WHY ARE WE TEACHING A KNOWLEDGE-RICH CURRICULUM; HOW IS IT DIFFERENT?

Our art curriculum is designed around high-quality art that engages, inspires and challenges our pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment and create their own works of art. As our pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more vigorous understanding of art. 

WHY ARE WE TEACHING THIS CONTENT?

We want our pupils to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and to understand how art both reflects and shapes the visual world around us, and how art contributes to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.

WHY ARE WE TEACHING IT IN THIS ORDER?

Basic drawing is taught early on in Year 7 and is revisited throughout KS3 as are other key skills such as printing, painting and analysing key artists and movements. Projects are structured throughout KS3 in order to monitor and control the outcomes students achieve and ensure that they apply taught skills consistently as a cohort. The projects in KS3 allow more freedom in design and outcomes as students’ progress through the years. Structured projects will enable students to feel more confident when given more design freedoms in KS4 as they will have gained necessary basic skills to have more choice at KS4.

WHAT DO PUPILS NEED TO REMEMBER AND BE ABLE TO DO IN THIS SUBJECT?

Pupils need to be able to observe and record the world around them by using a range of processes and techniques such as, printing, painting and drawing. Students should be able to analyse works of art, artists and art movements. 

WHAT METHODS DO WE USE TO HELP PUPILS SECURE THIS KNOWLEDGE IN LONG-TERM MEMORY? 

Methods used are quizzing at the start of each lesson, with a mixture of more recent questions but always including questions from previous topics and previous years. We use and display key words used in art so that students become more familiar with subject specific terminology and learn how this terminology is present or can be used in their own work.

WHAT METHODS DO WE USE TO HELP PUPILS SECURE THIS KNOWLEDGE IN LONG-TERM MEMORY AND APPLY IT IN COMPLEX TASKS?

We draw comparisons and connections between current and previous units, so that pupils can find artistic themes that run throughout. These connections enable students to produce work and writing that reflects their knowledge and skills learnt in prior techniques and processes. We also revisit knowledge learnt in previous years in lessons and formal assessments.

To view the Art and Design Curriculum Overview click here.

More information on the Art and Design Department can be found here.