Art
We aim to offer a broad, balanced, differentiated and relevant curriculum for all our pupils as a means of communication and self-expression in response to a range of stimuli.
At St James’ Catholic High School, Art is concerned with creativity intertwined with emotional and intellectual responses. We aim to offer a broad, balanced, differentiated and relevant curriculum for all our pupils as a means of communication and self-expression in response to a range of stimuli. An important component is the strong element of direct experience offered to children so that they can develop an awareness of the world around them through observation, recording, analysis and visual language.
There are 2 full-time Art Staff in the department. Mrs. K. Body and Mrs. E. Bray. Each member of staff teaches the full range of art experiences in 2 well equipped and visually stimulating Art rooms.
KEY STAGE 3
Art is taught to all Key Stage 3 pupils.
Year 9 pupils are divided into 6 mixed ability groups and have 3 lessons of art a fortnight. Years 7 and 8 pupils are divided into 6 mixed ability groups and have 4 lessons of art a fortnight.
Every week all pupils are set a homework task.
Pupils should spend the following amount of time on the homework set:
Year 7 – 30 minutes
Year 8 – 45 minutes
Year 9 – 1 hour
All homework set is to aim to build on the skills developed in lessons and to take the from of one of the following:
Research for future classwork on an artist, movement or culture
Drawings from observation, imagination or memory to provide information for classwork or to build on skills developed in class
Alternative designs for classwork
Exploratory work relating to the unit theme
Three-dimensional work related to the unit theme
Continuation of classwork
KEY STAGE 4
Art is an option subject at Key Stage 4.
Pupils are offered G.C.S.E Art and Design, AQA, Syllabus B 3202 Fine Art.
SPECIFICATION AT A GLANCE
COURSEWORK | CONTROLLED TEST |
60% OF THE TOTAL MARKS | 40% OF THE TOTAL MARKS |
COURSEWORK
A minimum of two units of work
A response to the 4 assessment objectives is required in the coursework as a whole: pupils will research and analyse artists; record observations; explore ideas and produce a personal response/final piece of work.
Centre-assessed and moderated by AQA
CONTROLLED TEST
AQA exam paper
Centre-assessed and moderated by AQA
All G.C.S.E. pupils are set homework every week.
The homework set is to be a continuation of the work produced in class. This may be specific work such as researching an artist, movement or culture, producing a drawing or designing an alternative piece of work or producing drawings in a variety of media. It may also be continuation of the final piece of work.
Pupils may also be given an individual target sheet and are asked to spend time each week working their way through it.
GCSE results 2008: 91% A* - C.