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Curriculum Intent Statement

We aim to promote the whole school ethos of ‘Dream, Believe, Achieve’, whilst ‘unlocking potential and making dreams a reality’ for our students. We work with an open mindset and ‘can do’ attitude: teaching students that practice makes progress in visual arts, no matter their starting points. Alongside teaching artistic skills, we also strive to develop characteristics of lifelong learners: our LEIGH Learner Profile. For example, demonstrating grit is a key learner attribute in visual arts: students practise focus, concentration, persistence, and perseverance as they take risks and overcome challenges during the creation process. We explicitly teach approaches to learning (ATLs) including research skills, critical and creative thinking, and reflection. Additionally, our highly ambitious curriculum utilises the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) framework to develop intercultural understanding, interdisciplinary learning, and global engagement.                                                       

Our vision is to offer a comprehensive visual arts curriculum, encompassing the domains of practical, theoretical, and disciplinary art knowledge and the interrelationships between them. We develop students’ practical knowledge necessary to create art and aim for students to improve their mastery of drawing, painting, sculpture, and printmaking. We follow a cycle of inquiry, application, assessment, and improvement and spiral these areas of making, building students’ skills sequentially each year. This supports students’ progress, enabling them to achieve outcomes that reflect the very best of their ability.

Key Concepts

Communication (visual)

Related Concepts

Genre

Statement of Inquiry

Wildlife inspires the visual communication of observations, information and ideas.

Careers

  • Fine artist
  • Concept artist
  • Illustrator

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is visual communication?
  • What are genres of art? What are natural forms?
  • What are the different styles of art?
  • What are cultural and creative industries?
  • What careers are there in the creative industries?

Conceptual Questions

  • Why are artists inspired by nature?
  • Why is visual communication important?

Debatable Questions

  • Is visual communication a learned skill or natural talent?

Key Concepts

Communication

Related Concepts

Expression, interpretation

Statement of Inquiry

The interpretation of artistry enables us to understand the culture, information, emotions, ideas and beliefs communicated and expressed by people throughout history.

Careers

  • Commercial art gallery manager
  • Conservator
  • Heritage manager
  • Museum/gallery curator
  • Museum/gallery exhibitions officer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is culture? What is artistry?
  • What is communication?
  • What is expression?
  • What does interpretations mean in art?

Conceptual Questions

  • Why do people create art?
  • How do you interpret an image?
  • Why do people’s interpretations of art matter?

Debatable Questions

  • Should art be explained?
  • Can the interpretation of an artwork be wrong?
  • Can there be multiple interpretations of the same artwork?
  • Is the artist’s intention relevant to the interpretation of the work?

Key Concepts

Aesthetics

Related Concepts

Composition, visual culture

Statement of Inquiry

Pattern and symmetry, composed of geometric shapes and plant based motifs, are considered to be the aesthetic foundations of many visual cultures.

Careers

  • Textile designer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is the visual culture of Islam?
  • What are the forms of Islamic art?
  • Where can Islamic art be seen?
  • When was Islamic art made?
  • What are the aesthetic foundations of Islamic art?
  • How is a pattern made?

Conceptual Questions

  • How did Islam affect Islamic art?
  • Why do Islamic artists use non-representational art?
  • To what extent does the religion of Islam impact Islamic artwork?
  • What messages does Islamic art communicate?

Debatable Questions

  • What defines Islamic art?

Key Concepts

Change

Related Concepts

Aesthetics, style

Statement of Inquiry

Aesthetic style may change in response to socio-economic, political, and religious developments.

Careers

  • Magazine journalist
  • Art gallery curator
  • Museum curator
  • Illustrator

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is aesthetic style?

Conceptual Questions

  • Which periods in history have experienced social-economic, political and religious changes?
  • How do aesthetics reflect a society?

Debatable Questions

  • To what extent does society impact the aesthetics of art?
  • Can art change a society?

Key Concepts

Aesthetics

Related Concepts

Expression, interpretation

Statement of Inquiry

The aesthetics of colour are used to express and interpret emotions.

Careers

  • Designer e.g fashion, graphic and interior
  • Artist e.g fine artist, illustrator or make-up

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is colour?
  • What is colour theory?
  • What is a colour wheel?

Conceptual Questions

  • How can artists make different colours?
  • How does colour express and evoke emotion?

Debatable Questions

  • Do we all see the same colours?
  • Do we perceive the same feelings from colours?

Key Concepts

Aesthetics

Related Concepts

Expression, interpretation

Statement of Inquiry

The aesthetics of colour are used to express and interpret emotions.

Careers

  • Designer e.g fashion, graphic and interior
  • Artist e.g fine artist, illustrator or make-up

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is Impressionism?
  • Who was Claude Monet?

Conceptual Questions

  • How did Impressionist painters use colour theory?
  • How can I apply colour theory to create emotion in art?

Debatable Questions

  • Could colour inspire other art forms e.g. poetry?

Key Concepts

Identity

Related Concepts

Expression, diversity

Statement of Inquiry

Artistic expression can facilitate discovery of self-identity and enhance wellbeing.

