Curriculum Aims

Students develop a strong foundation in the principles and techniques of fine art, gaining proficiency in drawing, painting, mixed media, and 3D forms. They build their confidence through creative experimentation and critical thinking, learning how to express personal ideas through a variety of artistic processes.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Overview

Our Key Stage 3 Fine Art curriculum is designed to progressively develop technical skills and creativity over Years 7, 8, and 9, giving students a broad base from which to explore their own artistic interests.

Year 7

Students are introduced to the basic elements of art, such as line, shape, form, colour, texture, and space. Projects include weekly tasks aimed at building confidence and understanding of how these elements are used in artworks.

Focus Projects:

- Portrait-based work inspired by artists such as Kandinsky and Hundertwasser, where students work collaboratively to create bold, expressive pieces.

- Painting techniques: Exploring watercolour and acrylic, focusing on mixing, blending, and layering colours.

- Cubist Clay Tiles: Inspired by artists like Claude Johnson, students learn to translate their work into three-dimensional forms.

- Skills Development: Critical thinking and reflection are encouraged through class discussions and critiques. Students are taught to analyse and evaluate their own artwork, revising their projects based on feedback.

Year 8

The focus shifts to more advanced drawing skills, with an emphasis on contour drawing, gesture drawing, and shading. Students build confidence in observational drawing, exploring still life, figure, and landscape.

Focus Projects:

- Lino Printing: Inspired by artists like Julian Opie and Ian Murphy, students create their own prints, learning about texture and composition.

- Collage: Students are introduced to collage techniques, using different media to build up forms and experiment with layering.

- Skills Development: Students continue to refine their drawing and compositional skills, exploring the relationship between different 

materials and developing their visual language.

Year 9

Year 9 is centred on more complex thematic work, with a focus on anatomy and war art. Students begin to explore abstraction and expression through the influence of artists such as Henry Moore and John Piper.

Focus Projects:

- War Project: Exploring the impact of war through the fundamentals of drawing, with large-scale works inspired by Henry Moore.

- Experimental Anatomy: In this project, students explore anatomy using a variety of techniques including charcoal, chalk, and mixed media.

- Captive Animal Study: Inspired by the work of Diana Beltran Herrera, students engage in a study of animals, creating intricate paper and mixed media sculptures.

Key Stage 4 Curriculum Overview

At Key Stage 4, students continue to build on the skills they have developed during Key Stage 3, focusing on more personal, in-depth projects. They are encouraged to take ownership of their creative process, working independently to explore a wide range of techniques

Course: GCSE Art and Design: Fine Art

Exam Board: AQA

Final Assessment: 60% Coursework (Portfolio) and 40% Final Exam (Practical component completed in Year 11)

Year 10

Students begin with an exciting project based on the theme of the ocean, taking inspiration from contemporary artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Michelle Parsons. They explore a variety of painting and drawing techniques, building a strong foundation for their coursework.

Focus Projects:

- Ocean Studies: A large-scale painting project inspired by the textures and colours of the ocean, incorporating collage, mixed media, and painting techniques.

- Mono Printing with Charcoal and Chalk: Inspired by Sarah Simblet, students explore the human body, working with observational drawing and 3D form to develop their skills in anatomy.

- Skills Development: Students learn how to combine different techniques to produce layered, complex artworks. They are encouraged to experiment and take risks, refining their personal style and preparing for their final portfolio.

Year 11

In their final year, students focus on completing their coursework portfolio, which makes up 60% of their final grade. They work on a self-directed project that allows them to explore a theme of personal interest, bringing together all the skills they have developed over the course.

- Final Exam: The practical exam and pr, accounting for 40% of their grade, provides students with a set brief, which they respond to through independent work. They are expected to produce a final piece within a set time frame, demonstrating the technical skills and conceptual understanding they have developed throughout the course.