Art and Design

Course Overview

National 4/5 Art & Design focuses on developing knowledge and understanding of artists and designers and their work, with practical learning experiences in both expressive and design contexts. The Course encourages learners to experiment with using art and design materials to help them gain confidence in their own creative practice and enhance their enjoyment of the arts. 

Expressive

This area of work helps learners to develop an understanding of the factors that influence and inspire artists’ work. They will also consider how artists use art materials, techniques and/or technology in their work. Learners will research and develop their personal thoughts and ideas in 2D and/or 3D formats in response to given stimuli. They will produce observational drawings and studies and develop these expressive ideas and compositions, experimenting with and using art materials and techniques, leading to a final outcome. 

Design

This area of work helps learners to plan, research and develop creative design ideas in response to a design brief. Learners will develop their creativity and problem-solving skills as they consider the design opportunities, issues and constraints of the brief. They will develop their understanding of designers’ working practices and the factors that inspire and influence their work. They will experiment with, develop and refine their design ideas using a range of materials and techniques creating a final 3D outcome. 

Learning and Teaching Appraoches

Art & Design lessons are varied and will include many different approaches to learning and teaching such as group work, class discussions, homework, workshops, demonstrations, PowerPoint presentations, internet research and working individually. Learners in consultation with staff are actively involved in planning and identifying a design brief or deciding on the expressive area of study that they want to focus on. They will have the opportunity to experiment and try out similar working methods as the artists and designers they have chosen to study to help develop and enrich their work. 

Homework

Students should complete 1 hour of homework every week. This could take place during after school supported study. This might involve finishing off class work, researching the work of artists and designers or revising for assessments. Students are encouraged to take their folio of work home on a regular basis so that they can practise and improve on project work. 

Assessment Appraoches

Course assessment at National 4:

• Internally assessed with no external exam

Course assessment at National 5: 

• Course Assessment: Design Portfolio – 100 marks (40%) 

• Course Assessment: Expressive Portfolio – 100 marks (40%) 

• Question Paper: 50 marks (20%) 

Scaling will be used to achieve the weighting indicated above.