Art & Design
The Art, Craft and Design Department at Kendrick plays an important role in creating a balanced school curriculum, allowing independent learning to flourish, encouraging creativity and resilience, and helping to support the emotional development of the students. Art is a universal language that communicates to all people; it celebrates all aspects of our lives through the continual exploration of different cultures, art periods, styles and concepts.
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” Edgar Degas
The aim of the Art & Design department is:
To create an inspiring and energetic atmosphere in which the students feel confident to demonstrate self-expression, problem-solving, knowledge and skills through the experimentation of a wide array of media.
In Art, Craft and Design lessons we want our students to:
- Develop their skills with a particular focus in observational drawing using a range of materials and processes.
- Experiment with a range of both traditional and non-traditional media to create both two and three dimensional work with the aim for students to be able to discover a way of creating art that suits their creative skillset and builds their confidence.
- Enjoy making art and taking creative risks
- Understand and respond to art from our own and other cultures with a particular, but not exclusive, focus on contemporary female artists.
- Learn the ICT skills needed to use our creative software
- Explore their own ideas and visually communicate views
What is studied at KS3?
Year 7
Perspectives and Architecture
The content in Year 7 concentrates on creativity and ideas, giving students the opportunity to develop their skills in a range of media and processes including 3D work. The schemes of work inspire and challenge students to produce creative work, become proficient in drawing, painting and other techniques, be able to evaluate, respond and analyse creative works using language of art, craft and design.
The creative areas explored in Year 7 are: Perspectives, Architecture and Colour Theory. Students will develop skills in analytical and proportional still life drawing using pencil, development and creation of an abstract design, basic elements of art, such as colour, line, tone and form in a range of media such as paint, clay and colour pencil. Students are introduced to pattern and are given the opportunity to develop a systematic approach to designing work and will produce a cityscape design influenced by the artist, Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Students learn how to analyse, respond and appreciate the work of others and understand the purpose for which the work was made.
Year 8
Exploring Identity through Portraiture.
The schemes of work in Year 8 encourage a more developed sense of visual literacy and continue to extend and develop that of Year 7 giving students the opportunity to develop their skills further in a range of media. The schemes of work continue to inspire and challenge students to produce creative work, become proficient in drawing, painting and other techniques, be able to evaluate, respond and analyse creative works using language of art, craft and design.
The creative areas explored in Year 8 are: Portraiture, Still Life and Colour Theory. Students will begin the year recapping observational drawing skills through still life drawing using a wider range of media.
Students are introduced to the topic of Portraiture art and explore this idea by looking at the work of a variety of artists including Pablo Picasso and Chuck Close. They will show that they have looked at the work of the artists through artist studies. Using source material and an art history focus they will create their own interpretations of the artist’s work including constructing a 3 dimensional clay relief self-portrait.
Students also look at Cubism and Abstraction and explore composition through the use of layers and overlapping images. All schemes of work are supported by critical and historical studies and sketchpad research.
Year 9
Natural Forms
The schemes of work in Year 9 give students the opportunity to become more independent and use the skills they have previously learnt whilst following the structure of the GCSE coursework projects. This will ensure that students who take art further in their education are able to solely focus on improving skills and learning new techniques without the worry of having to also handle a new project format.
The Year 9 course has included the following, in accordance with National Curriculum Key Stage 3: observational drawing, imaginative concept development, painting, printmaking, 3 dimensional clay work, historical and critical research, analytical writing, and sketchpad usage, wherever appropriate. Students are given opportunities to develop their skills through experimenting with media and responding to the work of others along with the introduction of new media prior to the start of the GCSE course. Students explore a variety of forms within nature and are given opportunities to choose particular outcomes and make judgments about the appropriate media and technique used when responding to the theme.
Year 9 encompasses the type of work and thinking skills that you will encounter if you choose to study the subject at GCSE.
What is studied at KS4?
The GCSE in Art, Craft and Design is a broad and flexible course that requires students to develop an appreciation of the creative process through a practical response, using a variety of two – dimensional and three – dimensional media, materials, techniques and processes.
This qualification can be followed through the broad-based title of Art, Craft and Design. Students are required to create work associated with areas of study chosen from at least two of the five endorsed titles for Component 1 (Fine Art, Graphic Communication, Textile Design, Three-dimensional design and Photography)
For Component 2, students are required to create work associated with at least one area of study. This ensures that in the qualification as a whole, there is a breadth and flexibility in content and approach commensurate in demand with other titles.
Working time in the department is increased, so an element of consistency is applied to projects but self-initiated extra-curricular work, in and outside of the department, is essential if the experiences provided in class are to be beneficial.
