Art

Our Art & Design curriculum is designed to inspire and preserve a love of art and creativity. By allowing students to express themselves in a variety of ways, art can aid in students’ creative growth by generating fresh ideas and problem-solving techniques. To increase their knowledge, skills and understanding of Art and its place in Society by building on pupil’s cultural capital and connecting art with their surroundings locally and in the world.

We strive to encourage and teach creatively, allowing students to make mistakes and take risks as part of their learning. As students develop skills to come up with solutions to creative challenges, they can better deal with challenges in their everyday lives. The belief that you can learn and improve with effort. Art can help students develop a growth mindset by providing them with opportunities to challenge themselves and learn new things.

The teaching of how art has evolved across time through the exploration of historical and contemporary art practitioners underpins our programme of study across the Key Stages. Analysing and interpreting other works of art allows students to become critical thinkers and help understand the world around them and make informed decisions.

Our curriculum has been carefully sequenced to allow pupils to build upon their knowledge and skills from Primary school and introduce them to more challenging materials, techniques processes as they progress.

At KS3 we aim to 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, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.

By the end of KS3 students will have learnt how to draw using the key elements – line, tone, shape, pattern, colour and texture. They will have become proficient in a range of art and craft techniques such as painting, mixed media collage, sculpture etc. Students will be able to evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design. They will have a broad knowledge of the great artists, craft makers and designers and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms. Like artists, students record their ideas and techniques in a sketchbook before developing practical concepts in a variety of media and outcomes. Students explore a variety of media, techniques and processes over their studies. In KS3 students will develop their skills and understanding with progressive complexity and sophistication, so that they are able to make informed choices and work with increasing independence into Key Stages 4 and 5.

At KS4 students develop their knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to Art, Craft and Design through integrated practical, critical and contextual study that encourages direct engagement with original works and practice. Students learn through practical experience through projects such as ‘Nature’ and ‘Portraiture’ using appropriate media to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of sources that inform their creative intentions. Students develop and apply the skills in Art, Craft and Design and demonstrate the ability to develop their ideas through investigations informed by selecting and critically analysing sources and apply an understanding of relevant practices in the creative and cultural industries to their work. As they progress, they refine their ideas through experimenting with media, materials, techniques and processes record their ideas, observations, insights and independent judgements, visually and through written annotation, using appropriate specialist vocabulary, as work progresses. Personal intentions are realised through the sustained application of the creative process.

Progression to KS5:

Yr11 Exam Unit prepares students in the ways of working for embarking on KS5 A-Level and BTEC Level 3 Art courses. The work and approach is more independent and personal as students Investigate and develop their own topics with the BTEC units and A-Level components. They are expected to take their own photographs, research and explore their own relevant art and artists and develop their ideas through the creative process becoming increasingly confident and competent with materials, processes and techniques. We offer 2 pathways for students at KS5; Alevel Fine Art and BTEC level 3 Art and Design. This is determined by a numbers factor including prior attainment but a decision that is made in collaboration with the student

ALEVEL Route - Students should be introduced to a variety of experiences that employ a range of traditional and new media, processes and techniques appropriate to Fine Art. Knowledge of art, craft and design should be developed through research, the development of ideas and making, working from first-hand experience and, where appropriate, secondary source materials. Students are required to participate actively in their course of study, recognising and developing their own strengths in the subject and identifying and sustaining their own lines of enquiry. Visits to galleries and museums are an integral part of the course.

Students choose a topic to explore and produce a practical portfolio of work produce a practical portfolio work, a sketchbook of ideas and a 3000-word essay. Materials, techniques and processes are introduced to students through a series of workshops to allow students to develop practical and theoretical knowledge of relevant materials, processes, technologies and resources. Through exploring the work of others, they learn to develop their own visual language and how ideas, feeling and meanings can be conveyed and interpreted through the visual arts. Working in a personal and independent way prepares the students in their approach to Component 2: Externally Set Assignment at the end of January in the Spring Term.

