Fine Art & Photography

KS3 Curriculum

At Key stage 3, we believe that it is important that our projects allow pupils to experiment with a range of different materials and techniques and we also feel that it is important to provide a historical and contemporary context to the projects and discuss the ideas and issues behind the work of other artists that are relevant. Key stage Three groups will rotate across the department covering Fine Art projects exploring a range of media, techniques and processes. Processes include drawing, painting, print-making, photography and mixed-media.Students will actively take part in both self-assessment and peer assessment and are regularly given feedback both verbally in lessons as well as in their sketchbooks.

Year 7

All year 7 pupils will cover topics based on basic drawing skills using pencil and tone, colour theory painting and pattern and digital art. 

Year 8  

Year 8 pupils will be studying mini beasts mixed media, mark making and Monoprinting and everyday objects digital art.  

Year 9 

Year 9 pupils will be studying watercolour and acrylic painting, oil pastels and digital art. 

Key Stage 4

Key Stage Four, pupils will be expected to develop their creative, imaginative and practical skills within the area of Art and Design through their response to projects. 

They will: 

• Experiment and explore a wide range of media 

• Develop their drawing skills 

• Be required to take an independent and enquiring approach through research and development of art ideas 

• Be required to complete a sketchbook, support work and complete a number of final outcomes which could be a painting/drawing, ceramics etc. 

• Be required to study the work of other artists and take inspiration from the world around them in order to fully develop their own original ideas 

The exam board for GCSE Art is OCR. 

We offer two different endorsements; Fine Art and Photography 

The course is made up of two coursework units and an Externally Set Assignment in year 11, in which students have two months to prepare for a 10-hour practical Art exam. The two coursework units are worth 60% of the marks in the final GCSE assessment; the remaining 40% of the grade comes from the Year 11 exam unit. 

Emphasis is made on drawing and annotation and students are encouraged to develop their experimentation using a range of different materials.

Key Stage 5

At KS5 we offer OCR Fine Art A Level consisting of two components. 

Component 1 – Personal Investigation ( 120 marks - 60% of total A-Level) 

Learners should produce two elements:  

1. a portfolio of practical work showing their personal response to either a starting point, brief, scenario or stimulus, devised and provided by the learner or centre  

2.  a related study: an extended response of a guided minimum of 1000 words. 

Component 2 – Externally Set Assignment (80 marks – 40% of total A-Level) 

The early release paper will be issued on 1 February and will provide learners with a number of themes, each with a range of written and visual starting points, briefs and stimuli. A response should be based on one of these options. 

Year 12   - You will begin the course on a short, skills based introductory project from September – December. In January, you will begin your personal investigation on a theme of your choice.  

You will work on your personal investigation and related study (essay) until February of year 13.  

Year 13  - In February of year 13, you will begin your externally set assignment based on a theme chosen from a selection provided by OCR. The project will end with a 15 hour (3 day) exam.