Art & Design

Subject Overview

“Everything you can imagine is real” – Pablo Picasso

The Art and Design curriculum at Oriel High School provides opportunities for students to develop their practical and imaginative skills, through experimentation with a wide range of media and techniques. Students are given an understanding of how various artists’ work is influenced by the world around them and encouraged to develop their own work in a similar way. Art lessons offer students the opportunity to think differently, to discuss and evaluate artwork and often to work collaboratively on a group project. Throughout KS3 all students study drawing, painting, ceramics and mixed media sculpture, developing their skills and ideas to create original pieces of work. In KS4 students study Art, Craft and Design at GCSE level.

The Art and Design department at Oriel High School consists of six members of teaching staff and two technicians. It is an excellently resourced department that boasts four specialist Art rooms; a photographic darkroom, a kiln room and a Sixth Form Study room. Students have access to a wide range of equipment including digital cameras, pottery wheels, sewing machines, batik pots and a heat press.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

Years 7, 8 and 9 students study Art and Design in mixed ability classes for two periods a fortnight. Each year group is set projects tailored to their abilities with each task building on and enhancing the skills learned previously. Projects vary in length but encompass a wide range of techniques and exploration based around a central theme.

Homework is set regularly, and students are expected to research and analyse the work of an artist or to demonstrate their understanding of a technique learned in lessons. Students are given clear instructions and marking criteria for each homework task and are shown examples of what is expected. Students have the option to work after school in the art department where art teachers are available to provide guidance if needed.

	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3
Year 7	Observation and synthesis Line, Tone, Pattern and print	Colour, Pattern, and Shape Artist response	Art in Perspective: Landscapes Artist response
Year 8	Day of the Dead: drawing, collage, textiles Steampunk: Mixed media	Objects and Viewpoints Artist response 1	Objects and Viewpoints Artist response 2
Year 9	Role Models - making a difference: drawing Black History Month: painting, collage, mixed media, sculpture, embroidered portraits	Identity and Expression Artist response 1	Identity in Society: Pop Art/Graffiti Artist response 2

“A line is a dot that went for a walk” – Paul Klee

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

OCR Art and Design J170

Students can opt to study an Art subject at Key Stage 4 as a single option of five periods a fortnight. The Art GCSE course is 60% coursework and 40% exam. All students will be taught specialist techniques to relevant topics/themes.

We expect students studying Art and Design at GCSE to produce a considerable amount of work outside of lessons. All work, from day one of the course will count towards a student’s coursework.

J170 Art, Craft and Design
Year 10	The Natural World
Year 11	Close Up/Externally set exam

“Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse

Key Stage 5 Curriculum

OCR H600 and H603

Students opting to study Art and Design at Oriel Sixth Form can pick Art, Craft and Design and/or Photography as a single option of ten periods a fortnight. Our A2 levels are awarded by the OCR exam board and are weighted 60% coursework and 40% practical examination.

In Year 12 and 13 students build on their learning from Key Stage 4 and further their knowledge and understanding on their chosen subject. The table below is an example of the projects that students will study at Key Stage 5.

	H600 Art, Craft and Design	H603 Photography
Year 12	Lost and Found – develop a personal response.	Built Environment - Figure and Form – develop a personal response.
Year 13	Personal Investigation/Externally set exam	Personal Investigation/Externally set exam