Art
Art at Rugby High School
Art Department Vision Statement
We aim to develop visual literacy so that our students will be able to communicate ideas through visual form and so that our students will be able to read, understand and appreciate visual imagery. In our curriculum there is opportunity for students to generate their own creative ideas and as they progress through the years we aim to instil curiosity, confidence and encourage them to develop their own creative voice and personality: we celebrate diversity of ideas/approach and outcomes.
Art is about problem solving and students are encouraged to experiment, take risks and even identify their own problems to solve. We emphasise the value of failure and how to use this in order to move forward with intent and ambition. At GCSE and A Level the students formulate their own personal journey – the destination and the students’ final outcomes are initially unknown and this helps to prepare students for an attitude of excitement for the future and a willingness to be adaptable and open to possibilities.
When formulating their own ideas students are encouraged to consider issues that are relevant and things that they are passionate about. This helps them to develop compassion, empathy and to take their place in the world as Global Citizens; for example, this could be in the form of Protest Art or a more introspective reflection on Culture and Identity.
Year 7 Art and Design
Course content:
- Explore and understand the visual language of the 7 elements of Art: shape, line, form, texture, tonal values, space & colour
- Explore basic grid methods to enhance accuracy of drawing from observation
- Experiment with mark making, shading and blending techniques in a range of media from pen, pencil and oil pastel
- Explore and expand understanding of how to create an effective composition
- Develop their ideas and create their own art work based on the skills they have developed
- Understand and apply basic colour theory
- Experiment with watercolour paint in order to develop their technical ability with loose wet on wet washes
- Develop their ideas with links to inspirational materials
- Record their ideas with sketches, photographs and annotations
- Develop knowledge and confidence with a range of specialist technical terms
- To reflect on the effectiveness of their work, and to subsequently refine outcomes based on feedback
- Make contextual connections to the work of key artists/art movements
Assessment:
Autumn term - Baseline drawing test - Graphite/tonal keys, Markmaking doodles, Tonal Pears, Giorgio Morandi inspired cross hatched vessels
Spring term - Cezanne inspired still life study in oil pastels, Laura Horn inspired semi-abstract botanical mixed media study
Autumn term - Colour pencil frogs, Watercolour and Pen cityscapes
Year 8 Art and Design
Course content:
- Explore and deepen understanding of visual language and the 7 elements of Art: shape, line, form, texture, tonal values, space & colour
- Experiment and with a range of media, learning how to appropriately layer mixed media effectively
- Expand and further refine understanding and skill of mark making techniques in pen
- Expand and refine different visual recording methods such as sketching and subtractive drawing
- Learn about the principles of design to create an effective and balanced composition
- Develop their ideas and create their own art work based on the skills they have developed
- Understand and apply more advanced colour theory effectively
- Experiment with print methods in order to develop their technical knowledge and ability
- Experiment with watercolour paint methods (flat wash, graduated wash and variegated wash) in order to develop their technical knowledge and ability
- Develop their ideas with links to inspirational materials
- Record their ideas with sketches, photographs and annotations
- Develop knowledge and confidence with a range of specialist technical terms.
- To reflect on the effectiveness of their work, and to subsequently refine outcomes based on feedback
- Make contextual connections to the work of key artists/art movements
Assessment:
Autumn term - Baseline drawing and painting test - Buttons, Picasso inspired Cubist fractured tableware- mixed media
Spring term - Alison Headley inspired natural form prints- Series of printed outcomes to include polyboard, mono and chine collet, Sgraffito birds- oil pastel and acrylic
Summer term - Ernst Haeckle - inspired pen fragmented fossil squares, Watercoloured version of fragmented fossil square.
Year 9 Art and Design
Course content:
- Continue to explore, deepen and refine their understanding of visual language and the 7 elements of Art: shape, line, form, texture, tonal values, space & colour
- Experiment and with a range of media, learning how to appropriately layer mixed media effectively- with a focus on surfaces
- Expand and refine understanding and skill of mark making techniques in pen, graphite and charcoal
- Expand and refine different visual recording methods such as sketching and subtractive drawing
- Develop understanding on the principles of design to create an effective and balanced composition
- Develop their ideas and create their own art work based on the skills they have developed
- Experiment with different print methods in order to develop their technical knowledge and ability
- Develop their ideas with links to inspirational materials
- Record their ideas with sketches, photographs and annotations
- Develop knowledge and confidence with a range of specialist technical terms
- To reflect on the effectiveness of their work, and to subsequently refine outcomes based on feedback
- Make contextual connections to the work of key artists/art movements
Assessment:
Autumn term - Baseline - decaying leaves in tonal pencils or pen, Karl Blossfeldt inspired subtractive seed heads in graphite or charcoal. “Growth and Decay” project 1
Spring term - Skull drawing in willow & compressed charcoal, Nunzio Paci inspired mixed media “Growth and Decay” project 2
Summer term - “Growth and Decay” project 3. Nicholas Come & Trisha Thompson Adams inspired series of black and white printed outcomes to include mono and press printing, Refined and developed coloured final outcome in mixed media
GCSE Art and Design
Examination Board: OCR Fine Art J171
Who should consider Art and Design GCSE?
If you are interested in a career in Architecture, Film and Animation, Advertising, 3D Design, Interior Design, Textiles, Fashion, Graphics, Illustration, Fine Art, Theatre Design & Costume, Photography and many other creative professions or just enjoy being creative, then you should take a GCSE in Art and Design.
Course content:
The GCSE Art and Design course is a broad-based course, covering a wide range of activities, which may include: Drawing, Painting, Mixed Media, Textiles, Graphic Design, Photography, Digital Illustration, Printing and 3D Design.
In the GCSE Art and Design course, the emphasis is as much on the creative process as on the end product. Drawing is also an essential skill in the development process, from initial visual research, recording from primary sources, through to the translation of ideas into finished designs.
During Year 10 and 11 students have the opportunity to visit museums and Art galleries in Oxford and London.
It should be noted that students may need to provide some of their own personal materials and equipment.
Assessment
The Coursework Assignment, which is worth 60% of the marks, involves creating a work journal/sketchbook showing a range of skill-based tasks, personal design work, contextual references, experimentation and the development of ideas, culminating in a final outcome to be completed by January of Year 11.
The Externally Set Assignment, worth 40% of the overall marks, is given to the students in January of Year 11 and requires the creation of a new work journal based on a chosen starting point from the OCR question paper, culminating with the completion of a final outcome during a 10-hour, 2-day examination which follows the normal pattern of the school day.
A Level Fine Art/Textiles
For details of our A Level Fine Art/Textiles course, click here.
