Photo showing a piece of artwork created by a Leigh Academy student.
Some Leigh Academy students are shown observing the artwork during a trip to Courtauld Gallery in London.
A student can be seen focusing on some artwork he is creating in class.
Photo of a wall displaying several pieces of artwork created by students at The Leigh Academy.
Two girls from Post-16 are pictured drawing on canvases during an Art lesson.
Photo of a wall displaying several pieces of artwork created by students at The Leigh Academy.

KS3: Art

Intent

Our programmes of study at KS3 follow the format  and assessment of MYIP and are   matched to the expectations of the National Curriculum. In lessons a range of skills both practical and analytical   arec delivered. Students will learn high level observational skills , drawing, painting and photography and develop  digital competence and an understanding of the principles of design .Alongside their practical work they will explore the work of others artists , designers and photographers  demonstrating understanding of the processes and ideas that underpin their work. Thus giving all students the understanding of the framework for KS4 and 5 Fine art ,Graphics and photography courses.

The key objectives of MYP are the development of ideas through exploration and experimentation, to develop competency and confidence in a range of practical skills and to see their own art based work in context with the work of others . Our knowledge organisers outline each lesson with supporting materials and key vocabulary.

Implementation

At Key Stage 3 all work is assessment led . We match levels of knowledge and understanding and skills and concept and analysis  to both the MYIP assessment and the national curriculum framework . Students are given a broad base of skill and knowledge that will enable them to develop their own ideas creatively in visual form.  Skills are taught ,  practised [ revisited] and by the end of key stage three  we hope that all students will have a good grounding in the visual arts   and be able to develop ideas ,make sophisticated outcomes, review and improve and see their work in the broader context of  Art and Design.

Impact

Students are therefore  ready for the rigours of GCSE and will be able see the patterns of learning in the  programmes of learning. The  strengths of this mode of teaching is that our students  develop confidence in a range of processes with different media and learn how to apply what they have learnt to an important idea. Art is then seen and used as  a communication tool and the work generated as important . We are very proud of the achievements of  our students and their resilience and ability to take risks with their work and ideas . We are aiming to encourage creativity and give the students the tools they need to be effective visual communicators.

We adopt the I can do approach so when students are assessed it is the following format. I can…

  • Criterion A: Knowing and understanding (INVESTIGATION)
    Explore and analyse the technique and layout of other artists  and designers work.
  • Criterion B: DEVELOPING ideas  Creative thinking
    Resolve my work exploring ideas to create a finished piece.
  • Criterion C: CREATING  ART Application of skills that explore ideas
    Develop a range of skills experiment.
  • Criterion D: EVALUATION REVIEW
    A personal response or other artist’s response.

Students are assessed  on the four MYIP criteria will be  addressed by the end of the year  holistically , in the form of a portfolio. Throughout the year different assessment criteria will be the focus for learning,  these are formally reviewed  and  reported on twice a year (Modules 3 and 6). A final grade will be provided at the end of the year (Module 6).

In year 7, the curriculum has been designed to build and develop the skill base and visual vocabulary  that will enable students to plan and develop their own responses effectively . We have one overarching theme for the year :  Family in which we explore  mark making  and drawing, Colour families[harmony and complementary colours and their effect] Layout and composition, Symbolism . Students will develop their knowledge of the working practices of other artists to enrich and enhance their own work . They will look at content, process and meaning. Students will review and reflect on their work and will have the opportunity to revisit for improvement.

Schedule of learning

  • Module 1: Mark making and control of media, recording from observation and an introduction to the work of other artists (research and analysis)
  • Module 2: Analysis of Picasso’s tragedy (research and analysis) and introduction to new media (mark making/paint)
  • Module 3: Development of ideas and application of skills in symbolic or representative still life piece
  • Module 4: Cup family piece resolved. Test piece
  • Module 5: In depth analysis of Picasso’s ‘Family of Saltimbanques’ test piece
  • Module 6: Introduction to colour theory and effects

In year 8, the curriculum has been designed to continue to build and develop skills learnt in year 7 as well as explore new skills. We have one overarching theme for the year: Pollution in the Ocean.  Students will develop their knowledge to convey key messages, communicating through visual means. They will look at graphic design and how this can engage the viewer, creating impact and thought provoking ideas to address global issues in their work.

Schedule of learning

  • Module 1: Exploration of issues and visual communication. Developing concepts that underpin art and how art can effect change. Shell drawing and photography in the style of Edward Weston, Sue Webster and Tim Nolan.
  • Module 2: Make cut-outs from shell drawing and SOS lettering. Arrange photos and drawings behind cut out to complete.  Exploring the work of Chinese paper cutting and Rob Ryan. 
  • Module 3: Matisse inspired cut outs and analysis of work.  Investigate billboard advertising and construct a mock bill board with cut out. 
  • Module 4: Lino print working from shell drawing, repeating pattern.  Assessment: Interim review and modification. What makes a successful print?
  • Module 5: Glass of water painting that explores light and refraction using paint techniques from Year 7. 
  • Module 6: Poster in grunge style influenced by David Carson and Paula Scher Final review and artist’s statement.