Visits to the major London galleries will be organised to help expand the students’ knowledge and understanding of artists, designers, movements and styles. These are designed to lead to greater appreciation of the aesthetic factors that shape their own work.
As the course progresses into Year 11, each student is expected to take possession and responsibility for further developing her work, identifying areas for refinement within the creative areas that she has chosen to study. A high standard of technical finish and thorough critical research must be evidenced, particularly if the student holds ambitions to continue onto “Advanced Level”.
Students produce two components of work during the course and both will be submitted as the Controlled Assessment. A component of work is a defined selection of work that demonstrates evidence of the working process as well as a final outcome. The Controlled Assessment carries 60% of the final GCSE marks and a Controlled Test at the end of the course, carries 40% of the marks.
They are encouraged to adopt an enquiring approach to art and design throughout the year 10 and 11 in preparation for the Externally Set Assignment which is presented to the students in January. The assignment consists of a broad based thematic starting point, developed through a series of suggested starting points. The preparatory period of study is produced over approximately 20 hours, followed by the 10 hour sustained focus.
A link to the current specification for GCSE Art and Design can be found here
What is studied at KS5?
AS and A Level
AS (1 year) Personal Investigation Component 50%; Externally Set Assignment 50%
A Level (2 year) Personal Investigation Component 60%; Externally Set Assignment 40%
Exam Board: Edexcel
In Year 12 & 13 students engage in integrated critical, practical and theoretical study in art, craft and design. The department runs an Art, Craft and Design course. The broad based art, craft and design title will enable students to explore a range of approaches to their studies. Work produced for this title will demonstrate the use of visual language and creative skills and will allow students to express their thinking, feelings, observations and ideas. Students will be encouraged to work and develop skills in a multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary way, exploring the connections between areas of art, craft and design and gaining knowledge and understanding of the scope and variety of disciplines and approaches.
The GCE Art, Craft and Design course aims to encourage students to develop:
- Intellectual, imaginative, creative and intuitive capabilities
- Investigative, analytical, practical and expressive skills, aesthetic understanding and critical judgment
- Independence of mind in developing, refining and communicating their own ideas, their own intentions and their own personal outcomes
- Their experience of working with a broad range of media
- Knowledge and experience of real-world contexts and, were appropriate, links to the creative industries.
- An understanding of the relationship between art, craft and design and an awareness of contemporary and contextual study
It is expected that students will possess enhanced powers of self-discipline and self-motivation, are capable of creating artefacts to a high technical standard and are willing to experiment without fear using a wide variety of media.
The Personal Investigation Component in both AS and A Level allows students opportunities to generate and develop ideas, research primary and contextual sources, record practical and written observations, experiment with media processes, and refine ideas towards producing resolved outcomes. Supporting studies and practical work will comprise a portfolio of development work and outcomes based on themes and ideas developed from personal starting points.
What next?
If you wish to continue studying Art & Design beyond “A” Level the next stage involves applying for a one year Foundation course which is designed to prepare you for entry to degree-level art and design programmes at University.
“Studying art and design at A Level has rewarded me with a more open and inquisitive mind by urging me to experiment and analyse. These skills will prepare me to make the most of my next level of art education at Art College”
A link to the current specification for both A Level and AS Level Art and Design can be found here
Artist of the Term
Gallery Visits
Y10 students performing their art therapy session with SEN students at The Avenue School.
KS4 and KS5 visit the major establishments such as The National Gallery, The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Tate, The Tate Modern, The Hayward Gallery, The Barbican Centre, The Royal Academy and BP Awards at National Portrait Gallery.
In Year 10 students undertake a half day of work experience at a local SEN School in which they create and perform an Art Therapy session to a class at the school.
GCE students have the opportunity to take part in The Royal Academy of Art Life Drawing Outreach Workshop which takes part at Kendrick during the autumn term. The workshop presents the students with a synthesis between hand and mind, with fast-flowing exercises from observation and an interaction of ideas and imagination. The students embark on a journey of discovery with a visiting artist and a life model.
Facilities
We are lucky to have a good range of facilities in the Art Department.
The department is made up of two large and open rooms allowing plenty of space for creative minds!
Art Room 1 serves as the main room for KS3 and Art Room 2 is used for KS5 lessons and some KS4 lessons.
The Kendrick Parent’s Society kindly donated a sum of money that was put towards buying a print press capable of creating up to A2-sized prints which has been used by both KS4 and KS5.
All years also benefit from the use of a large kiln in which to fire clay work along with an extensive amount of clay equipment.
KS4 and KS5 students also have the use of using Photoshop with a drawing tablet.
KS5 students are encouraged to make their own canvases and use easels to facilitate larger pieces of work.
Staff
Miss F Long - Subject Leader
Mrs Sarah Macwaters
Mrs Carrie Souch