Art & Design

Art and Design Curriculum Vision

Art and Design at Epsom and Ewell High school encourages students in all key stages to explore their creative identity and develop their artistic skills. This builds upon the foundation delivered at KS2 where art is linked via a given topic. At EEHS students are encouraged to investigate creative ideas, experiment with materials, analyse the work of artists and evaluate their own work. By doing so students develop their skills not only as an artist, but also an art critic. Students are given opportunities throughout all key stages to work with lots of different art materials to build their repertoire of material understanding as well as confidence in their execution. Pupils are widely encouraged to make critical decisions about their own work by being inquisitive, taking risks and making mistakes. This process allows pupils to work towards becoming innovative artists.

How do we help our students to ROAR?

Resilient: In the Art and Design department we challenge students to discover and work using new materials, learn new processes and use their creativity to produce work in a range of different ways. Students are required to evaluate their practice as well as that of artists, designers and craftspeople.

Open-Minded: Students are exposed to artists from both traditional and contemporary eras. Sub-themes within projects are chosen by each individual based on their key interests.

Aspirational: Students are challenged and encouraged to generate their own ideas in each discipline to produce interesting and unique outcomes. Students are challenged to push their creativity past their own boundaries and no idea is too big or small to explore. We openly welcome experimentation and ideas outside the box.

Reflective: Students are asked to reflect on their own work taking into account their inspiration and starting points in preparation for 1:1 tutorials. The dialogue here is critical to allow each individual to reflect on the work already completed as well as making a clear plan of action to develop ideas.

Year 7:

Intent:

Art and Design in year 7 allows pupils to feel inspired, develop confidence and build a broader understanding of art and design through the introduction of the formal elements. The formal elements lie at the core of all art so it is imperative that pupils understand this principle from the very beginning. Pupils are given the chance to experiment with new materials and develop their repertoire of art media. Pupils are introduced to a range of art movements and cultures around the world enriching their artist knowledge and understanding of the subject on a global platform.

Implementation:

Year 8:

Intent:

In year 8 pupils begin to explore art and design through the eyes of different artists, designers and craftspeople and explore what it would be like working as a graphic designer, a fine artist or a textile designer. Pupils explore a broad range of methods and processes used by artists and build upon the key skills learnt during year 7.

Implementation:

Year 9:

Intent:

In year 9 the emphasis on broadening our student’s knowledge of art and design in the wider world is our main focus. Pupils now have a strong foundation in a variety of mediums thus giving them the confidence needed to expand their knowledge in to the three-dimensional realm. In year 9 pupils are given the opportunity to use 3D materials such as paper mâché, clay and construction techniques to develop their skillset. Artists and designers, of both contemporary and traditional settings, underpin each of our projects.

Implementation:

Year 10 Graphics:

Intent:

Graphic communication is defined as the process of designing primarily visual material to convey information, ideas, meaning and emotions in response to a given or self-defined brief. Students are given a brief that outlines the end goal, but their pathway is defined by their own artistic influences and interests. Each brief is underpinned with artists, designers and craftspeople to help inspire and generate their own ideas.

Implementation:

Year 10 Fine Art:

Intent:

Fine Art practice is defined as the need to explore an idea, convey an experience or respond to a theme or issue of personal significance. Students are invited to explore a range of techniques and materials that allow them to create a body of work responding to a series of different themes/ starting points. Students are introduced to a wide range of artists, designers and craftspeople to help inspire and generate their own ideas.

Implementation:

Year 10 Textiles:

Intent:

Textile design is defined as the creation of designs and products for woven, knitted, stitched, printed or decorative textiles that might have a functional or non-functional purpose. Students are introduced to the foundation skills at the beginning of the course such as; hand-sewing and machine embroidery. Once pupils have established these they are then able to apply these to their own projects working towards various outcomes of their own choice giving them artistic licence for each project.

Implementation:

Year 11 Graphics/ Fine Art/ Textiles:

Intent:

Pupils are given an externally set assignment by AQA in the January of their final year. Pupils must select a question, unaided, based on their personal interests as an artist. The themes of these vary year to year. Once selected, pupils are then expected to produce a body of work leading to the final outcome which is created during their ten-hour exam which takes place in April/ May.

Implementation:

Year 12 Art and Design:

Intent:

Pupils from all GCSE art options have the opportunity to develop their artistic practice on the Art and Design A-Level. In year 12 students are introduced to all 5 disciplines offered within Art and Design; Fine Art, Photography, 3D, Textiles and Graphics. These are delivered through a series of carousel sessions and allows pupils to explore more than just their subject specialism at GCSE. The Art and Design A-Level requires students to explore two of the above. Alongside the practical aspect of the course pupils are taught about the key conceptual areas of Art and Design to allow them to gain a deeper understanding about the disciplines listed above. These are delivered in theory focused lessons delivered once a fortnight. This allows pupils to pinpoint their interests and influences to help guide them towards innovative and highly personalised approaches for their Personal Investigation projects.

Implementation:

Year 12 Photography:

Intent:

In year 12 students are introduced to a range of photographic media, techniques and processes. Students begin the photography A-Level by exploring the technical aspects of photography as well as understanding how to use an SLR camera to give them a strong foundation. Alongside the practical aspect of the course pupils are taught about the key conceptual areas of photography to allow them to gain a deeper understanding about the discipline of photography and pinpoint their interests and influences to help guide pupils towards innovative and highly personalised approaches for their Personal Investigation projects.

Implementation:

Year 13 Art and Design:

Intent:

In year 13 students continue to develop their personal investigation projects through rigorous exploration of their two chosen disciplines. At the start of February students are given their externally set assignment whereby students must choose one starting point and develop their own personal approach to this. All work is continuously underpinned by extensive research of artists, designers and craftspeople as well as art movements where appropriate.

Implementation:

Year 13 Photography:

Intent:

In year 13 students continue to develop their own personal investigation projects through rigorous exploration of photography. At the start of February students are given their externally set assignment whereby students must choose one starting point and develop their own personal approach to this. All work is continuously underpinned by extensive research of artists, designers and craftspeople as well as art movements where appropriate.

Implementation: