Art & Design

Students in Years 7, 8, and 9 follow a rotation between Art, Food, and 3D Design, spending two terms in each area across the year. This approach allows students to experience a broad range of creative disciplines while building practical skills, creative confidence, and a deeper understanding of design principles.

Art
In Year 7, students receive one hour of Art per week. Their starting point is baseline assessed through experimentation and creative tasks using a range of techniques. Students are introduced to Colour Theory and Pop Art, which lays the foundation for developing and applying colour knowledge throughout Key Stage 3.

In Year 8, students build on prior knowledge while developing new skills. Emphasis is placed on art history and cultural research, enabling students to analyse how artists and designers convey ideas and make sense of the world. Students explore a variety of drawing and painting techniques, including observational drawing, and are encouraged to experiment with materials to develop confidence and progress their skills.

In Year 9, students expand into more craft-based techniques, including printmaking and pottery. The curriculum aims to inspire enthusiasm for Art through a wide range of contexts, processes, and materials, supporting both practical skills and personal expression. Students are also introduced to the possibility of selecting Art GCSE, where they can explore painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography.

3D Design
The 3D Design curriculum complements Art by focusing on hands-on projects across Ceramics, Textiles, Graphic Design, Jewellery, and Product Design. Each project involves observational drawing, artist/designer research, material experimentation, and the creation of a final piece.

Sample projects include:

• Marine Life Clay Tiles – exploring texture, relief, and form in ceramics through shaping, firing, and glazing techniques.
• Day of the Dead Skulls – combining textiles and basic electronics to create illuminated, culturally inspired pieces.
• Jewellery Design (CAD & Pewter Casting) – learning metal casting, wire-wrapping, and embossing while investigating local history and design movements.
• African Textiles – researching patterns, experimenting with fabric painting and lino printing, and creating stitched textile products.
• Night Lights (CAD & Laser Cutting) – designing functional objects incorporating LEDs, considering purpose, audience, and aesthetics.
• Environmental Issues – Graphic Communication – researching sustainability topics and producing digital and printed visual communications.

Through this combination of Art and 3D Design, students develop a broad creative skillset, an understanding of design thinking, and an appreciation of cultural and historical influences. The curriculum is structured to scaffold learning, encourage experimentation, and provide opportunities for personal expression, preparing students for further study in creative subjects at GCSE and beyond.

Key Stage 4 - GSCE Art Craft and Design

Our GCSE Art, Craft & Design course offers students the opportunity to build upon the foundational skills and knowledge developed during Key Stage 3. The curriculum is designed to foster creativity, imagination, and independence, encouraging students to engage with a diverse range of materials, processes, and techniques.

Component 1: Portfolio (60%)

In Component 1, students undertake a sustained project based on a theme or brief set by the school. Students develop their ideas through research, experimentation, and refinement, culminating in a final piece that demonstrates their personal response and technical skills. The portfolio allows for exploration in various media and techniques, enabling students to create work that aligns with their abilities and preferences.

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (40%)

Component 2 consists of an externally set assignment from the exam board. Students select a starting point from a list of questions and prepare their work over several weeks. The final realisation of their idea is completed within a 10-hour supervised exam period. This component assesses students' ability to respond to a set task, demonstrating their skills in different media and techniques.

Throughout the course, students engage with a wide range of art movements, artists, and strategies for making, fostering independence and critical thinking. The course is popular among students who are eager to study a practical subject and explore individual creative ideas and styles. It provides a strong foundation for further study in art and design at A-level and beyond, as well as vocational pathways.

Students are encouraged to take their sketchbooks home to complete research, experiments, and preparatory work. Regular independent use of the sketchbook supports creativity, reinforces skills learned in lessons, and helps students achieve their best by allowing them to develop ideas and refine techniques beyond the classroom.

This endorsement aligns with the AQA GCSE Art and Design specification, ensuring a comprehensive and structured approach to art education.

Key Stage 4 - GCSE 3D Design

Our GCSE 3D Design course empowers students to explore and develop their creative potential through hands-on projects that bridge artistic expression with functional design. Building upon the foundational skills acquired in Key Stage 3, students engage in a curriculum that emphasizes innovation, technical proficiency, and contextual understanding.

