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Ridgewood School

Ridgewood School

Art

The Art department are characterised by their creative and inspirational vision: ‘Colouring outside the lines.’

Through our Art Curriculum at Ridgewood School we allow our students to explore life through the eyes of the ever-changing world of Art and Design. This means exploring practitioners and the impact they have had on society through sustained investigations into spiritual, moral, social and cultural themes. Students are given opportunities to observe, communicate and interpret what they see, feel or think through a wide repertoire of taught and explorative practices. Creating powerful and sensitive responses to emotive themes.

Our Art Curriculum will give students the opportunity to:

  • Gain knowledge of great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.
  • Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design.
  • Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpting and other art, craft and design techniques.
  • Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences.

Please get in touch via the enquiry form on our Contact Us page. Should you have any further questions about our Art Curriculum, please contact Mr Houseman, Curriculum Lead.

KS3

Overview of topics:

The academic year is broken into three sections: Colour and Pattern; Line and Tone; Shape and Form.

Within each of these areas, sub-topics are explored and students discover various ways of working, acquire influences from the work of others and create observed drawings, all culminating in a personalised response.

Assessment:

Following an initial baseline test, assessment follows the whole school marking policy and the Creating Futures Cycle.

Skills taught and developed:

Throughout KS3, students’ technical ability is enhanced as well as contextual knowledge.

Formal elements of Art are explored and students are encouraged to investigate ideas and broad methods in working.

Home learning details and how parents can support their children:

Home learning is set approximately every two weeks and will be a piece of work set to support the theme.

Parents can help by taking time to discuss home learning with students.

KS4

GCSE Art, Craft and Design (AQA)

In Year 10, students undertake an introductory set of lessons exploring basic elements of art and design, which are then developed into a personalised coursework project based on a given starting point.

A broad spectrum of investigation is covered in Year 10 which makes up the portfolio element of the GCSE.

The students' portfolios are enhanced in Year 11 with a more focussed portfolio project, before students prepare for and sit their official examination starting in January of Year 11.

Coursework should generally be finalised by January to accommodate preparation for the examination.  A student's coursework portfolio accounts for 60% of their overall mark.

Students will be required to purchase their own sketchbook to work in. An A3 spiral bound book, paper weight 150gsm, would be ideal. Another recommended purchase is The Art Book (Phaidon Press Limited, ISBN 978 0 7148 6796 0, approx. £7.99).

Assessment:

Students receive personalised feedback every lesson. Work is assessed formally following the Creating Futures cycle and utilises internal standardisation.

Students sit a 10 hour examination in Year 11 (over two days) which is marked internally by all Art Department staff alongside their portfolio of coursework. Following the submission of marks to the exam board, a select few will be chosen by the visiting moderator for viewing and verification of marks.

The Year 11 examination preparation starts in January with the actual examination usually falling in late March. This accounts for 40% of a student’s overall mark.

Results are issued in August.

Home learning details and how parents can support their children:

Depending on the stage of each coursework project, students’ home learning may take on a variety of guises; students may be required to create observed drawings and/or photography, research elements, create pages documenting the work of practices and practitioners or be self-guided to develop each individual’s own work.

Useful web links: