Year 7 Art and Design

Brief summary of the syllabus:

The course follows National Curriculum guidelines for Key Stage 3 Art and Design. It should be noted that while ‘Art and Design’ is the title of the subject, it should not be confused with ‘Design Technology’ which is a separate subject. The aim is to extend the pupils' knowledge, skills and understanding within the subject and thereby stimulate creativity and imagination. This is achieved through looking at the work of other artists, exploring materials and visual elements, developing their own ideas and evaluating and documenting their progress. In Year 7 pupils work on one project called 'Abstract Worlds'. Through this project pupils explore the way traditional decorative designs (particularly African textiles) and modern abstract paintings represent 'worlds' created out of a language of abstract visual elements. Pupils explore examples of such art from different periods and cultures, before creating their own.

What skills/attributes are being developed and examined?

Pupils will research and discuss Mbuti, Shoowa, Aboriginal and other indigenous art, as well as the work of abstract artists such as Paul Klee, Mark Rothko and Patrick Heron. They will develop their own mixed media compositions based on banding and geometric design, using combinations of automatic drawing, frottage, collage and painting to explore qualities of line, shape, tone, colour and pattern. As part of this process pupils will be introduced to colour theory and principles of composition. They will also be shown how to organise, evaluate and present project work.

What can parents expect to see in classwork generally and homework specifically?

All project work should be organised in an A4 presentation file. This should contain a variety of information including a project sheet giving general guidelines, mark sheet showing levels achieved and written feedback, a journal, research, notes, and of course practical work. We are also keen to see any personal work done at home, other than project work. This may include material gathered from gallery visits or any other cultural experiences. This material will show evidence of wider involvement in the subject, especially if the pupil is particularly interested in Art and is likely to continue the subject into GCSE, A level or beyond. Homework will usually involve continuing work that has been introduced in class, documentation of classwork, or personal art work. Sometimes a homework project may extend over a number of weeks.

What can parents do to help in this subject at this stage?

Parents can ensure that pupils come prepared to lessons with the recommended file and a good selection of basic equipment such a set of sketching pencils (HB to 6B) a 'push pencil', 30cm ruler, sharpener and eraser. They can also familiarise themselves with guidelines contained in the file and encourage pupils to apply themselves to their homework. In relation to the project theme, parents could raise their son's awareness of the kinds of art mentioned in the project sheet, and even visit museums or galleries to view related artefacts. Pupils could also be encouraged to visit appropriate web sites for research.

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Scheme and method of work:

In Year 7 pupils are timetabled to study 'Design'. This is the title given to the 'Design Circus' which consists of five blocks of approximately seven weeks. 'Art and Design' is taught within two of these blocks. 'Design Technology' is taught in the other three blocks. At any given time therefore, pupils study either Art and Design or Design Technology, and for four periods per week. The scheme of work is shown on the project sheet, which is given out at the start of the project and kept in the front of the pupil's file.

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Testing:

In Year 7 project work alone is used to indicate level of achievement. The assessment sheet contained in the pupil's file is used to give written feedback and five percentages, two in the first block and two in the second with a final overall percentage at the end of the second block. These are the equivalent of 'test marks' in other subjects.

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Revision:

In Art and Design there are no tests in the usual sense, so revision as such is not applicable. However, in order to achieve the highest level possible it is important to become familiar with the criteria shown on the project sheet and assessment sheet, check guidelines carefully and follow both group and individual feedback and action points as attentively as possible, so that work can be evaluated and improved. This is important at each stage of the project, but particularly towards the end, when the project should be reviewed as a whole, in terms of both content and presentation.

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Pupil Target-Setting:

Personal target setting should arise out of group and individual feedback given lesson by lesson. This should be noted in the journal section of the pupil's Art file. Action points will also be given by teachers through written feedback on assessment sheets and through profiles. Pupils should also note marks, targets and action points in the appropriate page of their homework diaries. It is important that these are used to improve work.

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Working towards Target National Curriculum Levels:

In the Autumn term, each pupil and his parents will be made aware of a target National Curriculum Level which he should be aiming to achieve by the end of the academic year. Progress towards this target will be reviewed at the end of each half-term and in the mid-year review of pupil progress, which is reported home in the Spring term. The criteria for each National Curriculum Level in Art & Design can be read here.

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