Creative Arts
Fine Art
Course Outline:
Fine Art may be defined as work developed primarily to communicate aesthetic, intellectual or purely conceptual ideas and meaning, rather than to serve a practical or commercial function. For example, work could be the outcome of personal experiences, thoughts and feelings, or simply to observe and record people, places and things in new and unique ways. Fine-art work will demonstrate an understanding and application of formal elements and creative skills, including mark-making. Students will use visual communication sensitively and thoughtfully to document their artistic journey and fully support their intentions. Students will also understand that Fine Art practitioners may work to client commissions or undertake self-directed projects. They will need good communication skills in order to liaise with clients, and promote and exhibit their own work.
This is a broad course exploring practical and critical/contextual work through a range of 2D and/or 3D processes and new media and technologies.
This course provides students with a wide range of creative, exciting and stimulating opportunities to explore their interests in art and design in ways that are personally relevant and truly developmental in nature.
The course provides progression from Key Stage 3; providing a strong and appropriate foundation for further progression to art and design related courses such as GCE A level, BTEC and Creative and Media Diplomas and enhanced vocational and career pathways. The study of Art can help students develop transferable skills which they can take into any career or job, or specific careers such as advertising, marketing, design, architecture, publishing and the media.
In Year 10, students will learn how to research a theme, interpret and analyse artists' work, drawing and painting techniques and some printing techniques such as lino print and etching print. Students will deepen their understanding of art techniques. They will learn some 3D techniques and build upon existing printing techniques gained in KS3 such as silk screen printing. There will also be an emphasis on mixed media and how to combine learned techniques.
In Year 11, students will develop a personal theme leading up to the externally set exam. They will produce outcomes that play to their strengths, using techniques that they are confident with and that they enjoy.
Key attributes required to enjoy and/or succeed on this course:
In this course, you will cover the study of Fine Art and acquire the ability to investigate, analyse and experiment. You will also develop practical skills to express ideas and use visual language. This course will therefore enable you to develop skills which will be essential to you, whatever you go on to do afterwards. The other skills you can develop during this course will be skills in communication, information technology, improving own learning and performance, working with others and problem solving.
Qualification Gained: GCSE
Design Technology
Course Outline:
In Year 10, students will study a mixture of two of the available Design Technology endorsements in order to develop a broad base to allow them to respond creatively to any given brief. Half way through the year they will start their final project. The final piece will be completed under exam conditions to prepare them for the Y11 practical exam.
In Year 11, students will study one or more of the available Design and Technology endorsements. They will complete their final project and start their externally set assignment which will lead to a 10 hour practical exam.
Key attributes required to enjoy and/or succeed on this course:
Students are encouraged to be innovative, independent, creative and inspired in their working while having access to well-equipped workshops and specialist teaching staff.
What skills are needed to be good at Design and Technology:
Creative and experimental.
Good drawing and making skills.
Good literacy skills.
Independent thinkers.
Good at meeting deadlines.
Qualification Gained: GCSE
Design Technology students will choose between one of the units below:
3D Design
Course Outline:
The 3D Design unit provides students with the opportunity to creatively design and make functional and aesthetic products drawing upon intellectual, creative and practical skills. The unit is very experimental in nature; students will be taught how to record, explore, experiment, develop, and refine their ideas by using a variety of different media, materials, techniques, tools and equipment.
Students will experience how to use different sources to inspire the development of ideas relevant to 3D Design while considering historical, contemporary, cultural, social, environmental and creative factors. Students will explore, through a variety of short projects, different areas of 3D Design such as model making, constructing, surface treatment, assembling and modelling.
Workshops will enable students to further develop and acquire new skills using drawing materials, clay, wood, metal, plaster, plastic and found materials to produce outcomes that are relevant to their intentions and make use of different processes including the use of traditional and new technologies.
Textile Design
Course Outline:
The Textile Design unit provides students with the opportunity to creatively design and make products for woven, knitted, stitched, printed or decorative textiles that have a functional purpose. The unit is very experimental in nature; students will be taught how to record, explore, experiment, develop, and refine their ideas by using a variety of different media, materials, techniques, tools and equipment.
Students will experience how to use different sources to inspire the development of ideas relevant to Textile Design while considering cultural, social, historical, contemporary, environmental and creative factors. Students will explore, through a variety of short projects, different areas of Textile Design such as fashion design and illustration, costume design, constructed textiles, printed and dyed textiles, surface pattern, stitched and/or embellished textiles, soft furnishings and/or textiles for interiors and digital textiles.
Workshops will enable students to further develop and acquire new skills in weaving, felting, stitching, appliqué, construction methods and printing to produce outcomes that are relevant to their intentions and make use of different processes including the use of traditional and new technologies.
