, painting, digital photography and sculpture. They are also guided to develop personal ideas within the themes by noting their thoughts and feelings. Students complete three projects in the year and are assessed at the end of each, gathering their work in a portfolio and sketchbook to represent their progress. The current project schedule is as follows:

In addition to art studios for general art and design, the art school has a well-equipped pottery and sculpture studio, printmaking facilities, mini cinema and its own IT suite.

Years 10 & 11

Art [EDEXCEL]: 1027

The two-year course that begins in Year 10 is for both those who enjoy art but are not intending to progress beyond GCSE and also for those who intend to continue to Advanced Level in the Sixth Form.

At Gordonstoun a general art and design syllabus is offered called unendorsed which allows the students to initially explore a wide range of skills and techniques and begin to specialise in the second year of the course.

It is divided into three projects for the unit of coursework, each covering a different aspect and opportunity to develop ideas in art and design. Current specialist areas include: printmaking, drawing and painting, sculpture, digital photography and textiles.

Work in all projects is initially teacher–led with the students increasingly making more of the decisions in order to develop final personal responses to the themes. In Year 11 students select and plan their own media outcomes within the briefs given.

Assessments are completed at the end of each project using the criteria required by the exam board. Students ideally have a balance of recording, experimenting, researching and practical studies compiled as a series of sketchbooks and a portfolio of work.

At the end of the course, in Year 11, students submit 2 units of coursework, which represent 60% of the grade, and complete a 10-hour practical exam (in a specialist technique of their choice) usually scheduled in April or May, which represents 40% of the grade.

Sixth Form

Art and Design [EDEXCEL] AS/A2: 8030/9030

AS/A2 Art and Design requires commitment and independent thinking which can be beneficial in a wide range of career choices. Candidates need to possess a lively enquiring mind and creative understanding in order to pursue projects and work individually on their ideas.

The course syllabus is intended to form a part of an educational continuum that progresses naturally from GCSE but also accommodates those students studying art for the first time. It is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of candidates, including those who will take up further studies in art and design for relevant careers but also those that will take up courses where creativity is important. Careers in which art and design are important include: architecture, interior design, fashion and textiles, jewellery design, fine art, graphic design, history of art, illustration, 3-D design, theatre and costume, media studies, advertising, publishing and museum/restoration work.

The art and design facilities include two general purpose art studios for fine art, graphics and textiles alongside specialist facilities for ceramic and sculpture, mini cinema and its own IT room.

The AS takes the form of two units of work and is assessed in May of the 1st year which can then be topped up with two further units of work in the 2nd year to form the A2. The marks from each course are added up (50/50) to form the final A2 grade.

At Gordonstoun a general art and design syllabus is offered called unendorsed which allows the students to initially explore a wide range of skills and techniques and specialise in the A2 year to one area of art and design.

The current specialist areas covered are:

• Fine art
• Print-making
• 3-D Design
• Digital Media
• Ceramics
• Mixed Media
• Textiles
• Sculpture

The AS Course is as follows:

Unit 1 Coursework

Project Title: Surface/ The Four Elements

Students initially explore concepts of surface from the local environment. They experiment with a range of media to produce a series of outcomes in both two and three-dimensional materials. Painting and drawing, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media, textiles and digital media are covered. In the second half of the unit the students develop further the surface theme incorporating the concept of earth, air, fire and water to produce a series of outcomes in two specialist areas of study. Alongside the practical work the students are introduced to artists and designers to carry out critical studies linked to the themes.

Unit 2 Exam

Project Title: Externally Set Assignment

Students work from a question paper provided by the exam board each year usually in the spring term. They have a block of time to complete preparation studies and follow this by producing an 8-hour final outcome under exam conditions in a medium of their own choice.

The A2 Course is as follows:

Unit 3 Coursework

Project Title: a) Practical Work and b) Personal Study

Students may choose their own specialist area of study and select an appropriate theme to source. Within this title they produce a series of experiments leading to a sustained final outcome in a medium of their choice. To accompany the practical work they produce a written and illustrated study of 2,000 - 3,000 as a book, website or PowerPoint presentation.

Unit 4 Exam

Project Title: Externally Set Assignment

Students work from a question paper provided by the exam board each year usually in the spring term. They have a block of time to complete preparation studies and follow this by producing a 12-hour final outcome under exam conditions in a medium of their own choice.

To see examples of student exam work, please click here.

Staff:

Head of Department
Mrs C McCallum BDes Liverpool

Teachers

Ms R Z Hembrow, BA Buckinghamshire Chilterns

Mrs L Miller, BA Hull

Mr M Wells, Technician