Key Stage 5

Art and Design: Fine Art (Edexcel)

Introduction

This is exciting, creative course encourages individuality and self-expression. It offers a stimulating course of study both for students wishing to continue with Art as a career, as well as those, whether Arts or Science based, who want to use Art & Design as an additional subject for University entry.

This course will develop students’ imagination, creativity and their investigative and analytical skills. Students’ technical and expressive skills will be extended by experimenting with a wide range of media including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, ICT and 3D work. Observational drawing is central to this course. In addition here are significant written elements to this course.

A high level of independent experimentation will be expected. Through this students will be guided to develop individual styles and approaches to each unit. Organised and independent trips to galleries and museums will be an essential part of the course.

The department also have a dedicated sixth form studio which pupils have access to throughout the school day allowing independent learning to take place during study periods.

AS Outline

This award may be taken as a discrete qualification, or it may be the first-half of a full A Level qualification:

Unit 1 Coursework:  AS 60%, A level 30%

Internally set and marked, externally moderated

Unit 2 Externally Set Assignment: AS 40%, A level 20%

Externally set, including 8 hours unaided work.

Internally marked, externally moderated

A2 Outline

Taken with the two AS units, it leads to a full A Level qualification:

Unit 3 Coursework and Personal Study: A level 30%

Internally set and marked, externally moderated

Unit 4 Independent Study : A level 20%

Including 12 hours of unaided work. Internally marked, externally moderated

Core elements for each unit of work:

•                generating a range of ideas

•                appropriate research into sources and contexts

•                primary recording and analysis of contexts, sensitive exploration of media and processes

•                development of ideas, review and refinement-synthesis of ideas and outcome which connect with appropriate contexts

Career Progression

Universities and employers recognise A-level Art and Design as a rigorous course that develops decisions making and thinking skills.

A-Level Art and Design enables you to progress onto a university art course or a foundation course in Art & Design; leading to a broad range of specialisms such as architecture, animation, graphic design, printmaking, sculpture, product design, engineering design, interior design, industrial, textiles, fashion, theatre design, transport, graphic, product and environment, photography, typography, computer graphics illustration, art gallery work, conservation of paintings and the history of art.

Entry Requirements

You will require a Grade B or above at GCSE in Art and Design and a portfolio of work.

Key Stage 4

GCSE Art and Design: Fine Art (edexcel)

The Edexcel GCSE in Art & Design encourages an adventurous and enquiring approach to art and design. Successful students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of past and contemporary art and design practice and be able to produce a personal response that embraces a range of ideas.

The new GCSE Subject Criteria for Art require that not only practical artistic skills and abilities should be developed in any course of study, but also that the study of art and its various contexts should form part of any student’s education. It can therefore be said that students are both practitioners and critics. This understandingforms the basis of this specification and the examination.

Key features of this GCSE

1.              Focus on art and design practice and the integration of theory, knowledge and understanding to reach a personal response.

2.              Content is appropriate and accessible to a range of levels of experience and ability.

3.              Coursework 60%, Externally Set Assignment 40%.

4.              Both components internally assessed and externally moderated.

5.              Prepares students for the requirements at Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced GCE.

6.              Makes links to other art and design qualifications such as AS/Advanced GCE, GNVQ and BTEC National Diplomas.

7.              The form of the Externally Set Assignment is similar to the Externally Set Assignments in the Edexcel AS/Advanced GCE in Art & Design

Mossbourne Art department will deliver the Fine Art endorsement (Full Course 1028).  This endorsement is characterised by work which is produced as an outcome of the student’s personal experience, rather than that which is created exclusively for a practical function or that which is the outcome of a tightly prescribed brief. It is a means by which ideas are explored, communicated and, through visual information and enquiry, translated into art outcomes.

Key Stage 3

At KS3 learning is focussed on developing students’ understanding, and use of, key visual skills.

Projects currently being taught are as follows:

Self Image Project – Year 7

In this unit, as a starting point, pupils explore their personal identity. Students focus on creating 3 main images that reflect ideas of themselves; working from observation, memory and imagination. They develop skills using traditional materials and processes but will have the opportunity to use digital media. They learn about the ideas, methods and approaches used by other artists who have made images around the theme of image.

Cultural Mask Project – Year 7

In this unit, as a starting point, pupils explore masks from either  South America, Africa, India or China. Students start to research and design individual masks that they will go forth and produce. The students will learn about their chosen culture and learn how to represent some of the cultural important visuals of the specific areas. The students will learn how to use modroc as a modeling tool and how to use design to inform their practical decisions. Students will also gain tonal drawing skills, improving their practical ability at the same time as learning how to present their work verbally understanding critical language and learning how to improve sections of their work through discussion and assessment.

Tone, Shape and Form – Year 8

In this Unit, as a starting point, pupils explore their core skills in-depth, by drawing and mark making. Students focus on creating several good pieces of work to eventually put together as a sketchbook, which reflect the practise of their technical drawing abilities. Working from observation, memory and imagination, they develop skills using different techniques and processes with the opportunity to create different prints. They learn about the ideas, methods and approaches used by other artists who have made images around the theme of mark making, reflecting Tone Shape and Form.

Natural forms  -Year 8

In this unit, as a starting point, pupils explore natural forms and the work by Ernst Haeckel. Students focus on creating their own naturally inspired clay fired form. They will develop research and practical skills such as water-colour and tonal drawing. They will learn how to create a three dimensional form working from research and design at the same time as learning clay modeling techniques.

Layers – Year 9

Unit 1

In this unit, as a starting point, pupils will develop key skills in observation and understanding visual language. Pupils will explore a range of materials and processes that will allow them to better understand the importance of primary visual research. Traditional methods are explored alongside digital media and photography and pupils use these tools to develop and begin to form a personal response to the theme of ‘Layers’. Pupils engage with the work of others and particularly artists who used abstraction in their work.

Unit 2

In this Unit, pupils develop a personal response developed from their research and observations made during their first rotation in art. The outcome is presented as an acrylic painting on canvas.