Careers

  • Art Therapist
  • Illustrator
  • Animator
  • Fine Artist
  • Make-up Artist

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is expression?
  • What is self-identity?
  • What is wellbeing?
  • Which well known artists express/expressed their self-identity?

Conceptual Questions

  • How can self-identity be expressed artistically?
  • How can art enhance well-being?
  • What makes art an effective means to express identity?
  • How can the formal elements of art represent different elements of identity?
  • What is a portrait?
  • What is the purpose of portraits?

Debatable Questions

  • Is physical representation the best way to communicate a person’s identity?

Key Concepts

Identity

Related Concepts

Expression, diversity

Statement of Inquiry

Artistic expression can facilitate discovery of self-identity and enhance wellbeing.

Careers

  • Art Therapist
  • Illustrator
  • Animator
  • Fine Artist
  • Make-up Artist

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is expression?
  • What is self-identity?
  • What is wellbeing?
  • Which well known artists express/expressed their self-identity?

Conceptual Questions

  • How can self-identity be expressed artistically?
  • How can art enhance well-being?
  • What makes art an effective means to express identity?
  • How can the formal elements of art represent different elements of identity?
  • What is a portrait?
  • What is the purpose of portraits?

Debatable Questions

  • Is physical representation the best way to communicate a person’s identity?

Key Concepts

Creativity

Related Concepts

Communication, audience

Statement of Inquiry

Creativity and artistry make communication with an audience more effective.

Careers

  • Set Designer
  • Costume Designer
  • Prop Maker
  • Stage Manager
  • Model Maker

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What does a set designer do?

Conceptual Questions

  • How have set designs been presented to communicate the narrative of A Midsummer Night’s Dream to audiences?
  • How can elements of visual arts communicate mood and emotion?
  • How can a narrative be presented visually?
  • Does visual art connect to other art forms?
  • What are the underlying similarities and differences among the arts?

Debatable Questions

  • A synthesis of the arts is the highest form of communication – how far do you agree?
  • Does a multi-sensory approach to storytelling make communication with an audience most effective?

Key Concepts

Creativity

Related Concepts

Communication, audience

Statement of Inquiry

Creativity and artistry make communication with an audience more effective.

Careers

  • Set Designer
  • Costume Designer
  • Prop Maker
  • Stage Manager
  • Model Maker

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What does a set designer do?

Conceptual Questions

  • How have set designs been presented to communicate the narrative of A Midsummer Night’s Dream to audiences?
  • How can elements of visual arts communicate mood and emotion?
  • How can a narrative be presented visually?
  • Does visual art connect to other art forms?
  • What are the underlying similarities and differences among the arts?

Debatable Questions

  • A synthesis of the arts is the highest form of communication – how far do you agree?
  • Does a multi-sensory approach to storytelling make communication with an audience most effective?

Key Concepts

Aesthetics

Related Concepts

Style, change

Statement of Inquiry

The interaction of cultures has changed aesthetic styles over time.

Careers

  • Commercial art gallery manager
  • Conservator
  • Heritage manager
  • Museum/gallery curator
  • Museum/gallery exhibitions officer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What are aesthetic styles?
  • What is the aesthetic style of traditional Sub-Saharan African Art?
  • What is the aesthetic style of traditional western art?

Conceptual Questions

  • How have cultures interacted in space and time?
  • How have Europe and Africa interacted?
  • How has cultural interaction changed Sub-Saharan African Art?
  • How has cultural interaction changed European Art?

Debatable Questions

  • Would Western Art look very different had it not been for the colonial era in history?
  • In the contemporary postcolonial era, and the globalisation of the art world, is there a divide between Western and non-Western Art?
  • Should European museums return African heritage items?

Key Concepts

Aesthetics

Related Concepts

Style, change

Statement of Inquiry

The interaction of cultures has changed aesthetic styles over time.

Careers

  • Commercial art gallery manager
  • Conservator
  • Heritage manager
  • Museum/gallery curator
  • Museum/gallery exhibitions officer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What are aesthetic styles?
  • What is the aesthetic style of traditional Sub-Saharan African Art?
  • What is the aesthetic style of traditional western art?

Conceptual Questions

  • How have cultures interacted in space and time?
  • How have Europe and Africa interacted?
  • How has cultural interaction changed Sub-Saharan African Art?
  • How has cultural interaction changed European Art?

Debatable Questions

  • Would Western Art look very different had it not been for the colonial era in history?
  • In the contemporary postcolonial era, and the globalisation of the art world, is there a divide between Western and non-Western Art?
  • Should European museums return African heritage items?

Key Concepts

Change

Related Concepts

Innovation, style

Statement of Inquiry

New creative styles may emerge when innovations are adopted by others.

Careers

  • Visual effects artist
  • Fine artist
  • Photographer
  • Illustrator

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is the main concept of surrealism?
  • Who are some of the most famous surrealists?
  • What are some of the most important surrealist paintings?

Conceptual Questions

  • Why is surrealism so important?
  • How can artists express their ideas without literal representation?
  • How can we interpret art?

