Teaching Team: Miss Y. Bull - Leader of Art | E-Mail |
Subject Overview: From the caves of Altamira to Banksy; via Vermeer, Van Gogh, Andy Warhol and Tracey Emin, Cantell Art and Textiles Department offers the opportunity to engage with a really exciting range of art works and art processes. |
In September the Art Department celebrated their best ever results - including 100% A*-C in Fine Art (with 5 A*) and 100% A-C in Applied Art - with an art show that showcased the best of the students’ work . The Show was a great success, generating much positive feedback from those who attended, especially regarding the range and originality of the showcased work. The Exhibition remained in place for a further two days so that all our students, as well as visitors to the School’s Open Evening, could get to enjoy the stunning art works.
The Creative Arts Faculty is also celebrating news of the outstanding successes of some of our alumni: Milo Fitzpatrick: Jack Wyllie; Matt Hayward and Joe Newman are all pursuing successful careers in the music industry. Jack and Milo are in Portico Quartet who were previously nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and whose music featured in a recent BBC production called: ‘Welcome to India’. Joe’s band Alt-J are currently nominated for the Mercury Music prize. Matt is the drummer with the Band of Skulls who are also internationally renowned. All the boys were highly creative and high achieving Music and Art GCSE students at Cantell. We wish them well in all their future achievements.
Learning Experience:
Following changes to the National Curriculum, and in response to developments in Contemporary Art in general, which place greater emphasis on craft based processes, Art & Textiles are combined to form one highly creative Art Department. Projects are initially based around acquiring knowledge and understanding of the visual elements and a range of arts, crafts, and textiles processes.
Students are encouraged to expand their skills in the use of tools and techniques when studying art. They are taught to work in an evaluative, reflective way to develop their own abilities and responses. They will have increasing opportunities for self-directed work and will further their awareness of art and its place in contemporary society.
Students work on 3-5 projects over each year and are given a National Curriculum Attainment level based on National Curriculum assessment objectives which are linked to key concepts and processes: creativity; competence; cultural & critical understanding.
Homework:
All KS3 students will be issued with a homework booklet which has a range of assignments relevant to the topic they are working on. In line with the NC suggested activity for extension work, students are encouraged to be visiting art galleries – real or virtual – in their own time and producing art work in their own time, this is essential for attainment at a C or above at GCSE. ‘Art time’ is offered to students at break and lunch time.
The Art rooms also function as a safe haven and a calm place to be at break and lunch times. We offer an art club on Thursdays after school where students are encouraged to work independently and collaboratively in a variety of media and processes.
Year 7 Units: key stage 3
Students are introduced to the formal visual elements and the processes of secondary school art; including keeping an art folder that shows progression over the Key Stage. They will investigate the arts and crafts of other cultures, times and places. They will be introduced to a range of processes including applied art, and3-D processes. There is an emphasis on peer and self-assessment and on literacy skills.
Year 8 Units:
Students explore a range of processes including observational drawing; pen and ink drawing. Painting and further colour theory, batik, hand stitching techniques, printmaking; mask and shield making. Projects are linked to other artists. Students are taught to explore different ideas and information; show ideas and feelings in their work; develop their own ideas and show understanding of the work of other artists, designers, and craftspeople including the conventions of art, craft and textiles.
Year 9 Units:
Students begin with a project on still life in order to improve and enhance their skills in the field of observational drawing. Successful observational drawing is key to many art projects at both key stages; as well as being a useful transferable skill that has implications for a student’s self-esteem and motivation. Other art forms studied in year 9 include: Pop art, Manga and C19th Japanese Art; Graffiti, Street and Contemporary art; which will include consideration of issues such as: identity; the artist's place in society; the post industrial age, urban isolation. Students are taught to use pictures and information from a variety of social, historical and cultural areas. They are encouraged to be analytical and make clear links between their own work and that of other artists, designers, and craftspeople.
Visits:
In the past few years we have offered visits to galleries such as the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and Roche Court Sculpture Park; as well as to a tattoo studio for KS4 to learn about the Health and Safety aspects of the tattoo industry. In collaboration with the Modern Languages Department we run a very popular bi-annual residential visit to Paris for years 9 and 10.
Student Groupings:
Students are taught in mixed ability classes. Time Allocation: 2 lessons over 2 weeks
What do students study and how do they study?
A range of topics including natural forms; identity; food in art; letterforms; sculpture; each topic is based around independent research; looking extensively at the work of other artists, craftspeople and designers; experimenting with a range of materials and developing ideas, using a range of media and influences, that link final pieces of art work to the artists studied. Projects are initially teacher led then students are expected to pursue independent study and develop ideas, supported and guided by the teacher as needed.
What coursework is required?
Art & Design; Textiles: 2-3 projects in Year 10; extensive coursework review and refinement in Year 11; mock exam in year 11 serves as another project.
Marks are split 60% coursework; 40% controlled test; all students submit a portfolio of work that covers all 4 assessment objectives.
What examinations are there?
A mock exam in Year 10 and Year 11. Final examination in the Spring Term of Year 11.
What additional study is expected?
The expectation is that students work in the Department on their art projects; or engage in work aimed at increasing their knowledge and understanding of art and design, for at least 1.5 hours per week. The Art Department is open on Monday and Thursday evenings to facilitate this. Students can undertake this work at home if they prefer but should be bringing evidence of work produced to their teacher on a weekly basis. This commitment is essential if students wish to attain at a level 'C' or above. Students at risk of not attaining their target grade are expected to attend Thursdays from 2.45 – 4pm as a compulsory requirement of the course.
What can students do next?
A-levels in all aspects of Art & Design; further study at Colleges of Further Education.
What information is on the VLE?
Specific information regarding projects.
Useful publications.
Information regarding presentation of work.
Assessment scheme.
Useful galleries and websites.
