Art & Design

Key Stage 3 Art and Design at Knole Academy focuses on giving our students a clear understanding of the formal elements. During year 7 and year 8, students are encouraged to experiment with a wide range of materials through our diverse skills-based projects.

We explore the work of different artists and designers, as well as a range of cultures. Students use sketchbooks as a way to document and develop ideas, and experiment with techniques and materials. This enables all students to build the skills they need to produce creative, personal outcomes.

Year 7:

Art

Project 1 – Still Life: Line, shape, form, colour theory, contextual studies.

Project 2 – Natural forms/landscapes: Observational drawing, painting, mixed media.

Project 3 – Portraits: proportion, realism, expressionism.

Graphics and textiles are part of our design technology rotations.

Graphics – Logo design, book illustrations, SCAMPER.

Textiles – Monsters, puppets, bookmarks.

Year 8:

Project 1 – Automotive Art: Drawing, painting, colour theory, pattern.

Project 2 – Portraits: Observational drawing, painting, contextual studies.

Project 3 – Food: Observational drawing, painting, model making.

Graphics and textiles are part of our design technology rotations.

Graphics – Sportswear branding, book cover design, Typography.

Textiles – Print and pattern, Fashion illustration.

Year 9:

We offer four art-based options in year 9; Art, Graphics, Photography and Textiles. For all four disciplines, year 9 builds on the knowledge from previous projects, and hones our students' practical skills. We run workshops, exploring a range of materials, techniques and processes to develop their confidence and proficiency in a variety of areas. The projects undertaken in year 9 also enhance their awareness of art and design in the world around them by delving deeper into contextual studies and exploring the relevance of Art and Design in society.

Art, Graphics, Photography and Textiles all run two projects across the academic year, each focusing a different aspect of the subject to give students a well-rounded view of it and prepare them for GCSE.

How are the courses organised?

We offer four Art based options for Key Stage 4; Fine Art, Graphic Communication, Photography and Textile Design. In each of these options we develop students’ critical and contextual understanding and encourage them to explore the work of different artists and designers, and develop their own practice.

The GCSE is comprised of two components that are completed over the three years of the course.

Component 1: Portfolio

For this component students explore the different elements of art, recording observations and developing ideas in an imaginative way. They are expected to experiment with a wide variety of media, techniques and processes and use these to help refine their ideas and create a personal and meaningful outcome.

The portfolio must include both:

1. A sustained project.

2. A selection of further work.
 

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment

This component takes place during the spring term in year 11.

The exam board provides a separate externally set assignment for each title, each with seven different starting points. Students must select and respond to one starting point, then develop their work in the same way as the portfolio. The students will reference the work of other artists and demonstrate their ability to draw together different areas of knowledge, skills and understanding.

Their work must include evidence of drawing activity and written annotation.

After the preparatory period students take a 10 hour exam in which a final outcome for this component is produced.
 

How are the courses assessed?

The portfolio and the externally set assignment are both marked internally. Work is then moderated by an examiner from AQA. The weighting of each component is as follows:

60% - Portfolio

40% - Externally set assignment
 

Who are the courses for?

Fine Art, Graphic Communication, Photography and Textile Design are suitable for any student who enjoys being creative and who is willing to work hard.  Students who take these options at GCSE level learn to think in creative and experimental ways, and are encouraged to challenge themselves and to take risks within their work.

KS5 Art & Design

We offer three A level options for Key Stage 5; Graphic Communication Photography and Textiles. In each of these options we develop students’ critical and contextual understanding and encourage them to explore the work of different artists and designers and develop their own practice.

Component 1: Personal investigation

Students are required to conduct a practical investigation, into an idea, issue, concept or theme, supported by written material.

The investigation should be a coherent, in-depth study that demonstrates the student’s ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning from an initial starting point to a final realisation.

The personal investigation must include both:

1. A practical investigation

2. Supporting written material

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment

This component takes place during the spring term in year 13.

The exam board provides a separate externally set assignment for each title, each with eight different starting points.

Preparatory work is the completed from February, culminating in a 15-hour exam in which a finished outcome for this component is produced.

How are the courses assessed?

The personal investigation and the externally set assignment are both marked internally. Work is then moderated by an examiner from AQA. The weighting of each component is as follows:

60% - Personal investigation

40% - Externally set assignment

The IB Diploma Programme visual arts course encourages students to challenge their own creative and cultural expectations and boundaries. It is a thought-provoking course in which students develop analytical skills in problem-solving and divergent thinking, while working towards technical proficiency and confidence as art-makers. In addition to exploring and comparing visual arts from different perspectives and in different contexts, students are expected to engage in, experiment with and critically reflect upon a wide range of contemporary practices and media. The course is designed for students who want to go on to study visual arts in higher education as well as for those who are seeking lifelong enrichment through visual arts.

Task 1: Comparative study

•  Students analyse and compare different artworks by different artists. This independent critical and contextual investigation explores artworks, objects and artifacts from differing cultural contexts.

Task 2: Process portfolio

• Students submit carefully selected materials which evidence their experimentation, exploration, manipulation and refinement of a variety of visual arts activities during the two-year course.

Task 3: Exhibition

· Students submit for assessment a selection of resolved artworks from their exhibition. The selected pieces should show evidence of their technical accomplishment during the visual arts course and an understanding of the use of materials, ideas and practices appropriate to visual communication.

How is this course assessed?

All assessment tasks are non-examination based.

Task 1 and Task 2 are externally assessed.

Task 3 is the internal assessment (IA), which is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB.

Who are these courses for?

Visual Arts, Graphic Communication, Photography and Textile Design are suitable for any student who enjoys being creative and who is willing to work hard. Students who take these options at GCSE level learn to think in creative and experimental ways, and are encouraged to challenge themselves and to take risks within their work.

Knole Academy Art Department provides a range of enrichment activities, including clubs, trips and workshops.

Key Stage 3:

Creativity club for year 7 and 8 is a popular lunchtime activity, which encourages students to explore different media and use their imaginations to produce new and exciting work.

Key Stage 4 and 5:

Students are given the opportunity to participate in a range of extra-curricular activities. We use visits to galleries, museums, and run workshops with visiting artists and Knole

Alumni to develop students' critical and contextual understanding. All students are also encouraged to visit local galleries as part of their independent study.

Arts Award encourages students to experience different elements of Art and collect evidence in an individual arts log of their experiences in the following areas:

· Active participation in a range of arts activities, including a personal response about what they have learnt from taking part.

· Experience of arts organisations, artists, and their work.

· Creating a piece of artwork.

· Identification of what they have enjoyed and/or achieved, and their communication of this to others.

Warcraft Wednesdays are offered each week so students can bring in their collection and use the space to paint their models with teacher supervision.