In year 9, students have the opportunity to select art as part of their year 9 programme of learning. We continue to follow the MYIP format and as with year 7 and 8 we have one them that will allow students to more fully explore the 3 arts base options we offer at GCSE .

Students will continue to develop their drawing and painting skills and also develop their digital skills in a Graphic design brief as well as learn more of the principles of Photography. The theme for year 9 is Savage . We aim to explore aesthetics in terms of    ‘what is beautiful?, across culture and place and dispel the myth of primitivism in Art , thus addressing wider issues of race , perception and viewpoint.

Additional Resources

KS4: GCSE Fine Art

Contact: rachel.blackledge@leighacademy.org.uk (Year 10) and christine.britton@leighacademy.org.uk (Year 11)

There are three options that students can choose from  offered by the Art Department: Fine Art, Photography and Graphic Communications.  This is a two year course with students having 3 lessons per week .

Each has the same assessment criteria  and for students to be  successful  all of the assessment areas must be addressed equally.  Students need to be able to develop ideas.  Through a range of experiments that develop skill (recording), reviewing and refining work as it progresses  and need to be able to analyse the work of other Artists, Photographers and Designers in such a way that they show understanding of the ideas and processes that underpin the work and  be able to  make links with their own.  Students are assessed regularly and targets for improvement given.

At the end of the two year course students are formally assessed on their coursework 60% of the total grade and an externally set assignment 40% of the total mark. As the confidence and skills base grows students will produce increasingly sophisticated responses. The learning Journey is recorded in the students’  sketchbook which documents the evidence of progress and understanding and will have a range of experimental pieces and analytical research of other practitioners to support the students’ own developments .

Students will have a separate sketchbook for the externally set assessment.  There will be an external moderator who will visit the school as part of the final assessment of students.

This course will build on the skills and knowledge base developed in key stage three and students will be encouraged to develop their ideas into surprising and polished responses. Outcomes could be in the form of Painting, Drawing, Batik, 3D or Photography .  Valuable and relevant research and analysis is key to understanding the working practices of other artists and  is therefore  an important aspect of the course. To make  this understanding stronger we aim to make Gallery Visits during the course for students to have first hand experience The intent of the  programme of learning is to ensure that all  students  develop knowledge and master  a range of  skills. Students are taught to build and develop  both practical and analytical skills in order that they can communicate their ideas effectively and creatively through visual means. 

The theme set for the year is ‘ A  matter of life and death’ , where students will explore important issues and look at the work of artists across time , place and culture. We are therefore also developing problem solving skills ,empathy, lateral thinking, risk taking and  of course creativity.  In this way we hope that we can broaden horizons and encourage them to step beyond familiar cultural boundaries and develop new ways of seeing their  world.  In essence we aim to demystify the arts and  allow our students to see themselves as artist with a voice and ability to communicate their  personal responses in a personal portfolio (Unit 1).

This course should enable students to:

  • Develop their ability to communicate their ideas  with confidence and coherently both visually and analytically 
  • Express ideas effectively 
  • Develop ideas and plans and make valuable and relevant research 
  • Develop their practical skills and control of a range of media 
  • Develop a broad knowledge base of the work of other artists and be able to articulate their own ideas in response to the work of others
  • Review and refine their work as it progresses and identify specific areas for improvement 
  • Make links with their own work and that of others – see their own work in Context with the visual arts world
  • Create a body of work (portfolio) that evidences learning and progress

Students will be  guided to be able  to:

  • Plan and develop ideas around the concepts explored by the theme
  • Develop their practical skill base in drawing, painting, photography and their understanding of organisation, the use of tone, colour and texture. 
  • Use symbolism as a tool to communicate.
  • Evoke ideas, feelings and or mood by the selection of source materials, colours, tones, layout, texture.
  • Make in depth analysis which shows understanding of influence, ideas, process and context.

By the end of the first year of this course students have good grounding of how to render form and space, how ideas can be developed in a range of ways and how they can express their ideas.

Assessment information

Students will complete a one day (5 hour) examination/ mock at the end of year 10.  In year 11  the externally set assessment is 10 Hours.

The following assessment areas will be addressed.

  • AO1: Develop ideas  from primary and contextual sources 
  • AO2: Refines ideas through experimentation
  • AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights through visual means 
  • AO4: Present a personal response and make connections with the work of other practitioners 

Exam Board Information

GCSE Edexcel Art and Design: Fine Art (2 FA01)

Additional Resources: 

To be found on Google classroom.  The code is s2mmviz.

