NCGS - Academic - Art Department

Art Gallery

INTRODUCTION

The Art Department is well resourced and housed in three specialist studios. The main Art studio, which was recently extended doubling the size of the accommodation, is where most lessons take place. This room has separate areas for ceramics and printmaking as well as general Art and Design areas. There is a Sixth Form Art Studio where each Sixth Form student has their own individual workspace and finally a Ceramics Room housing the kiln and glazing area.

The Department aims to develop the possibilities within each pupil by providing a wide variety of artistic experiences in an exciting stimulating environment where our pupils can develop their artistic ability, creativity and aesthetic awareness. This gives each individual a sense of achievement and greater self confidence. With choices such as painting, drawing, graphic design, ceramics, printmaking and sculpture there is always something that each individual is good at.

In the Juniors each pupil has two Art lessons of 50 minutes each per week, one with each of the Department's staff and in Years 10 and 11, for those pupils who elect to take Art as one of their GCSE subjects, this increases to three 50 minute lessons per week. In the Sixth Form this increases again to five lessons per week.

The Department also undertakes trips out of school making regular visits to the Manchester Art Galleries and also visits places of interest to gather visual research for projects such as Grizedale Forest, Blue Planet Aquarium, Alton Towers and Chester Zoo.

The Department runs lunchtime Art Clubs and extra after school lessons for examination classes.

STAFFING

The Department has two specialist teachers:
Mr M Whittam BA (Hons) PGCE ATD (Head of Department).
Fine Art and Ceramics
Mrs L Facchin BA (Hons) PGCE
Printmaking and Graphic Design

CURRICULUM

Key Stage 3
In Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils follow National Curriculum guidelines taking a Foundation Course which is designed to give all pupils as much experience as possible working with specialist teachers in a studio environment.

We believe that the teaching of drawing is fundamental to artistic activity. Pupils are taught a wide range of drawing techniques and these lead into other activities such as painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture and graphics. Sketchbooks are used for research and homework and, typically, pupils will work on a series of projects taking half a term each.

Projects are revised and changed regularly. Here are two examples of typical projects;

• African Masks-pupils research faces and masks, then make mixed media constructions in response to their research.
• Impressionist Landscapes: pupils make drawings of local landscapes in a variety of materials, pastel, charcoal etc. They research into the techniques of the Impressionists and then use their research to produce their own impressionist-style paintings.

Key Stage 4
The pupils who elect to take GCSE Art usually follow a broad based exam course in which, in Year 10 they work on three technique based coursework units in Drawing, Ceramics and Printmaking and then undertake a major coursework unit in Year 11 in which they work in their favourite area to research and develop outcomes based on the theme of sea life. The use of IT and digital photography forms an integral part of these projects. There is also scope for individuals to specialise by taking endorsed GCSEs in 3D Design and Fine Art.

Coursework is worth 60% of the total marks available. An additional project at the end of the course is the examination or controlled test, which is worth 40% of the total.

Key Stage 5
At AS and A2 levels pupils can take courses in Fine Art and 3D Design as well as a general Art and Design course. Teaching groups are small and individual attention is available. The Sixth Form pupils have their own workspaces in the Sixth Form Art Studio.

During the course, Sixth Formers undertake practical coursework and research (30%), make an in-depth study of a particular aspect of Art and Design (30%) and complete an exam project (40%) at the end of the year.

Many of our advanced level pupils go on to Higher Education in Art related areas such as Product Design, Photography, Architecture and Fine Art.

EXAMINATIONS

GCSE
Most pupils follow the OCR GCSE Art and Design (unendorsed) course although there is scope for individuals to follow specialised courses in Fine Art and 3D Design.

AS and A2
Sixth Form pupils follow OCR courses in Art, Fine Art and Three Dimensional Design.