Art & Design

Art and Design at FGCS What topics will my child study in year 7 and 8?

Beginning in the lower school, students are taught the basics of drawing, painting and other key skills, developing their expertise and techniques. Students are taught how to look at and critically evaluate Art. They begin to explore artwork in a wider context and are encouraged to engage with the world around them. They learn to use subject specific vocabulary and develop their written analysis.

Themes may include: Natural Forms, Portraiture, Still Life, Illustration, Culture and Architecture. There is the opportunity to work in a variety of media including drawing, collage, painting, printmaking and sculpture.

Students will develop a good foundation of skills, knowledge and understanding to enable them to select Art and Design as a GCSE option for year 9.

What topics will my child study in year 9, 10 and 11?

Students begin to encounter more challenging artists and explore the moral, social, political and cultural contexts of the work. They will compare and contrast artworks and will make connections between their own work and that of other artists. Students will create their own responses to the artists they investigate.

Themes may include: Inside Out, Identity, Portraiture, Urban Spaces, Objects, Fragments and In The News, as well as others relating to the Exam Board externally set assignment. Techniques and processes become more technically challenging and research is more in-depth. As the course progresses, students will be encouraged to work more independently and find personal connections to the themes.

Do you have a reading list for this subject?

Students are encouraged to read critical reviews of exhibitions. Students should follow artists and galleries on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

How can I help my child to excel in this subject?

Visiting museums, galleries and exhibitions will help your child develop their understanding of Art in a wider context and help them excel in the subject. We have some of the best, free museums and galleries on our doorstep and students should be encouraged to visit these on a regular basis.

Are there any online resources?

• http://www.tate.org.uk/
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/art/
• https://www.vam.ac.uk/
• https://artuk.org/
• https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/

Do you offer any interventions or clubs my child can attend?

Y9, 10 and 11 students will have access to the Art rooms based on teacher availability. The class teacher will liaise with their class when they are available to supervise lunchtime sessions. Saturday and Holiday Booster sessions will be organised throughout the year for Y10 and Y11 students.

Are there any important dates for me to be aware of in your subject?

Year 9 and 10 preliminary exams completed in June/July.

Coursework completed by January of year 11 (60%).

Exam component begins in January of year 11, culminating in a 10 hour timed exam in April/May of year 11 (40%)

How will my child be assessed at the end of the course?

Pupils are assessed on their skills and 4 assessment objectives: develop, refine, record and present. These are equally worth 25%. At the end of each project pupils sit a 10 hours exam to present a final piece. There is no written examination in Art.