The course in year 11 is divided into 2 sections : Coursework [ Personal Portfolio] Unit 1 and Externally set assignment exam unit 2 . Students will work on a new theme in year 11 based on the poem by TS Eliot: The Love song of J Alfred Prufrock. Students will explore the themes and images in the poem visually and will create a range of outcomes, both 2d and 3d painting, print based, photographic and sculptural.

Students will build on and extend their skill base revisiting observation drawing and painting, photographic, print and 3d pieces. We will be making an off site visit  to Whitstable to develop resources for the work. Students will be working on location

The teaching of coursework will end in January when the externally set exam paper is issued. This is a taught exam and students will be guided with workshops and a customised exam paper in order to develop ideas and responses in preparation for the timed test in April or May. Students will have 10 hrs to complete their timed test . They will need to present all supporting material in their sketchbook at the end of the examination. Students are thoroughly supported throughout this process with additional  developmental days  available in the Easter Holiday .

Moderation of all work both the timed test and the exam work will take place at the end of June. It is expected that students will complete any outstanding pieces of coursework in the time between the end of the exam and the external moderation date.

To facilitate student progress teachers  will guide students through the ideas and as with year 11 the assessment areas do not change so students will be required to have good evidence of planning and the development of ideas, an experimental approach  evidence of review and refinement  and final evaluation as well  as demonstrating a confident approach to the use of a range of  techniques and processes applied with care to create high quality photographic and analytical  responses.

There will be a one day (5 hours) examination/ mock in November or early December of year 11.  Students will be asked to, plan, practice and prepare for the exam. The following assessment areas will be addressed . This will give the students a good insight into the format of the externally set assignment.

  • AO1 : Develop ideas  from primary and contextual sources 
  • AO2: Refines ideas through experimentation
  • AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights through visual means 
  • AO4: Present a personal response and make connections with the work of other practitioners.

Exam Board Information

GCSE Edexcel Art and Design: Fine Art (2 FA01)

Additional Resources: 

To be found on Google classroom.  The codes are gaovwx3 and tv3pvo4.

KS5: A Level Fine Art

Contact: christine.britton@leighacademy.org.uk

There are three options that students can choose from  offered by the Art Dept. Fine Art, Photography and Graphic Communications.  This is a two year course with students having 4 lessons per week.  Each has the same assessment criteria  and for students to be  successful all of the assessment areas must be addressed equally.

The same assessment areas apply for A level as with GCSE. The expectation and the levels of achievement are higher.  Students therefore need to be able to develop ideas demonstrating higher level thinking  

Through a broad range of experiments that develop skills to a high level (recording) reviewing and refining work as it progresses and need to be able to  make in depth  analysis the work of other Artists, Photographers and Designers in such a way that they show  thorough understanding of the ideas and processes that underpin the work and be able to make good personal commentary about the work of other practitioners  that link with their own .

In all the Arts based A levels students will be required to make an  3000 word essay that explores the work of other Artists, Photographers or Designers who have explored ideas and made work that connects to the students own investigations. This will be completed In year 13  when students will be working on a self directed  pathway of learning which is facilitated by staff. Each student in year 13 will therefore be working on an individual theme.

Students are assessed regularly and targets for improvement given.  

At the end of the two year course students are formally assessed on their coursework component which is made up of practical responses and the personal study essay 60% of the total grade and an externally set assignment 40% of the total work. 

As the confidence and skills base grows students will produce increasingly sophisticated responses and by year 13 it is expected that a truly personal approach will be seen in the work of every student.. The learning Journey is recorded in the students’ sketchbook which documents the evidence of progress and understanding and will have a range of experimental pieces and analytical research of other practitioners to support the students’ own developments.

Students will have a separate sketchbook for the externally set assignment.

There will be an external moderator who will visit the school as part of the final assessment of students’ work.  Students will mount and present their work in an exhibition for the moderator to see.

In the  first year of the A level Fine art course is designed to develop  a wider range of skills in drawing and painting with the focus of good observation . Students will learn and or revisit the use of colour and mark making as an evocative tool as well as to render three dimensions. Photography  recording is used extensively to help develop responses alongside   all the practical experiments that are designed to generate ideas  students will learn how to make in depth analysis of the  work of other practitioners  that demonstrates a real understanding of the working practices of others and will help to enrich the students’ own responses. The course for Yr 12 is  very structured, with a lot of teacher input and a group focii.

The theme  for year 12 is Relationships. Students will explore emotional as well as physical relationships , for example the relationship between the vertical and the horizontal as seen in the work of Mondrian and interaction seen in composition as a tool to create relationships. They will look at colour and form and be introduced to  new media: oil , acrylic , watercolour etc. The aim is that by the end of year 12 students are confident in the handling of a range of media and are proficient in their use of the media . They will learn to plan and develop responses  to the theme and make analysis rather than description , when exploring the work of others . By the end of the first year we aim that knowledge has become understanding. 

