GCSE Art

The course encourages students to experiment, question
and evaluate their work through the challenge of exploring,
becoming competent and knowledgeable and following
areas: Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture, Photography, Printmaking, Information Communications Technology
and Textiles.

The GCSE course offers students the opportunity to learn
about the work of traditional and contemporary Artists and
designers who influence our lives on an everyday basis.
It offers the opportunity to further their understanding of their
own and others’ cultures and to develop physical and
perceptual skills whilst encouraging the development
of ideas. Students will learn to develop an idea through
from realisation to completion, through their coursework
portfolio and exam.

Assessment

The course is assessed through the creation of a portfolio
of work (60% of the final grade) and a controlled test
(40% of the final grade) at the end of year eleven.

The portfolio is loosely comprised of two units of work
(projects) that loosely follow the themes of ‘Face and Figure’
and ‘Still Life’. Each project will be accompanied by relevant
supportive and developmental work, which should show
investigations into many media and techniques. Students
are expected to research the work of Artists, Craftspeople
and Designers which will then influence the development of
their own work. All coursework should be completed by the
end of January, in the year of examination.

The controlled test is set by the Examination Group, AQA.
It is simply another unit of work based on one of twelve set
topics from the given question paper. The question paper is
usually given out at the beginning of March, in year 11.
There is then a period of four weeks for the students to
complete all preparatory work. At the end of this time
students have 10 hours to produce their finished piece of work
under exam conditions.

Coursework and the controlled test are marked by the
Art teachers of the school and then by a visiting moderator
appointed by the Examining Group.

Art is a subject that is an advantage to have if you are
wanting to follow many career paths. The development of
creative skills and thinking, expression of thoughts and
ideas, problem solving and a willingness to investigate
are all key skills developed through the GCSE course.
A knowledge of Art is useful in many career areas from
Beauty Care through to Graphic or Product design, from
Advertising through to Teaching. On completion of the
GCSE course in Year 11 students have a variety of
further educational opportunities. New College,
Swindon College, St Josephs School, Ridgeway School
and Cirencester College all offer good AS/A Level and
AVCE Art courses that act as a step up to University
and Art college programmes.

EQUIPMENT

It is a necessary part of the course for students to have
basic equipment that includes.

A set of graded sketching pencils

An A3 sketchpad

An A1 folder to store, protect and carry project work .

A comprehensive list is available and is displayed in
each Art room.

The department sells good quality equipment, ranging
from acrylic paints to charcoal, through The Art Shop in
Room 125 on a Thursday.

STORAGE OF WORK Students are required to take
responsibility for their own work. Every pupil in Year 11
will share a drawer in the class but will be expected to
make good use of their folio to take work home and for
homework tasks. We have limited space in the Art
department for storage. Exam restrictions require the
department to hold the work until the November after
the GCSE. Once this date has passed students must
collect work as soon as possible or notify the school
when it is possible.

The school takes no responsibility for the work
after this date and it very possible that the work
will be disposed of.

Art Study Trips.

The Art department has upheld an important tradition to
allow students to experience Artwork in environments /
outside of the classroom. To date we have taken students
to a variety of national exhibitions including an annual
trip to the Tate Modern and the National Gallery in London.
We have also take students to New York, Barcelona and in
2003 Prague. This has been invaluable at raising the
Art departments’ school and community profile and
enriching students’ awareness, knowledge and
understanding of Art and the important role it is playing
in our day-to-day lives.