Art and Design

Subject leader

Anne Castano:
anne.castano@swale.at 

Curriculum Intent

At The Turing School, the art and design curriculum is vital to our vision of providing a well-rounded education. We believe that art and creativity are essential components of a fulfilling and successful life, not just in school but in any career. Our art curriculum aims to inspire and expand students' creative thinking and problem-solving skills, while also exposing them to a diverse range of art forms and historical contexts. 

Our curriculum encourages students to develop their own opinions and broaden their cultural capital to enhance students’ ability to communicate concepts and ideas across a variety of media. We believe the study of art enables students to appreciate and contribute to human innovation, imagination, and thought by focusing on ‘awe and wonder’ throughout.

Curriculum Implementation

KS3

Allocation of time, brief overview of skills and knowledge:

Students have 1 lesson a week of Art during these lessons they will be taught to:

• Use a range of techniques to record observations and drawings

• Explore and develop their own ideas

• Try a range of different materials and media

• To improve skills in using different materials

• To evaluate their own work and the work of others

• To learn about the history of Art, craft, design and architecture, including periods, styles and major movements from ancient times up to the present day

Year 7

Term 1-2 begins by exploring tonal drawing and the use of symbolism and portraiture in Art. 

In terms 3-4 Students will explore the formal elements of art (line, tone, shape, form & colour) while trying out lots of new media including printing, painting and clay. 

In terms 5-6 They will draw from life improving observational drawing skills while learning about proportion, scale and enlargement. They will experiment with painting on a larger scale building confidence and experimenting with new techniques.

The key skills learnt throughout Year 7 provide the foundation to build upon; students are given independence in their work and ownership over their outcome, as well as learning about the research, presentation, refinement and development of art. Underpinning the year 7 curriculum will be an introduction to Art History, this will run all through KS3.

Year 8

In term 1-2 year 8 students will explore contemporary artists through portraiture whilst revisiting and developing painting skills and other material first touched upon in year 7

In terms 3-4 We introduce the concept of perspective, seeing three -dimensionally, and assist students in the portrayal of their understanding of depth and space whilst exploring a range of media. 

In term 5-6 Students will create mixed media artwork working from life and exploring artists. They will experiment with collage, oil pastel and paints.

Throughout the year there will be an exploration of a wide range of techniques and processes and students will continue to build their knowledge of art history.

Year 9

In term 1-2 year 9 continues to build upon key skills to ensure students become proficient in drawing and painting. They will explore theme and ideas and express ideas and themes through their artwork

In terms 3-4 there will be further exploration of more complex approaches to drawing, giving consideration to composition and experimenting with the grid method to create realistic drawings

In terms 3-4 the final project of KS3 experiments with mixed media approaches will encourage experimentation and ownership over their outcomes. Students will explore both historical and contemporary artists, responding to them to develop and inspire their own ideas and outcomes.

Students will complete their studies of art history which will thread through the whole of KS3.

Year 10

In terms 1&2 students will begin unit 1 the ‘Portfolio’ project which accounts for 60% of the final grade. Students will be introduced to a wide range of media and techniques. They will start their sketchbooks and create large studies from life to build confidence and encourage experimentation. Students will also take a trip to the Towner Art Gallery in Eastbourne and the seafront to find inspiration for their work.

In term 3 students will investigate artists, designers and craftspeople. They will analyse their work and develop it by experimenting with different materials and ideas. In term 3 there is an opportunity to take a trip either to London or Paris. In term 4 students will create their own final outcomes based on the research and skills they have developed in terms 1-3. 

In term 5 is a 3D mini project developing and exploring clay and looking at artists who work in this medium.

In term 6 students will create a mini project developing their own projects selecting their own artists and media to develop a final outcome in the year 10 mock exam. 

Year 11

In terms 1&2 students will carry out a mini project of their own devising that will be scaffolded and led through workshops in lessons, this will conclude with the year 11 mock exam and will be the end of unit 1 ‘Portfolio’.

In terms 3&4 students will begin unit 2 the ‘Externally Set Task’ (EST) this will account for the remaining 40% of their grade. There will be an opportunity to take part in the yearly London or Paris trip to support research for the EST. Students will be given a selection of themes provided by the exam board to choose from and will devise their own projects. As before they will be supported through workshops and carefully planned lessons.

In term 5 students will complete their research for the ‘Externally Set Task’ and sit their final Art exam.

Homework

KS3 one homework per term. This task will support the work that students do in class and should be carefully executed to help students develop their mastery of the subject.

KS4 one homework per week to support the work completed in class and to develop and consolidate skills and the ability to work independently.

Additional websites and resources

KS3

Tate Kids - Ideas to use in the classroom that link to well known artists and online games and quizzes

Art UK - The online home of every UK public art collection

Google Arts & Culture - A truly comprehensive online resource.  Whether you want to zoom in on a painting in amazing detail, explore an A-Z of art movements, explore unanswerable questions or link to art collections around the globe, you’ll find it here.

GCSE

WJEC Resources

Colossal - A blog about art, artists, photographers, craft and visual culture. 

Tate Art Terms - An online glossary designed to explain and illuminate some of the art terminology 

Careers and Enrichment

Careers

Taking GCSE Art & Design opens up a wide range of careers, which involve problem-solving skills, technical skill, creativity, resilience and an open mind.The list below is a small selection of possibilities.

• Architecture

• Fashion

• Media

• Film

• Theatre Design

• Fine Artist

• Gallery Curator

• Art Therapist

• Art Teacher

• Art Technician

• Illustrator

• Photography

• Graphic Design

• Web Designer

• Makeup Artist

• Advertising

Enrichment

The Department offers different online and offline Enrichment Activities, including:

• Weekly Sketchbook Surgery club targeted at GCSE students, but open to all years

• Weekly Gifted & Talented club which offer opportunities to try out printing, photography, dark room and clay. Aimed at GCSE, but open to all. 

• Year 10 trip to the Towner Art Gallery and along Eastbourne seafront.

• Yearly trip that alternates between London and Paris Targeting year 11, but open to all

• National and international competitions are shared regularly with all students.

“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way—things I had no words for.” - Georgia O'Keeffe