This course should enable students to:

  • Develop their ability to communicate their ideas  with confidence and coherently  both visually and analytically  demonstrating high level thinking skills 
  • Express ideas effectively in a range of media 
  • Develop strong ideas and plans and make in depth  valuable and relevant research 
  • Develop their practical skills to a high level and control of a range of media 
  • Develop a broad  knowledge base of the work of other practitioners and be able to articulate their own ideas , construct coherent arguments and develop conclusions in response to the work of others.
  • Review and refine their work as it progresses and identify  specific areas for improvement 
  • Make connections  with their own work and that of others [ see their own work in Context with  the visual arts world] and use their growing knowledge to enrich and enhance their own .
  • Create a large body of work [ portfolio] that evidences learning and progress.

Students will be  guided to be able  to:

  • Plan and develop ideas around the concepts explored by the  theme
  • Develop their practical skill base with a range of media and process exploring the formal elements of Art and design with the focus on observation and the rending of form, depth and space  
  • Layout and the effect of colour and typography on an audience. 
  • Explore the idea that visual imagery: colour, mark, composition and layout  can be used to evoke/ express mood and feeling.
  • Make in depth analysis  which shows understanding of influence, ideas, process and context and form coherent personal arguments.

By the end of the first year of this course students will have had the experience of  a range of media and process and will have been introduced to the work of others through research visits to the National Gallery and Tate Modern.  They should be able to develop ideas in a range of ways to express their ideas.

Assessment Information

Students will complete a two-day [10 hours] examination/ mock at the end of year 12.  In year 13 the externally set assignment is 15 Hours.  Students will be assessed on the following assessment areas.

  • AO1: Develop ideas  from primary and contextual sources 
  • AO2: Refines ideas through experimentation
  • AO3: Record ideas , observations  and insights through visual means 
  • AO4: Present a personal response and make connections with the work of other practitioners.

Each assessment area has the same weighting.

Exam Board Information

A Level Art and Design: Fine Art

Additional Resources

To be found on Google classroom, the code is 6msepxb.

The Focus for the development of work in year 13 shifts from the teacher to the student. All students will develop their own pathway of learning. They will  develop a theme and explore the ideas that connect to it and make analysis of the work of other practitioners whose work has a connection to the theme. They will make a series of pieces (portfolio) in response to their own theme applying all the skills  and knowledge that have developed in the first year of their course.  The teacher will guide and suggest different directions for the students to follow.  Alongside their practical responses and the accompanying research students will begin their personal study Essay. It is expected that this will be a critical essay that explores the ideas  and meaning, working practices and processes and context of the  Artists they are investigating. This personal study is assessed separately. It is important and can have a significant effect on the final grade.

The personal study is assessed on the students ability to:

  • Develop ideas
  • Explore the work of other practitioners content context, mood process influence
  • Record own responses and make constructive arguments 
  • Present a conclusion or personal response. 

 The personal study is weighted as 12% of the total mark. 

The  practical coursework focus will finish in January when the externally set assignment (component 2) is issued by the exam board. The focus for students will then be their response to the given theme.  This is a taught exam and therefore students will be guided with  a customised exam paper and workshops in order that they develop ideas and their best response.  Students will have a separate exam sketchbook for the exam.

Students will be  guided to be able  to:

  • Plan and develop ideas around the concepts explored by the  theme
  • Develop their practical skill base with a range of media and process exploring the formal elements of Art and design with the focus on observation and the rending of form, depth and space  
  • Layout and the effect of colour and typography on an audience. 
  • Explore the idea that visual imagery: colour, mark, composition and layout  can be used to evoke/ express mood and feeling.
  • Make in depth analysis  which shows understanding of influence, ideas, process and context and form coherent personal arguments.

By the end of the first year of this course students will have had the experience of  a range of media and process and will have been introduced to the work of others through research visits to the National Gallery and Tate Modern.  They should be able to develop ideas in a range of ways to express their ideas.

Assessment Information

Students will complete a two-day [10 hours] examination/ mock at the end of year 12.  In year 13 the externally set assignment is 15 Hours.  Students will be assessed on the following assessment areas.

  • AO1: Develop ideas  from primary and contextual sources 
  • AO2: Refines ideas through experimentation
  • AO3: Record ideas , observations  and insights through visual means 
  • AO4: Present a personal response and make connections with the work of other practitioners.

Each assessment area has the same weighting of 18 with a total mark of 72.  This is combined with the Personal Study mark 18 to give a total mark of 90.

There will be a mock examination in November/ December of year 13 where students will have the opportunity to experience the long examination time, develop the work for their theme and make an addition coursework piece for component 1.

Exam Board Information

A Level Art and Design: Fine Art

Additional Resources

To be found on Google classroom, the code is kyhdzsi.