Debatable Questions

  • Does art need an explanation?
  • Does art have boundaries?

Key Concepts

Change

Related Concepts

Innovation, style

Statement of Inquiry

New creative styles may emerge when innovations are adopted by others.

Careers

  • Visual effects artist
  • Fine artist
  • Photographer
  • Illustrator

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is the main concept of surrealism?
  • Who are some of the most famous surrealists?
  • What are some of the most important surrealist paintings?

Conceptual Questions

  • Why is surrealism so important?
  • How can artists express their ideas without literal representation?
  • How can we interpret art?

Debatable Questions

  • Does art need an explanation?
  • Does art have boundaries?

Key Concepts

Change

Related Concepts

Innovation, style

Statement of Inquiry

New creative styles may emerge when innovations are adopted by others.

Careers

  • Visual effects artist
  • Fine artist
  • Photographer
  • Illustrator

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is the main concept of surrealism?
  • Who are some of the most famous surrealists?
  • What are some of the most important surrealist paintings?

Conceptual Questions

  • Why is surrealism so important?
  • How can artists express their ideas without literal representation?
  • How can we interpret art?

Debatable Questions

  • Does art need an explanation?
  • Does art have boundaries?

Key Concepts

Change

Related Concepts

Expression

Statement of Inquiry

Art can raise awareness and lead to increased community engagement and change.

Careers

  • Community Arts Worker
  • Art Therapist
  • Influencer
  • Activist
  • Fine Artist

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is Artivism? (Or Activist Art?)
  • Which artists might we call artivists?
  • What are the issues that their social advocacy seeks to express?
  • Which types of art do artivists use?

Conceptual Questions

  • What are the aims of activist artists?
  • How is art related to activism?

Debatable Questions

  • Can art inspire social change?

Key Concepts

Change

Related Concepts

Expression

Statement of Inquiry

Art can raise awareness and lead to increased community engagement and change.

Careers

  • Community Arts Worker
  • Art Therapist
  • Influencer
  • Activist
  • Fine Artist

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is Artivism? (Or Activist Art?)
  • Which artists might we call artivists?
  • What are the issues that their social advocacy seeks to express?
  • Which types of art do artivists use?

Conceptual Questions

  • What are the aims of activist artists?
  • How is art related to activism?

Debatable Questions

  • Can art inspire social change?

Key Concepts

Change

Related Concepts

Expression

Statement of Inquiry

Art can raise awareness and lead to increased community engagement and change.

Careers

  • Community Arts Worker
  • Art Therapist
  • Influencer
  • Activist
  • Fine Artist

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is Artivism? (Or Activist Art?)
  • Which artists might we call artivists?
  • What are the issues that their social advocacy seeks to express?
  • Which types of art do artivists use?

Conceptual Questions

  • What are the aims of activist artists?
  • How is art related to activism?

Debatable Questions

  • Can art inspire social change?

Edexcel Art & Design GCSE

Topics

Module 1

  • Personal Portfolio
  • Contextual starting point on the sub-theme
  • Bio-Tech Fusion

Module 2

  • Personal Portfolio
  • Practical start point – drawing
  • Bio-Tech Fusion

Module 3

  • Personal Portfolio
  • Develop/refine ideas and create personal response
  • Bio-Tech Fusion

Module 4

  • Personal Portfolio Broaden theme to ‘Fusion’ – Students’ learning journeys diverge as they make personal choices relating to contextual sources, materials and techniques.

Module 5

  • Continue Component 1 – Personal Portfolio ) – Broaden theme to ‘Fusion’ – Students’ learning journeys diverge as they make personal choices relating to contextual sources, materials and techniques.

Module 6

  • Personal Portfolio – Broaden theme to ‘Fusion’ – Students’ learning journeys diverge as they make personal choices relating to contextual sources, materials and techniques.

50% exam & 50% coursework

Personal Portfolio
Create work associated with at least one area of study for Fine Art; Students create a personal portfolio of work that demonstrates the knowledge, understanding and skills; This component allows students opportunities to develop and explore ideas, research primary and contextual sources, experiment with media, materials, techniques and processes to present personal response(s) to theme(s) set by the centre.

120hrs guided learning
72 marks (18 for each assessment objective)
60% of GCSE
Internally assessed, with a sample of work being externally moderated

Externally Set Assignment
The Externally Set Assignment (ESA) represents the culmination of the GCSE course as it draws together all the knowledge, understanding and skills developed in Component 1. Students must continue to work in the same title as they did for the Personal Portfolio. Students must present personal response(s) to an externally set broad-based thematic starting point, set by Pearson in the ESA paper. This component allows students opportunities to develop and explore ideas, research primary and contextual sources, experiment with media, materials, techniques and processes o present personal response(s) to the externally-set theme

Preparatory studies (a portfolio of development work based on the thematic starting point) and personal responses
10hrs
72 marks (18 for each assessment objective)
40% of GCSE
Internally assessed, with a sample of work being externally moderated

Year 7 Art Work Celebration Website Year 8 Art Work Celebration Website Year 9 Art Work Celebration Website