Head Of Department: Miss Starkey

Overview

The Art Department at Warlingham School is a friendly, lively and hardworking department. With a well established team of 4 highly skilled teachers, an Art Technician and Departmental Assistant, it has achieved consistently high results in all Key Stages.The Art Department consists of 4 specialist Art rooms, a kiln room and an Art office. Three of the Art rooms have printing presses and computers are available in a number of rooms around the school.

In KS3 students are taught to develop their ideas through a wide range of media and processes and given the opportunity to work in both two and three dimensions. In year 9 an additional course ‘Creative Arts’ is offered where either Music or Drama is incorporated into the projects. Homework projects are set every 4 to 6 weeks and completed in their sketchbooks. GSCE Art and Design is a very popular option with over 90 students taking Art this year. On average 75 to 80% achieve A* to C grades. Many go on to choose one or two of the A’ level Art subjects offered: Art and Design and Art/Textiles. Our Art students are very motivated and committed to producing expressive and highly personal work to a very high standard. From here the vast majority will study Art or Design at one of the top Art Colleges and make successful careers in a wide range of disciplines. Each Art teacher runs an after school Art club once a week. Visits to Art Galleries are organised every year for GCSE and A’ level students.

KS3 Schemes of Work

All schemes of work are designed to be flexible and include opportunities for all abilities to achieve their best.

In Year 7 students begin the year with a project on ‘Line and Mark-Making’. They progress to ‘Colour’ in the Spring term and ‘Pattern and Texture’ in the Summer term. Through these projects students explore the basic elements of Art and Design. They are taught new skills, work in a variety of media and learn about the work of other artists and cultures.

In Year 8 the students work through 3 thematic projects; Myself, Fish and Sea Creatures and Multicultural Art. Through these projects they will learn how to improve their drawing and painting skills and learn new skills which may include print making, appliqué and 3D Art. They will analyse and evaluate the work of other artists and develop their own ideas into a final outcome. In the Summer term a special event is organised with the Music and Drama departments to celebrate the Creative Arts of another culture.

In Year 9, through a project on ‘Natural Forms’, the emphasis is to develop the students’ observational skills and the ability to work in a variety of media. In the spring term the students learn more about the vocational possibilities in Art and Design and undertake a short project on Graphic Design and Fashion Design, before making their option choices for GCSE. In the Summer term the students are encouraged to develop their imaginative and creative skills as they work through the theme of ‘Myths and Legends’.

GCSE Course(s) Overview

We currently offer one GCSE in Art and Design (Unendorsed) with AQA. In this course students are required to work in 2 and 3 dimensions. They will develop their observational drawing skills and work in a variety of media to develop ideas for their own work. They will look at the work of other artists, designers and craftsmen from a variety of times and cultures. Students will be required to research, analyse and evaluate their work and make critical judgments to support their ideas. Year 10 Through the theme of ‘Surfaces’ students will explore the texture and pattern found in natural and man-made surfaces. They will look ‘Beneath the Surface’ at the meaning of a painting and explore how to convey mood and emotion through a self portrait. By exploring ‘Broken Surfaces’ they will learn more about Abstract Art and how and why it is created. They will work in a variety of media which may include pencil, oil pastel, acrylic paint, printmaking, batik, collage, clay, photography and mixed media.

Year 11
‘Environments’ is the theme for the scheme of work in Year 11. It is divided into ‘Rural Environments’ and ‘Urban Environments’. Through these themes students explore their own ideas and research their own choice of artist to inform and inspire their work. The coursework element of the course is made up of all work produced in Year 10 and 11 which includes 2 sketchbooks and approx 8-10 final pieces. The coursework deadline is 31st January and accounts for 60% of their final work. The externally set Assignment begins in February and is 40% of the final mark. Students are required to submit a sketchbook of preparatory work and a final piece. The exam is 10 hours in duration.

GCSE Exam Boards Used

AQA GCSE Art and Design, Unendorsed 3201

AS/A Level Course(s) Overview

At A Level two courses are available – Art and Design and Art/Textiles with AQA. Both are very popular and many students will take both options.

In Art and Design students work in 2 and 3 dimensions, building on skills learnt at GCSE. The coursework unit, which is 50% of the final grade, is taught by 2 teachers and divided into 2 projects; ‘Autobiography’ and ‘Inside and Outside’.

In Art/Textiles the students develop skills in batik, appliqué, silk painting and machine and hand embroidery. They are also taught by 2 teachers who divide the coursework unit into 2 projects: ‘Surface and Pattern in the Natural World’ and ‘Line, Shape and Form’. The deadline for all coursework is 31st January. The preparation for the Externally Set Assignment begins in February and the examination takes place in April.

The AS examination is 5 hours and the A2 is 15 hours in which students are required to produce a final piece based on their ideas developed over the preparatory period. Homeworks are set each week and will be 2-3 hours in duration. They are marked regularly with verbal and written feedback given. Students are encouraged to attend the after school clubs and work in the Art Department during their study periods.

AS/A Level Exam Boards Used

AQA Art and Design 1201A and 2201A AQA Art/Textiles 1201D and 2201D

Study Days/Educational Trips

GCSE Art and Design students are taken to either Kew Gardens for a drawing workshop or to one of the major London Art Galleries. AS and A2 Art and Design students will have the opportunity to go to the Tate Modern and National Portrait Gallery and the Art/Textiles students will go the the V&A. Most years we have been very fortunate to have a team from the Royal Academy of Arts to come to Warlingham School to run a one-day life drawing class for A’Level Art students. We are hoping to offer a life drawing class after school this year.