Art Curriculum

Key Stage 3

Year 7

Students study three different subjects: Fine Art, Graphic Design and Photography. Learners study a variety of artists in depth, including the work of 19^th century post-impressionist painter Henri Rousseau. They then go on to relate his work to their own lives through areas such as conservation, deforestation and Tropical World, Roundhay. Students produce pieces of extended writing, learn about colour theory, composition, different drawing styles and software such as Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft.

Year 8

Students continue to develop their knowledge and competences in Fine Art, Graphic Design and Photography. Learners study a variety of artists in depth, such as South African portrait artist Lionel Smit in order to comprehend how art is used to communicate ideas in topics such as identity, commonality, racial diversity and the environment. Learners produce pieces of extended writing, learn about the mathematical proportions of a face, composition, using different creative materials and digital photography.

Year 9

Students strengthen their knowledge and competences in Fine Art, Graphic Design and Photography. Learners use art to study topics such as the cultural and ethnic diversity of Leeds and the importance of equality. Students will select and research appropriate artists to study in order to inform their learning journey, using a variety of both historic and contemporary artists. Again, learners will use a wide range of traditional and digital artistic techniques.

Key Stage 4

Year 10

Students produce pieces of extended writing and further develop their proficiency when using a variety of digital and traditional artistic techniques. Learners use the work of a variety of historic and contemporary artists to develop their own ideas, refine their work, record ideas and produce personal and meaningful outcomes.

Y11

Leaners complete their portfolio of work, before embarking upon their externally set assignment in the January of their final Key Stage 4 year.

Key Stage 5

Year 12

The Fine Art course involves learners embarking upon a personal investigation, deciding upon their own starting points to create innovative pieces of artwork, using traditional and digital media. The art that is produced could be used as a form of self-expression, inform an audience, provoke a reaction or potentially be for commercial purposes.

Year 13

The first term continues the themes from Year 12. Learners then embark upon their externally set assignment in the February of their final Key Stage 5 year.