Head of Department: Ms H Rowlands

Team Members: Miss A Chanter, Ms E Hirons, Ms S Kyle, Mr T Cannell (Technician)  

Ethos

We believe that Art can be both a form of communication and a means of expression of ideas, emotions and feelings. Art has a language which compliments those of literacy, mathematics, scientific and other factual subjects. Art, in particular, is a dynamic subject taught by teachers who are both passionate about and inspired by, the world of Art and Design, and who will do the utmost to transmit this to their students. We believe Art is concerned with the development of the complex mental processes that are involved in visual perception and aesthetic experience. We seek to broaden the students’ background knowledge and appreciation of Art in a variety of genres and styles from different cultures and times. 

At Weston Favell School, the Art Department’s curriculum provides a unique way for students to complete a synthesis of experience through the elements of perceiving, thinking and feeling. This illumination of experience is basic to the education process, enriching both other areas of the curriculum and students’ social skills. We feel that through understanding, creating, making and evaluation, the student acquires better discrimination and judgement. We feel that the quality of the students’ life can be enriched through Art. The study of Art broadens the students’ appreciation and understanding of other cultures – artistically, socially and historically.

Key Developments 
To continue annual update of Schemes of Work  To improve GCSE Results by extra sessions in holidays/after school.  To continue preparation for exams: visit to galleries for 6th Form in February/March.  To exhibit AS/A Level work open to parents/public.  To further develop skills of all staff by attending relevant courses.   

Overview

For further information see the ”CURRICULUM EXPLAINED“  booklets for each year group.

During Key Stage 3, students work through a wide variety of units, that are designed to give them maximum opportunity to experience a wide variety of materials, topics, and artistic genres. As students approach the end of the course, they are encouraged to work through the objectives applicable to key stage 4 observational recording; reference to the work of artists and art from other cultures, experimenting and analysing before producing their final outcome.  Whilst the subjects are further explained as above, briefly, students can expect to work with a wide range of media, including papier-mâché, clay, painting, (watercolour, acrylic) drawing. (pencil, colour pencil, oil pastel, chalk, charcoal).  In Key Stage 4, students have the choice of working in Art and Design as one of their free option choices. Students have to present two/three units of coursework, in which they must work in at least two different media (for example, claywork and drawing, or painting and mixed media). Within the coursework, they must do observational drawing, consider the work of other artists or cultures, and experiment with materials and ideas, as well as produce finished works of art.  There is the opportunity within the department for students to work with, three dimensional media, painting and drawing.  Whilst the three units are set by teachers, the final unit is set by the examination board (OCR) and this is worth some 40% of the overall marks. Students need to ensure that this unit contains observational drawing, artist reference, and experimental trials, as well as a finished outcome, worked under examination conditions.  In Key Stage 5, Students are expected to produce two projects of practical research work, each with observational drawing, artist reference, experimental trials, and outcome. They do an in-depth study of research into the work of an artist, or alternatively, consider how different artists work, in a comparative study, as well as an examination in year 12, and a major artist study,  and examination in year 13.  Further information on all of the work set for each of the Key Stages will soon be available in the Department’s folder on the school website, where students will be able to access their own progress against a scheme of work, and list of personal study from their own teacher. 

News and information

The Art department regularly invites year 5 and 6 students from our feeder schools to join us for Masterclasses on Saturdays. Recently, we have explored automata (working models), and what life is like undersea. The work produced here has been exhibited in the hall at Junior High, so that our current students can enjoy it, and when students from years 5 and 6 join us, they already have work in situ that they can feel proud of!  A great many of our sixth form Art students go on to the local Art School to take the Foundation course before going on to do a degree in Art. Currently, the year 13 students are hoisting their portfolios onto their backs and attending interviews. The first students to return are pleasantly surprised to discover that our students are always snapped up by the College, and this year is no exception, with several students already accepted for next year.  Late February sees our annual visit to London Galleries, to enable the sixth form to prepare for their examination. Last year, we managed to book onto the “Tate to Tate” boat trip along the Thames, which was highly popular.  Currently, all of our year 11 students are invited to after-school sessions on four nights a week (Tuesday to Friday) where they can try out their ideas, build up their coursework, and develop their work.  At the end of Year 9, the department awards students who have shown high levels of commitment to their work. Both high achieving, and highly motivated students, are rewarded for their efforts.  

Links

Students will find suitable websites listed under the sections on schemes of work. A good general one they ought to visit is: www.artchive.com which has reference to thousands of artists and their work