Subject: Art, Craft and Design
Art is one of the very best ways that we as humans interact with the world around us. Art helps us to look inward and outside of ourselves in order to make meaning of what we experience and to express our understanding of it. At Paddington Academy we aren’t just interested in making good looking images and objects. We are keen to explore the relationship between theory and practice and to understand how art connects us to our world and cultural history. Art creates openings and horizons to new ways of seeing, thinking, doing and being. Knowledge and experience of media, techniques and processes are the building blocks for visual communication.
What will students learn?
In the Art and Design A level at Paddington Academy, students are challenged both visually and intellectually. The course is demanding yet rewarding and students will not only build upon technical skills at GCSE, but will unpick their ideas with greater sophistication. There will be opportunities for students to engage critically when analysing their work and that of other visual practitioners. They are encouraged to take ownership over their learning and drive their personal investigations forward with guidance from teaching staff. Across the two years, students will explore a range of historical, modern and contemporary artistic practitioners, drawing inspiration from them through books, online and through gallery and museum visits.
In KS5 students will study
Year 12 / 13
Students will explore the following media, techniques and processes:
- Oil, watercolour and acrylic painting
- Screen-printing | Lino-printing | Etching | Monoprinting | Monotyping
- Drawing techniques (both experimental and traditional)
- Sculpture through use of clay
- Photoshop and photography
- Other digital media and editing software where relevant to student investigations
- Collage and decollage
How will students receive feedback?
At Paddington, all students will receive regular feedback from formative assessment tasks. Within the curriculum, specific tasks are allocated for feedback. This ensures all students gain regular feedback. Teachers will mark student work and provide targeted feedback that enables students to improve their work and make progress. To support student understanding, teachers plan high-quality re-teach time to prepare students for their feedback. Across each term, students will receive feedback from multiple tasks.
What examinations / assessments do students have at the end of KS5?
Exam board: Edexcel
Component 1 (worth 60% of the A level grade)
- Personal portfolio (including 1,000-3,000 word essay) (Coursework)
Component 2
- Exam paper released in February (year 13), culminating in a 15 hour practical exam
What resources can be used to support learning?