CURRICULUM

Our curriculum is designed to make sure that students have the opportunities that they need to be successful. Our aim is that young people will achieve their potential to make informed and responsible decisions throughout their lives.

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Art & Design

In the Art Department pupils at all Key Stages are given the opportunity to express themselves creatively through the language of Art and Design. By looking at the world around them through the eyes of the artist, pupils are encouraged to explore and understand their environment visually as the artist Paul Klee states:

“Art does not reproduce what we see. It makes us see.”

To this end, pupils build upon their artistic experiences and further develop their skills through experimentation with a range of different media, materials and techniques.

Through research an appreciation of artists, designers and crafts makers within our own and other cultures is gained, fostering a wider interest in the subject.

Art and Design at GCSE and A’Level, allows for further development of the skills and understanding gained at Key Stage 3 as well as offering a range of opportunities for Higher Level Education and Employment within the vibrant creative industries in Northern Ireland and further afield.

Subject:

Art and Design

Levels Taught:

KS3
GCSE/KS4
Post 16

Staff:

Mrs C Slack
Mrs E Andrews
Miss M Gallagher

KS3:
(Subject/Topic Content)

Year 8
‘Foundation Unit’ explores the basics of Art and Design – line, tone and colour. Pupils will be introduced to the artists Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet along with many others.

  • Markmaking – Pattern and Zentangle.
  • Lino Print with Van Gogh.
  • Line and Tone
  • Direct Observation and Still Life
  • Colour theory – Colour Wheel, Primary, Secondary, Contrasting and Complimentary colours, Symbolism and Colour Association.
  • Colour Mixing – Warm and Cool Colours.
  • Monet’s Waterlily Garden – Pastel, Wax Resist and Marbling techniques.
  • Cubism – Multi Viewpoints, Collage and Georges Braque and David Hockney.

Year 9
‘Amazing Architecture’ explores the rules of Perspective, 3D design, working to a brief and model building. This highly practical unit includes lots of opportunities for students to contribute ideas and work as part of a team. There is an emphasis is on creativity and experimentation with solid links to industry and contemporary designers and architects.

  • 1 Point Perspective – Superhero Skyscraper City.
  • 2 Point Perspective – Robots.
  • Design Brief and Architecture Research – Mind Maps and Mood Boards
  • 3D Paper and Card Sculpture techniques
  • Design Drawings
  • 3D Model building
  • Photoshop Presentation
  • Exhibition and Architecture Awards

Year 10
 ‘Looking at Me’ explores the theme of portraiture and identity encouraging pupils to undergo a voyage of discovery, including researching artists who have also explored this theme.

  • Facial Features
  • Realism with Chuck Close and others
  • Proportions of the face
  • Tonal Range Split Portrait
  • Symbolism with Frida Kahlo and others
  • Symbolist Composition
  • Painting Skin Tone
  • Self Portrait Painting
  • Self Expression with Kehinde Wiley, Picasso and others.
  • Mixed Media Collage

GCSE/KS4:
(Subject/Topic Content)

Art and Design GCSE

Year 11
Component 1:
Part A: Exploratory Portfolio – Controlled assessment, Internally set and assessed, Externally moderated.
Part B: Investigating the Creative and Cultural Industries – Internally set and assessed tasks, Externally moderated.
Part B : Introduced (see below for more details)

Year 12
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment – Controlled assessment, Externally set and internally assessed. Stimulus paper set by CCEA that provides a choice of themed starting points. Externally moderated.

OCN Crafts

Units studied include:

  1. Mosiac
  2. Ceramics
  3. Jewellery
  4. Creative Industries
  5. Textiles

Post 16:
(Subject/Topic Content)

Year 13 & 14 – Cambridge Technical Level 3

1.       Art & Design in Context
2.       Fine Art Painting
3.       Fine Art Drawing
4.       How Artists and Designers use 2D Materials, Techniques and Processes
5.       Planning, Researching and Developing Ideas for a Specialist Art or Design Brief
6.       Realising an Outcome for a Specialist Art or Design Brief