In Key Stage 3 students develop their knowledge, skills and understanding in a variety of media, materials and processes in line with the guidance from the National Curriculum.  Students learn about a range of contextual starting points – artists, cultures, places and inspiration.  Students learn how to analyse and synthesise information and images and develop their own creative ideas in response.  Students explore clay and ceramics, painting and drawing, sculpture and printmaking and develop a wide and broad range of skills as they progress through a wide range of exciting projects.  Students make visits to galleries and workshops and other places of cultural interest.  Students are assessed using sub levels of the GCSE Art and Design criteria which feeds into their learning if they choose to continue with Art and Design as a GCSE in Year 10 and 11.

In Key Stage 4 students begin their GCSE Art and Design curriculum.  We follow AQA Art, Craft and Design Specification which allows students to pursue a wide range of specialisms including textiles, photography, ceramics, mixed media and fine art.  The work that they begin in Year 10 is the Coursework Portfolio – they work on this throughout Year 10 and 11 and this involves projects set by staff that allows for personal development and experimentation as the work develops into an outcome.  Visits to galleries and workshops underpin the work completed in school and support the wider understanding and cultural capital.

At the end of Year 11 students’ work is displayed in an exhibition to celebrate the work created over the GCSE period.  Students who attend school regularly make good progress in Art and Design and some excellent results were achieved in 2023 with 58% of students gaining a 4 or higher in their GCSE result.