Level 3 BTEC Art and Design Pathway:

The qualification gives a coherent introduction to the study of art and design at this level. Pupils develop art and design projects and gain an understanding of the creative process. They study visual recording and communication, critical analysis and production skills to produce art and design outcomes. The qualification is designed for post-16 learners who aim to progress to higher education and ultimately to employment, possibly in the creative industries, as part of a programme of study alongside other

Art and Design: Pupils are required to work in one or more area(s) of art, such drawing and painting, mixed-media, including collage and assemblage, sculpture, printmaking (relief, intaglio, screen processes and lithography and photography. There are 4 Units to complete over 2 years;

• Two internally assessed units containing practical work supported by written material. Pupils are required to work to a specific ‘Brief’ investigating an idea, issue, concept or theme, supported by written material.
• Two externally set units; Students develop skills in contextual research and visual analysis in order to critically analyse the work of others and improve own practice.

Next steps:

At the end of Key Stage 5 we aim to prepare our students for the next step in their career choice in college, university or a career equipping them with

• Greater specialisation in a particular medium or process.
• Extended development of particular themes, ideas, concepts or issues.     
• Independently apply stages and activities within the Creative Process.
• Be able to communicate (verbally and written) their ideas and intentions and successfully evaluate review and refine their work.
• Have gained a broad knowledge and experience of Art History.

Students begin their lessons with a practical or theoretical knowledge recall activity to assess their prior knowledge. A ‘Big Question’ is asked which determines the aim of the lesson and challenging vocabulary is taught explicitly using the Frayer Model and students are encouraged to apply this in both their spoken and written work. New information is delivered, and teachers model their thought process using the framework "I do, We Do, You Do" to ensure pupils fully understand the techniques and processes to use in their artwork. Students are encouraged to fully participate in class discussion using cold-calling, white boards and peer assessment. 

Students are assessed formatively at KS3 through whole-class, teacher feedback in their books, targeted questioning and regular knowledge ‘quizzes’ to enable teachers to identify gaps in knowledge to reteach. Students are also assessed through summative assessments each half-term which check their understanding of a whole topic or skill, and their written communication.  

At KS4 and 5 students are given continual formative feedback individually and as a whole class. Summative assessments are marked using the 4 Assessment objectives. Throughout the course(s) students are taught the meaning of each assessment objective and what is required for meeting each one including how to develop an idea through research, recording, experimenting and refining, before producing finished outcomes.

• AO1: Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.
• AO2: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
• AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.
• AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.

We are committed to enriching the lives of the students at Alsop High School have worked collaboratively with other subjects over the years and continue to do so. Students and staff have worked together on Community and school projects creating pieces of art and responding to design briefs e.g Holocaust memorial, Aintree Grand National Community Horse competition, annual Dot Art school competition, annual backdrop and props for school performances, etc... Displays of student artwork is an important part of valuing the work students produce as well as increasing and boosting their morale.  Visits to museums and galleries are important we have regularly taken students to local galleries such as the Walker, Tate Liverpool, Liverpool Museum as well as visits to London and Paris. Where it is not possible to take students out on educational visits, we inspire them with high quality images from museums and galleries as well as film/video footage. We have also booked artist workshops and aim to continue this practice with reputable artists and home-grown talents e.g. notable artist Ian Murphy workshop with Yr10 and Yr12 students and future bookings with ex pupil community artist Nicola Taggart.

Homework is set once every two weeks for pupils in KS3 and once a week at KS4 and 5. Examination students are expected to do independent study alongside this during free periods or after school.

After school art clubs are offered to all students.

Fine Artist

Illustrator

Graphic Designer

Photographer

Interior Designer

Education

Curator

Art Therapist

Product Designer

Fashion Designer

Theatre Design

Costume/Prop Design

Games Design

Exhibition Designer

VFX Artist