Art and design

The study of art, craft and design allows some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.

Art and design at Bedlington Academy, leads students on a creative journey though self-expression whilst developing a wealth of knowledge in core skills. Drawing underpins all creative outcomes, with painting, mixed media, printmaking, 3D modelling, collage and ceramics, experienced by students and developed into outcomes throughout key stages three and four.

We encourage our students to explore visual, tactile and other sensory experiences to communicate ideas and meanings. They work with traditional and new media, developing confidence, competence and imagination. We pride ourselves on the variety of specialist resources and ideas from which to develop a wide variety of subject specialist skills. They learn to appreciate and value images and artefacts across times and cultures, and to understand the contexts in which they were made.

Students reflect critically on their own work and that of others, judging quality, value and meaning. They learn to think and act as artists, craftspeople and designers, working creatively, intelligently and independently. Using the formal elements of art and design, students articulate their thoughts and opinions about artwork from a range of artists, designers and practitioners, and the work of their own and peers with subject-specific terminology.

In key stage three, a wide variety of drawing, painting, mixed media, printmaking and sculpture allow pupils to explore and develop ideas and design processes whilst learning about divine proportion, pictorial space, colour theory and composition. A range of materials, techniques and processes are used including watercolour painting, paper mache and wire modelling, polystyrene printing, and ceramics.

In key stage four, students are invited to advance upon processes introduced at key stage 3 to develop their confidence and creativity. There is a range of specialist disciplines available at GCSE. We deliver art, craft and design to give students a wider choice of outcomes and specialisms. The specification delivered at Bedlington Academy is AQA art and design.

Curriculum information

Year 7

In year 7, you will develop your art making skills by learning about the Formal Elements of Art and Design and using a wide range of art making materials.

Throughout year 7, you will have the opportunity to draw, paint, collage, create 3D faces using clay, develop repeat patterns using poly printing techniques and produce paintings using impressionism techniques.

Topics taught

Introduction to the formal elements
Evaluating the work of other times and cultures
DRAWING - tone and texture
PAINTING & PRINTING - evaluating great artists
Mark Making - PRINTING

Year 8

In year 8, you will develop your art making skills further by learning about colour theory, and developing skills learned in year 7, through a wide range of art making materials.

You will draw, paint, collage, use clay and digital techniques to create work based on the following topics.

Topics taught

Experimenting with Media - clay
Recording Observations - drawing
Evaluate the work of others - painting
Experimenting with media - drawing & painting

Year 9

In year 9, you will develop both your art making and idea generation skills further by applying your knowledge of current events and the world around you.

Building on skills and knowledge learned in years 7 and 8, you will use more experimental techniques including collage, pen, clay and digital techniques to create work based on the following topics.

Topics taught

Developing creativity: drawing and painting
Shape and Form - clay
Exploring media and materials - print
Refining art skills: printing & drawing

Year 10 & 11

There are three different pathways as part of this specialism.

Art

In year 10, you will begin studying towards a GCSE in Art, Craft and Design. On the AQA specification, you will be assessed by a portfolio of work (60% of overall grade) and an externally set task (40% of overall grade).

You will have the opportunity to develop your skills further exploring a wide range of media, materials and techniques including:

Drawing
Painting
Ceramics
Printmaking
Digital Image Manipulation
Photography

You will create a portfolio of artwork, and will be assessed across four assessment objectives:

AO1: Research into a artists, practitioners and designers

AO2: Exploration and use of media, materials, techniques and processes

AO3: Development and recording of ideas

AO4: Creative and personal outcome

Topics for major projects include

Natural Forms
Identity

Textiles

In year 10, you will begin studying towards a GCSE in Art, Craft and Design with a specialism in Textiles. On the AQA specification, you will be assessed by a portfolio of work (60% of overall grade) and an externally set task (40% of overall grade).

You will have the opportunity to develop your skills further exploring a wide range of media, materials and techniques including:

art textiles
constructed textiles
printed and dyed textiles
surface pattern
stitched and/or embellished textiles
soft furnishings and/or textiles for interiors
digital textiles

You will create a portfolio of artwork, and will be assessed across four assessment objectives:

AO1: Research into a artists, practitioners and designers

AO2: Exploration and use of media, materials, techniques and processes

AO3: Development and recording of ideas

AO4: Creative and personal outcome

Topics for major projects include

Birds
Insects
Skills

Within the context of textile design, you will demonstrate the ability to use textile design techniques and processes, appropriate to your personal intentions, for example:

weaving
felting
stitching
appliqué
construction methods
printing.

Use media and materials, as appropriate to your personal intentions, for example:

inks
yarns
threads
fibres
fabrics
textile materials
digital imagery.

Photography

In year 10, you will begin studying towards a GCSE in Photography. On the AQA specification, you will be assessed by a portfolio of work (60% of overall grade) and an externally set task (40% of overall grade).

You will have the opportunity to develop your skills further exploring a wide range of media, materials and techniques including:

portraiture
location photography
studio photography
experimental imagery
installation
documentary photography
photo-journalism
moving image: film, video and animation
fashion photography.

You will create a portfolio of artwork, and will be assessed across four assessment objectives:

AO1: Research into a artists, practitioners and designers

AO2: Exploration and use of media, materials, techniques and processes

AO3: Development and recording of ideas

AO4: Creative and personal outcome

Topics for major projects include

The Formal Elements (introductory skills and techniques based project)
Close Up's
'I am...'

Within the context of photography, you will have the opportunity to develop and use photographic techniques and processes, appropriate to your personal intentions, for example:

lighting
viewpoint
aperture
depth of field
shutter speed and movement
use of enlarger
chemical and/or digital processes

use media and materials, as appropriate to your personal intentions, for example:

film
photographic papers
chemicals appropriate to darkroom practices
digital media, programs and related technologies
graphic media for purposes such as storyboarding, planning and constructing shoots.

I like how we get to try out and use different materials - art lets you be creative.

Year 9 student

Art lets your imagination out!

Year 8 student