Head of Department: Mrs Joanna Bowden
Faculty Staff: Mr Simon Duffy Teacher of Art and Photography
Level of teaching: Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, Key Stage 5 at The New Sixth
Art at Saint Gregory’s seeks to give students a firm foundation in the key skills of Art and Design. A broad range of media is covered including drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture. The use of photography and digital media is also encouraged. Students learn about Art from different cultures and develop their knowledge of Art History within a variety of themed projects.
The aim is to be as creative as possible in order to produce work which is unique and personal, whilst still showing a connection to what they have learnt from others. Art can form a powerful tool for self-expression and students are encouraged to celebrate what is important to them in the work they create.
Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9)
This course is not studied at Key Stage 3.
Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Course: AQA 8206 Photography Lens based and light based media
Exam Board Specification: www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/gcse/art-and-design-4200/ subject-content/photography-lens-based-and-lightbased-media
Candidates are introduced to the subject through a variety of workshop-style studio sessions, using a mixture of traditional and modern photography practices. Students learn to use the dark room to develop their photographs as well as using Photoshop to edit photography created with digital cameras.
The course encourages candidates to develop their own work with reference to other photographers in our own and other cultures, within a historical perspective and responding to current ideas.
Gallery visits, contextual studies and suggested courses of independent study, including using the internet, help candidates in personal research for their sketchbooks and project outcomes.
Year 10 Photography
Terms 1 & 2
Topic 1: Abstraction
Topic 2: Abstraction
Terms 3 & 4
Topic 1: Unusual Portraiture
Topic 2: Unusual Portraiture
Terms 5 & 6
Topic 1: Unusual Portraiture
Topic 2: Mock Exam Project
Year 11
Terms 1 & 2
Topic 1: Mock Exam Project
Topic 2: Mock Exam Project
Terms 3 & 4
Topic 1: Exam
Topic 2: Exam
Terms 5 & 6
Topic 1: Photography has ended
Topic 2: Photography has ended
Key Stage 5 (Years 12-13)
Course Code: A Level Fine Art/Photography AQA
Exam Board Specification: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/as-and-a-level/art-and-design-7201
Recommended Entry Requirements
- Grade 5 GCSE English
- Grade 5 GCSE Art desirable but not compulsory. Requires discussion with the Art Department.
- Passionate about the subject
Why Fine Art/Photography?
Whether specialising in Fine Art or Photography, this is a wide ranging course, encouraging a very personal approach to your work and chosen media. Explore the world through the visual arts in 2D and 3D media using drawing and painting, photography, print-making and sculpture.
You will be introduced to a variety of traditional and new media processes and techniques. Knowledge of the work of other artists will be developed and you will create your own personal outcomes by following a process of refinement of ideas.
The course begins with completing a broad project on People and Places, covering portraiture, landscapes, still life and urban art. You then start the Personal Investigation (Component 1) and, once completed, progress to your own exam project (Component 2).
Assessment
60% – Component 1
Personal Investigation into a theme of students’ own choice
40% – Component 2
Externally Set Assignment to be completed over three days
Recommended Reading
Complete Artists Manual – The Definitive Guide to Materials and Techniques for Painting and Drawing by S. Jennings.
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk
https://www.victoriagal.org.uk
https://www.holburne.org
