Art and Design

Examples of Art, Design, and Graphic Communication are all around us, enriching our lives and the environment we live in. Pupils at Thornhill Academy are given the opportunity to appreciate the work of a variety of artists, photographers, and designers. They are taught a wide range of media and drawing skills which they build upon project by project, gradually becoming more independent so they are prepared for the challenges of GCSE.

Key Stage 3

Our Key Stage 3 curriculum aims to engage, inspire, and challenge pupils in a rich and diverse range of Art and Design processes and practices. Pupils will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to purposefully experiment, develop, and create their own personalised artwork with increasing proficiency and resilience.

Pupils will enquire and think critically about Art and Design to inform their own ideas and thoughtful reflections. Pupils will develop an understanding and appreciation of how Art and Design both shapes and reflects our history, culture, and creativity.

In year 7, pupils learn essential drawing and painting skills to enable them to observe and record with increasing fluency. They build upon the foundations at KS2 to develop their knowledge and skilful use of formal elements such as colour, pattern, texture, and tone before combining all of these in an extended cultural project.

In year 8, pupils explore the Pop Art movement, its influences and how it influences art today. Through experimenting with media and analysing the work of others, pupils produce both 2D and 3D outcomes. Pupils develop their ability to respond imaginatively to the work of others in a creative landscapes project to round the year off.

In year 9, pupils explore meaning and messages in artwork through a Street Art project. Here pupils begin to express their own views and ideas with greater independence and conviction, while learning new printing and painting techniques. Pupils also revisit drawing skills through the theme of portraiture before developing their own personalised response to this theme

Key Stage 4

In Key Stage 4, pupils can opt for one of three GCSE specifications: Art & Design, Photography, or Graphic Communication. These are all two-year AQA courses and are based on 60 per cent coursework and 40 per cent externally set assignment. The coursework consists of students producing a portfolio of work which includes a minimum of two projects.

Pupils build upon their knowledge and experience to analyse and evaluate the work of others as a source of inspiration. They purposefully experiment and develop their ideas using a wide range of traditional and digital media, often combined together. Pupils work with increasing levels of independence to explore and steer their own ideas. They then use this development to lead them to a personalised final piece.

The externally set assignment preparation is completed in lesson time over a period of several weeks before students have an un-aided, ten-hour period of time to create their final piece.

Find out why art education is important from artists, young people and major cultural figures by clicking the link below.

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