Component 1: Portfolio (60%)

In Component 1, students undertake a sustained project based on a theme or brief set by the school. Students develop their ideas through research, experimentation, and refinement, culminating in a final piece that demonstrates their personal response and technical skills. The portfolio allows for exploration in various media and techniques, enabling students to create work that aligns with their abilities and preferences.

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (40%)

Component 2 consists of an externally set assignment from the exam board. Students select a starting point from a list of questions and prepare their work over several weeks. The final realization of their idea is completed within a 10-hour supervised exam period. This component assesses students' ability to respond to a set task, demonstrating their skills in different media and techniques.

Throughout the course, students engage with a wide range of art movements, artists, and strategies for making, fostering independence and critical thinking. The course is popular among students who are eager to study a practical subject and explore individual creative ideas and styles. It provides a strong foundation for further study in art and design at A-level and beyond, as well as vocational pathways.

Students are expected to use their sketchbooks at home to record observations, plan designs, and experiment with materials and techniques. Taking the sketchbook home enables students to extend their learning, practise skills, and thoughtfully develop projects, supporting them to reach their full potential.

This endorsement aligns with the AQA GCSE 3D Design specification, ensuring a comprehensive and structured approach to art education.

Key Stage 4 - GCSE Photography

Our GCSE Photography course offers students a dynamic introduction to the world of digital imaging, providing a fresh creative outlet for those with no prior experience in the subject. Designed to ignite curiosity and develop visual literacy, this course encourages students to explore photography as both an art form and a means of personal expression.

Component 1: Portfolio (60%)
In Component 1, students undertake a sustained project based on a theme or brief set by the school. Students develop their ideas through research, experimentation, and refinement, culminating in a final piece that demonstrates their personal response and technical skills. The portfolio allows for exploration in various techniques, enabling students to create work that aligns with their abilities and preferences.

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (40%)
Component 2 consists of an externally set assignment from the exam board. Students select a starting point from a list of questions and prepare their work over several weeks. The final realisation of their idea is completed within a 10-hour supervised exam period. This component assesses students’ ability to respond to a set task, demonstrating their skills in different media and techniques.

Digital Portfolio & Access Requirements
As this is a digital-based course, students are expected to have access to a smartphone and a laptop or computer at home. This allows them to continue working on their digital portfolio outside of lessons, extending learning and refining their coursework independently.

Throughout the course, students engage with a wide range of art movements, photographers, and strategies for making, fostering independence and critical thinking. The course is popular among students who are eager to study a practical subject and explore individual creative ideas and styles. It provides a strong foundation for further study in art and design at A-level and beyond, as well as vocational pathways.

This endorsement aligns with the AQA GCSE Photography specification, ensuring a comprehensive and structured approach to creative education.

Art & Design exam information: 

Qualification and Level 
GCSE –9-1 
Assessment 
60% coursework - 40% exam 
Board
AQA Art and Design 

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

• Trip to the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford to research cultural artefacts.
• Arts Week
• Trip to the Botanical Gardens to investigate tropical plants.
• Student masterclasses, external tutor brought in to deliver a workshop to students so a new skill can be taught. 
• End of year exhibition

Useful websites:

• Student Art Guide
• BBC Bitesize: GCSE Art & Design
• Pinterest: Websites for artists
• 27 Art Activities and Lessons to Try at Home - The Art of Education University
• YouTube: GCSE Art videos

Links to past papers:

• AQA: GCSE Art & Design - June 2018
• AQA: GCSE Art & Design - Specimen Material

Reading list:

Art and Art History is such a vast area that being able to issue a set reading list is challenging. Instead, we encourage you to look at the different art movements and variety of creative arts all around you. Explore new art alongside traditional and cultural art, the different mediums that are used by a wide range of artists, past and present.  

The following are therefore not 'set' texts, and there is no expectation you will have read any of them. But it is a great way to widen your knowledge and understanding further. Below are a few books to get you started. Select your areas of interest and use this as your starting point for your artistic journey!!

• Art Reading List