Art and Photography - Our Curriculum

Remove (Year 7)

Students are introduced to a range of skills, techniques and media. They are encouraged to use observational and imaginative drawings using line, tone and colour. They will compare artists’ drawing techniques to analyse and modify their own work. Students are encouraged to gain confidence when discussing the work of others and that of their own practice.

Students use technical skills, specialist vocabulary, and work independently to gain understanding of artists’ work from different cultures.  They review and modify their own work.

A few examples of scheme of work include:

• 'Back to Basics' Elements of Art
• What is creativity
• Colour theory
• Media handling – 2D relief/3D sculpture
• Still Life
• Tonal 3D drawing
• Structure - Morandi
• Architecture - Hundertwasser/Gaudi

Lower Four (Year 8)

Students develop a greater understanding of skills, techniques and media built upon in Remove. They are encouraged to use observational and imaginative drawings using line, tone, colour and an increased personal selection and response. They will compare artists’ techniques to analyse and modify their own work and be encouraged to use a wider and increased specialist vocabulary and critical thinking. Students are encouraged to gain confidence when discussing the work of others and that of their own practice.

Students use technical skills, specialist vocabulary, and work independently to gain understanding of artists’ work from different cultures. They review and modify their own work.

A few examples of scheme of work include:

• Natural Forms - Hepworth/Arp
• Elements of Art
• Media handling – sculpture
• Photography
• Fruit and Vegetables - Lichtenstein
• Colour combinations
• Printmaking
• Pattern

Upper Four (Year 9)

Upper Four is a pivotal year and builds upon the foundation skills taught in Remove and Lower Four. It aims to prepare students for their GCSE Art and Design course, of which 40-50% of students embark upon and is becoming ever more popular. Artistic and cultural vision within Guernsey is encouraging this.

Students use technical skills, specialist vocabulary, and work independently to gain understanding of artists’ work from different cultures.  They review and modify their own work.

A few examples of scheme of work include:

• Portraiture
• Culture
• Still Life
• Sculpture
• Photography
• Painting techniques
• Mixed Media
• Personal and meaningful projects
• GCSE introduction
• Independent homework opportunities to deepen thinking and encourage wider reading

Lower Five & Upper Five (Year 10 & Year 11)

The Art and Design Department actively encourages students to develop a personal identity through their work and this is successfully demonstrated in the diversity of work presented in the annual GCSE exhibition.

Students present adventurous and exciting outcomes but also work within sketchbooks and work journals.  These encapsulate the whole spirit of the examination requirements. The work on display is ambitious and, to quote the exam moderator, “skill levels are high; work journals are first class; and 3D work is a joy to moderate, with fine designs and innovation and excellent media control”. The department takes great delight in helping candidates achieve their full potential.

The GCSE in Art and Design is designed to be a general course, encompassing art, craft and design and to enable students to explore a range of 2 or 3 dimensional approaches to their studies, either as freestanding or related experiences.

Work produced for this qualification will demonstrate the use of formal elements and creative skills, and give form to thinking, feeling, observation, design and ideas. Students will show evidence of trying to extend their own and others’ ways of seeing the world. Students will use the language of the discipline sensitively and thoughtfully to support their intentions.

The disciplines detailed within the endorsements associated with the GCSE in Art and Design are: painting and drawing; printmaking; sculpture; alternative media; scenography; architectural, environmental and interior design; jewellery; product design; ceramic design; constructed textiles; dyed textiles; printed textiles; fine art textiles; fashion textiles; film-based photography; digital photography; moving image; photography genres; advertising; illustration; packaging; typography; interactive media.

We currently offer the ‘Fine Art’ endorsement.

Fine art may be defined as work which is produced as an outcome of students’ personal experiences, rather than that which is created exclusively for a practical function or that which is the outcome of a tightly prescribed brief.

In the context of this specification, disciplines will include painting and drawing, printmaking, sculpture and alternative media.

Lower Sixth & Upper Sixth (Year 12 & Year 13)

The Art and Design Department actively encourages students to develop a personal identity through their work and this is successfully demonstrated in the diversity of work presented in the annual A Level exhibition.

Students present adventurous and exciting outcomes but also work within sketchbooks and work journals.  These encapsulate the whole spirit of the examination requirements. The work on display is ambitious and, to quote the exam moderator, “candidates produce highly proficient and skilful outcomes with excellent connections to sources. Skill levels are very high; work journals are first class; with fine designs and innovation and excellent media control”. The department takes great delight in helping candidates achieve their full potential.

The A Level consists of 3 units.

Unit 1: Personal Creative Enquiry – 40%

An extended, exploratory project/portfolio and outcome/s based on themes and subject matter which are personal and meaningful to the learner. The Enquiry must integrate critical, practical and theoretical work.

The critical, practical and theoretical work will be assessed holistically, using the assessment objectives. Learners will be required to select, evaluate and present their work for assessment. The Personal Creative Enquiry will be determined by the learner and teacher, assessed by the teacher and externally moderated.

Unit 2: Personal Investigation – 36%

Consists of two integrated constituent parts:

1. a major in-depth critical, practical and theoretical investigative project/portfolio and outcome/s based on themes and subject matter that have personal significance.
2. An extended written element of 1000 words minimum, which may contain images and texts and must clearly relate to practical and theoretical work using an appropriate working vocabulary and specialist terminology. Both the practical/theoretical work and the written element will be assessed together using the assessment objectives. Learners will be required to select, evaluate and present their work for assessment

Unit 3: Externally Set Assignment – 24%

Consists of two parts:

1. Preparatory study period he externally set assignment materials are to be released to learners from 1 February (in the second year of the course) and will consist of a series of visual and written stimuli, which are to be presented to the learner at the start of the preparatory study period. One of the stimuli is to be selected by the learner and used as a starting point from which to elicit a personal response. Responses are developed during the preparatory study period. They should take the form of critical, practical and theoretical preparatory work/supporting studies which inform the resolution of ideas in the 15 hours sustained focus study.
2. 15-hour period of sustained focus work. The resolution of learners’ ideas from the preparatory work must be completed during the designated 15 hours and they must show how their planning relates to the outcome/s. The period of sustained focus work must be completed under supervised conditions. Both the preparatory work and sustained focus work will be assessed together, using the assessment objectives. Learners will be required to select, evaluate and present their work for assessment. The Externally Set Assignment will be set by WJEC, assessed by the teacher and externally moderated.

COURSE PATHWAY

A Level Art and Design is suitable for:

• This course is essential if you wish to study wide range of Art and Design courses at a higher level.
• Students who wish to follow a career for which an art background is relevant, e.g. Advertising, Publishing, Media, Architecture, Fashion, Design, Illustration, Graphics, Photography, Fine Art, Theatre or Art Gallery work, design related degrees.
• Those who may not wish to study an Art and Design related degree further, but practical elements would be beneficial.

The Ladies’ College currently offers the ‘Fine Art’ and ‘Photography’ endorsements.

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