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Art
We aim to make lessons ‘fun’, and have designed the modules so that pupils experience a broad range of media, developing skills, knowledge and understanding across all areas of Art and Design through topics that will appeal, and maintain interest involving contemporary and historical references. This knowledge and skills provides a strong grounding for students to progress onto a KS4 Art course.
Sketchbooks are used throughout KS3 and KS4. They provide students with the ability to ‘personalise’ their work further, taking pride in the presentation of each page. In year 7 students are provided with a sketchbook and are required to bring this to every lesson, they will continue to use the same sketchbook in year 8, and year 9 until it is complete, and then a new one is given. At GCSE and BTEC levels, students choose and provide their own sketchbooks.
KS3 Art
Year 7
‘Making your Mark’ (Drawing and Painting), ‘Aboriginal Art‘ (Ceramics), ‘Self Image’ ( Drawing and painting )
Year 8
‘Bonkers Buildings’ (3D- papier mache), ‘Celebration of Hands’ (Drawing and Painting), ‘Myths, Legends and Fairytales (Illustration)
Year 9
‘Still Life’ (Drawing and painting), ‘3D Fish’ (3D- Sculpture), ‘Words as Art’ (Students select media choice)
KS4 Art
GCSE Full Course (AQA) Art and Design
The AQA course awards a GCSE grade with a weighting of 60% coursework, and 40% ‘Controlled test’.
Module 1: ‘Food, Glorious Food’ (a 2D outcome)
Module 2: ‘Structures’ (a 3D outcome)
Module 3: Mock exam, students choose topic, and decide as to media to be used.
Controlled test: Student chooses topic according to exam paper questions.
BTEC First Certificate (Edexcel) Art and Design
The Edexcel First Certificate course is 100% coursework. At the end of the 2 year course students should attain a Pass, Merit or Distinction. This qualification is the equivalent to 2 GCSE’s. We are in the first year of this course.
Extra Curricular
The Art rooms are open for extra curricular activities on a regular basis. This enables pupils to work on homework or their own projects around lesson time. Art Club, after school, provides a warm and working atmosphere where groups of pupils can work on any artwork, from assisted home work tasks to coursework catch up sessions. Art club have created the sets for school productions, such as ‘The Forbidden Planet’.
The department works with local galleries and Artists on a regular basis, such as Brewery Arts in Cirencester, providing local interest and stimulating communication with the town’s artist’s network. In recent years pupils have been able to work with Brewery Arts to produce sculptures for display at Westonbirt Arboretum. Last year gifted and talented students form year 8 worked with local Stone-carvers and sculptors to produce stone-carvings for exhibition to celebrate the re-opening of Brewery Arts.
During ‘World Peace’ day, last year, KS4 students worked with a Graffiti artist to produce panels for display. The whole school community contributed to the production of mosaic panels to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of comprehensive education in Cirencester.
Students have opportunities to visit Galleries, both in Britain and abroad. In October of this year KS4 pupils are to go to Paris for an Art and French trip. In the summer term they are also able to go to London to visit the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and V & A museum. During Enrichment week last year, year 9 students were able to visit Barcelona to sample some of the amazing architecture, and soak up the culture.
