Art and Design

Students in KS3 are taught to use a range of techniques to record their observations in sketchbooks, and other media as a basis for exploring their ideas. They will become more confident in using a range of techniques and media, including painting, observational drawings in pen, pencil, oil pastel, and 3D sculpture/collage work. This will increase their proficiency in the handling of different materials. They will also analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work. They will gain knowledge and understanding about the history of art, craft, design and architecture, including periods up to the present day.

Year 7

Students complete a bench mark test at the beginning of the academic year, then develop skills and techniques including formal elements such as Line, Tone, Colour, Texture, Shape, Photoshop, Graphics, Indian Culture, portraiture, insects, students also develop 3D sculpture and collage work, including the use of media: Pencil, fine liner, coloured pencils, watercolour, acrylic paint, clay, C.A.D, printing methods and ink.

Term 1
Portraiture:
Still life study, Project investigating Portraiture, students produce a range of portraits and research artists including Polina Bright. Development of watercolour skills and pointillism techniques. They will identity the importance of features, measurements and expression to the human face, producing a range of observational drawings.

Term 2
Insects and Nature:
Using symmetry techniques, students’ study and explore the beauty of Insects and investigating Artists including such as Steven Kutcher, Christopher Marley, Abby Diamond, and Caroline Kaufman.
Drawings are developed with personal responses using ink techniques, watercolour and stencil and Styrofoam printing.

Term 3
Indian Culture:
Student explore the beauty, vibrant colour and patterns within Indian culture. Contextual research and inspiration from the Singh Twins, and Anish Kapoor form ideas around pattern, shape, colour, culture, line, shape and form. Students develop work with 3D sculpture with Clay and paint finishes.

Year 8

Term 1
Natural Forms:
Student’s study and observe the beauty of nature focusing skills on Formal elements including Composition, Line, Tone, Form, Colour, Texture, Shape, Pattern, Graphics, Poetry, Artist Research and contextual research. Students develop media skills and techniques including watercolour Paint, oil pastel, Coloured Pencil, Pen Pencil and 3D Clay sculpture. Contextual research into artists such as Peter Randall, Mark Powell, Andy Goldsworthy and Natural forms reinforce and inspire techniques.
Students produce a range of observational drawings of Natural forms using a variety of media, work is displayed in sketchbooks. A 3D sculpture is developed from clay, using scoring, slip and blending methods with glaze finish.

Term 2
Architecture:
Students study a range of architectural styles both historical and contemporary, making connections with how the design of building will impact the people who live or work in them. Designers investigated include Hunderwasser, Sunga Park and Lucy Jones. A range of observational drawings with imaginative and creative responses of architecture and surroundings using mixed media are produced. Mixed media collage pieces of artwork complete the theme.

Term 3
Printing techniques:
Students study floral patterns and abstract forms to develop printing techniques including Lino print, styro foam print and stencil prints. Artists and craftspeople investigated include Georgia O’ Keefe, Beatriz Milhazes, and Henri Matisse. A range of printing processes and techniques are explored to produce a vibrant, colourful textile response.

Year 9

African culture:
Term 1
Students investigate the artist Picasso and the impact his work had on modern artwork. Research on the continent of Africa and tribal masks enable students to produce and explore 3D clay sculpture and mask design.

Term 2
Students produce oil pastel techniques and investigate the contemporary artist Gakonga, work is developed into print making techniques and understand the importance of colour.

Term 3
Students investigate the theme identity and the impact the beauty industry have on our own identity and mental wellbeing.
Collage techniques and mark making skills are developed within this project. Inspiration from the art genre Zentangle Is explored with visual responses produced.

At St John Bosco we study the AQA GCSE Art, Craft and Design course.

Year 10

Students begin to explore project work which is assessed using the examination criteria:
AO1-Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.
AO2-Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.
AO3-Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.
AO4-Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.

The portfolio of work completed in year 10 and term 1 of year 11 equates to 60% of their overall GCSE grade. Students currently explore the theme of mythical creatures exploring contemporary artists such as Lynnette Shelley and Ian Murphy. However, there is flexibility within the theme for students to follow their own independent inspirational artist and genre. Students then develop a personal response to the theme considering the gothic architecture of the City of Liverpool and its history and culture. Observational drawing developing skills and techniques using media such as pencil, pen, oil pastel, chalk pastel, watercolour, acrylic paint, gouache, etch printing, canvas board, photoshop and 3D sculpture are explored and experimented within the project. In term 3 of year 10 students begin to investigate the word ’Disguise’ and will produce a personal response to what this means to them as an artist, they will have the confidence to explore independent artists which inspire their own style of artwork and the future direction of their creative journey. The four assessment criteria are followed within this project work.

Year 11

Students will select one of 7 themes from the exam paper then develop their project from the chosen starting point. They will then find relevant artists to explore alongside this. Students will explore their theme by considering and investigating various facets of this chosen theme. They will Reflect on the work of artists or makers relevant to their theme. They will further develop their response by creating drawings and visual responses based upon their research and contextual investigations. Based upon this existing work they will begin to create designs that may lead to a final personal outcome, demonstrating exploration of relevant materials and media. Students will produce this preparation work to enable them to sit a 10-hour controlled exam, when they will produce a final personal response to their theme.

Work is assessed following the examination criteria:
AO1 - Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.
AO2 - Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.
AO3 - Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.
AO4 - Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.

At St John Bosco we study the AQA A-Level Fine Art course.

Year 12 / 13

The course consists of (unit 1) 60% coursework which begins in year 12 and an externally set question in February of year 13 (Unit 2) 40% of the A level award. This includes 15 hours supervised time of examination in the summer of year 13.

Students’ portfolio work is completed on a theme of distortion. Students will self-direct their own personal response to this theme. Historical and contemporary contextual relevant artists, craftspeople and architects will be investigated and a personal visual response will inform the future direction of appropriate processes, techniques and skills explored. Appreciation of different ways of working, such as, using underpainting, glazing, wash and impasto; modelling, carving, casting, constructing, assembling and welding; etching, engraving, dry point, mono printing, lino printing, screen printing, photo silkscreen and lithography understanding of pictorial space, composition, rhythm, scale and structure appreciation of colour, line, tone, texture, shape and form will be evident within students’ portfolios. Students will begin to create designs that may lead to a final personal outcome, demonstrating exploration of relevant materials and media.

In year 13 February students will have an externally set unit of work which will follow the 4 assessment criteria objectives and will result in 15 hours supervised time of examination in the summer of year 13.

Assessment objectives (AOs) are set by Ofqual and are the same across all A-level Art and Design specifications and all exam boards.
The A level Fine art course is assessed through 4 Assessment objectives.
The assessments will measure how students have achieved the following assessment objectives:
AO1 - Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
AO2 - Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
AO3 - Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
AO4 - Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.