Art & Photography

AQA

AQA certificates from Entry Level to Level 1. These qualifications allow our students to access learning at all levels. Short, tailored projects are set acknowledging our students’ interests and needs.

Intent

To develop students’ knowledge and skills, and provide the opportunity to experiment with a range of different artistic techniques and media, in order to foster independent work and to help students develop a sense of pride and ownership over their artwork whilst providing learners with the opportunity for personal development.

To provide a foundation for moving on to higher levels in art and design. 

Implementation

Students will be guided through short projects that will enable them to experiment with a wide variety of different techniques and media, including printmaking and 3D. Students will be taught how to evaluate their own work in order to improve and refine it. They will be guided through ‘how to research visual artists’, with a view to enabling them to move towards more independent research.

Alongside their practical work, students will draw inspiration from professional artists during first hand gallery visits.

Impact

By the end of the year students would have completed a variety of projects allowing them to create personal outcomes that reflect their interests and abilities. For those who want to take the subject further they can progress through the levels and eventually move on to GCSE.

NCFE Entry Level 1,2,3 and Level 1

These qualifications are designed for learners who wish to explore Art and Design concepts and materials.

Intent

To develop students’ knowledge and skills, and provide the opportunity to experiment with a range of different artistic techniques and media, in order to foster independent work and to help students develop a sense of pride and ownership over their artwork whilst providing learners with the opportunity for personal development.

Implementation

Students will be guided through tasks which will develop their understanding of how to use raw materials, tools and equipment safely and competently. They will also learn how to research and experiment with techniques, materials and tools to develop ideas for experimental pieces and the progression of these ideas will culminate in final outcomes. Students will be taught how to evaluate their own work in order to improve and refine it. They will be guided through ‘how to research visual artists’, with a view to enabling them to move towards more independent research.

Alongside their practical work, students will draw inspiration from professional artists during first hand gallery visits.

Impact

By the end of the course, students will have produced a portfolio showing experimentation and development of different techniques and media. Students will have gained experience in research techniques and will have started analysing their own work and the work of others. For those who want to take the subject further they can progress through the levels and eventually move on to GCSE.

AQA UAS UNITS

AQA certificates from Entry Level to Level 1. These qualifications allow our students to access learning at all levels. Short tailored projects are set acknowledging our students’ interests and needs.

Intent

To introduce students to a range of technical skills such as lens and camera functions, composition and digital post production techniques used to edit and manipulate images and to help students develop a sense of pride and ownership over their artwork whilst providing learners with the opportunity for personal development.

Implementation

Students will be guided to develop their knowledge of basic camera functions, starting on auto mode and progressing to part manual. They will explore the formal elements used in photography, experiment with camera settings and composition techniques to gain an understanding of how to use them effectively in their work. 

Alongside their practical work, students will draw inspiration from professional photographers and artists during first hand gallery visits.

Impact

By the end of the year students would have completed a variety of short projects showcasing their technical and creative skills, whilst reflecting their interests and abilities. For those who want to take the subject further they can progress through the levels and eventually move on to GCSE.

The qualification is aimed at learners wishing to develop an understanding of basic photographic processes and will also allow learners to understand how to manipulate images.

Intent

To introduce students to a range of technical skills such as lens and camera functions, composition and digital post production techniques used to edit and manipulate images and to help students develop a sense of pride and ownership over their artwork whilst providing learners with the opportunity for personal development.

Implementation

Students will be guided to develop their knowledge of basic camera functions, starting on auto mode and progressing to part manual. They will explore the formal elements used in photography, experiment with camera settings and composition techniques to gain an understanding of how to use them effectively in their work.  

Alongside their practical work, students will draw inspiration from professional photographers and artists during first hand gallery visits.

Impact

At the end of the course students will have produced a portfolio that showcases their technical and creative skills. For those who want to take the subject further they can progress to GCSE.

Intent

At the beginning of the course, the students will be introduced to a range of technical skills such as lens and camera functions, composition and digital post production techniques used to edit and manipulate images. As well as learning photographic skills, students will develop research skills, enabling them to choose appropriate works or other sources as a starting point of their personal projects, which will be based on their own interests and influenced by the work of well-known photographers. Students’ responses to photographers’ work is developed through practical photographic work as well as written and visual research.

Implementation

Students will be guided to develop their knowledge of the camera functions, starting on auto mode and progressing to fully manual. They will experiment with camera settings, formal elements and composition techniques to gain an understanding of how to use them effectively in their work. They will also explore techniques used to create imagery without using a camera. Students will also develop research skills, enabling them to choose appropriate artworks or other sources as a starting point of their project. Additionally, students will cultivate research, analytical, and evaluative skills to interpret professional artworks and critically reflect on their own progress.
Alongside their practical work, students will draw inspiration from professional photographers and artists during first hand gallery visits.
To develop an individualised coursework portfolio for each student based on sustained theme and leading to a final piece or pieces, in order to fulfil the requirements for the 60% coursework and the 40% element of the GCSE specification.

Impact

By the end of the course, students will have produced a portfolio for the two GCSE components, which will show the coherent development over time based on specific themes, and which include, camera functions, exploring the visual elements, compositional techniques, cameraless photography and research; these elements will contribute towards a final piece for each component. Students will have the ability to evaluate and refine their work and to make independent and appropriate decisions about the direction of their project. Students will have developed their critical understanding of others’ artwork, so they can articulate how their final piece relates to their own research and experimentation. Students will be able to feel pride in their work and a sense of ownership over their own project, which will enable them to progress to further Art and Design qualifications.