S2 Art & Design:
Reporting Window 2

Expressive Mini Unit – Clay Skills

·       Doors/Pizza Slice – Outcome dependant on class teacher.

During the clay mini unit, students learn foundational hand-building skills such as rolling and trimming for slab construction while exploring how to shape, join, and refine clay forms. They practice proper clay handling techniques, including smoothing and scoring, to create strong bonds and prevent cracking. Students also develop an understanding of texture, form, and craftsmanship as they experiment with tools and surface designs. Throughout the process, they learn the importance of patience, problem-solving, and care in both creating their artworks and cleaning up thereafter - gaining insight into the full cycle of working with clay from start to finish.

Design – Branding

·       Pizza Box Design: Interdisciplinary Project with H.E and P.E

During the pizza branding project, students learn key design skills by developing an original pizza brand logo and applying it to a custom pizza box. They explore the design process by brainstorming ideas, sketching concepts, and refining their work based on feedback. Students practice using elements of design such as colour, typography, imagery, and layout to create a clear and appealing brand identity. Through this project, they also build problem-solving skills as they consider target market, purpose, and visual impact while turning their ideas into a cohesive final product. The pizza boxes are then used to house the pizza’s made during Home Economics.

Additional Activities

Throughout the year, learners will participate in shorter Art & Design activities. For example; clay paint palettes, printmaking, seasonal projects, visiting artist workshops and art and design competitions. The visual elements will be discussed, written and visually explored throughout each activity.

Course Overview

Whilst allowing a minority of learners, at points throughout the year, to experience the challenge of Level 4, the majority of work covered in S2 Art and Design continues to be based around CfE Level 3 outcomes with the majority of learners working initially at Third C or above (Report 1). As a department we would hope to see this progress to Third B or above within the latter part of the year (Report 2).  Learners working below this level continue to be offered classroom support to ensure progression in learning.

Working Level and Working Grade descriptions for S2 Art & Design:

Fourth A to D: As with the below descriptors for grades A to D at Third Level, these gradings from A to D reflect excellent through to some progress, the only difference being that the learner is predominantly working at a higher level (CfE Level 4) as opposed to CfE Level 3. Art and Design is strongly recommended as an S3 subject.

Third A: Making excellent progress in Art & Design at CfE Level 3. Learners work well independently and confidently experiment with a range of media and technologies, handling them with excellent control and assurance to create images and objects. Learners consistently apply understanding of the properties of media and of techniques to specific tasks and demonstrate key skills required, showing excellent attention to detail and depth of understanding.  Projects are completed to an excellent standard. Learners are confident in analysing art and design techniques, making informed judgements and expressing their opinions on their own and others’ work confidently. Art and Design is strongly recommended as an S3 subject.

Third B: Making good progress in Art & Design at CfE level 3. Learners often work well independently and experiment with a range of media and technologies, handling them with good control and assurance to create images and objects. Learners apply good understanding of the properties of media and of techniques to specific tasks and demonstrate key skills required, showing good attention to detail and depth of understanding. Projects are completed to a good standard. Learners can analyse art and design techniques, make informed judgements and express opinions on their own and others’ work well. Art and Design is strongly recommended as an S3 subject.

Third C: Making reasonable progress in Art & Design but finds some aspects of the course challenging at CfE Level 3. Learner’s experiment and handle some media and technologies but can find them challenging to handle them to create images and objects. Learners apply some understanding of techniques to specific tasks and demonstrate some skills required, showing some attention to detail and depth of understanding. Projects are completed to a reasonable standard. Learners are making reasonable progress in analysing art and design techniques, making informed judgements, and expressing their opinions on their own and others’ work but can find often find it challenging. Art and Design with the right attitude and application, would be possible in S3.

Third D: Making some progress in Art & Design at CfE level 3 but finds many aspects of the course challenging. Learners can require support with experimenting and handles of materials and technologies to create images and objects. Learners apply basic understanding of techniques to specific tasks and demonstrate basic skills required, showing little attention to detail and depth of understanding. Projects are completed to a basic standard or can often be incomplete. Learners find analysing art and design techniques, making informed judgements and expressing their own opinions on their own and others’ work challenging. Art and Design as an S3 subject would be challenging.

Second A to D: While continuing to experience CfE Level 3/4 outcomes the majority of the work can be very challenging, and most tasks require further explanation and to be broken down into smaller, simplified versions in order to make progress and build confidence. Art and Design as an S3 subject would be challenging.

At this stage in the Art & Design curriculum, pupils on a pathway towards achieving SCQF Level 5 in S4 will be working at Third B or above. 

Further information, including an overview for all subject areas can be found here.