Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. It is our intention that our high-quality art and design curriculum will engage, inspire and challenge students, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As students progress, our intention is that they will be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. Students should also know how art and design reflect and shape our history and contribute to our nation's culture, creativity and wealth.
Ethos
Art can teach us how to go into life with the ability to see and appreciate the beauty of our world. Our aim is to develop curious, experimental and confident artists who enjoy learning through the creative processes of art, appreciating that there are many ways to see and interpret the world we live in.
Click on the picture below for our virtual Art Gallery
Key Stage 3 | Years 7, 8 and 9
In art, craft and design, students explore visual, tactile and other sensory experiences to describe the visual elements of line, tone, shape, form, colour, pattern and texture. They work with traditional and new media, developing confidence, competence, technical skill and creativity. They learn to appreciate and value images and artefacts across times and cultures and to understand the contexts in which they were made.
Students will be taught to reflect critically on their own and other people’s work, discussing quality, and meaning fluently. They learn to think and act as artists, craftspeople and designers, working creatively and intelligently. They develop an appreciation of art, craft and design and their role in the creative and cultural industries that enrich their lives. Students will begin by developing key skills in art and design practice, working from life to develop their drawing skills and their work with colour and colour theory. By the end of Key Stage 3, students should be able to use practical materials with skill and control and will be able to record ideas and intentions with confidence.
Subject Information - Year 7 and 8
Subject Information - Year 9
GCSE
The GCSE course has two parts; the coursework produced over two years, and the Externally Set Assignment completed at the end of the two years.
Examples of our students' GCSE Artwork
The coursework material, in the form of sketchbooks or workbooks and finished pieces of work, are produced in school, supported by substantial homework. The coursework is arranged into themes and projects undertaken across the two years. Each project is a response to a specific theme in which students learn to develop their own ideas, practical skills and outcomes during the course. The main focus throughout the course is the core skill of observational drawing, which leads to a variety of developments in two and three-dimensional work accompanied by references to artists, art movements and cultures. Students are given the opportunity to attend art trips, such as The Ashmolean Museum, Tring Zoological Museum, Tate Britain and Tate Modern. Students are also encouraged to visit local galleries as part of homework. Students are encouraged to draw from observation as much as possible to develop their knowledge and understanding of, and practical ability with, the formal elements of composition, tone, form, line and colour. Landscapes, architecture, natural form, portraits, and figures are typical subjects on which students apply the appropriate use of proportion, composition, perspective, tone, texture and colour. The externally set assignment takes place during the Spring Term in Year 11. After a preparatory time of approximately eight weeks, students take a 10-hour exam in which a finished piece of work, either 2D or 3D, is produced. The exam is a response to an externally set theme and is marked internally, together with the coursework. Work is then moderated by an examiner from AQA. The department is also developing strong links to local places of interest such as Ascott House.
Subject Information - Year 10
Subject Information - Year 11
A-Level
Sixth Form Art study follows a traditional path. Emphasis is placed on the ability to draw well from observation, in order to realise complex and extraordinary ideas. Any student who is considering taking Art at A-Level must have studied Art to GCSE level.
- In Year 12 students follow a broad introductory course where they are introduced to a wide range of media, experimental techniques and different ways of working. The emphasis is on experimenting with ideas and materials.
- In Year 13 students produce an extended Personal Investigation where they work in greater depth and greater independence on a topic of their choice.
Examples of our students' A-Level Artwork
We frequently use the local landscape for first-hand art studies. The main focus throughout the course is the core skill of observational drawing, which leads to a variety of experimental developments in two and three-dimensional work accompanied by references to artists, art movements and cultures. Students are given the opportunity to attend art trips, such as The Ashmolean Oxford, Tate Britain and Tate Modern. Students are also expected to make regular visits to local galleries as part of their learning.
Subject Information - A-Level
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