Art

Students in Year 7 can expect to look at mark making in the widest sense; introducing tone and how to apply it. The learning throughout the year is consolidated through a 3D project constructing a sculpture in wood or clay.

Term 1: Mark making, drawing and tone 

Term 2: Intro to Perspective / 3D project 

Term 3: Understand Art – contextual projects 

In Year 8, students will consider colour, considering a variety of techniques involved in handling diverse types of paint and inks. Learning is consolidated through a 3D project based on an artist or art movement such as the Cubists.  

Term 1: Colour theory – colour mixing 

Term 2: Colour in action – painting exercises 

Term 3: Colour using a range of mediums.  

In Year 9 is designed as a mini art foundation course, providing students with the opportunity to study many different processes and techniques. Topics range from plaster casting to graphic design, etching and lino cutting to illustration. All this provides an excellent introduction to the GCSE course.  

All the projects we do use artists, sculptors, and ceramicists as their starting point. From ancient Greek to the latest contemporary work.  

• Lino Printing  
• Dry point intaglio  
• Painting with purpose  
• Accurate drawing techniques 
• Creating a sketchbook 
• Working in 3D 
• Understanding genres and contextual studies 

The Art Department follows the AQA syllabus for Art and Design/ Fine Art.  

The GCSE course is structured to allow everyone to flourish and find a way of working that suits their strengths and interests. Students can choose to work in a wide range of materials from dry point etching to large oil paintings and from A0 size to clay work. When the student arrives at the externally set task, they will know what their strengths and weaknesses are.  

There are trips to art galleries, providing students with the opportunity to see work first hand and can begin to develop an opinion on ‘what is art?.’ The study of art gets our students to really think about the world around them and how they ‘see’ it creatively. Our broad syllabus is each of our student’s ideas and each year we are really teaching bespoke courses.  

Over the two-year course, students will undertake two portfolio tasks (60%) and one externally set task (40%). The work on all tasks is supervised and assessed on a constant basis through studio feedback and written assessment.  

See sections 'Year 10' and 'Year 11' for the topics studied in each year.

In Year 10, students will study the following topics:

Term 1: Introduction of topic/ theme e.g., Sense of Place. 

Term 2: Development of idea through own photography. Looking at the work of artists, contextual studies  

Term 3: Consolidation of topic 1, Intro to topic 2 

In Year 11, students will study the following topics:

Term 1: Finishing topic 2 and presenting portfolio 

Term 2: External Examination Paper issued. 

Term 3: Exam Unit and 10-hour exam. 

Clubs and Societies

•  Architecture Society
• Character Design Club
• Partnership sessions with local primary schools

Trips

The Art Department regularly enjoys trips to galleries in Southampton and further afield. Examples of previous trips include: 

• Harry Potter Studios Trip (Year 9) 
• Lulworth Cove & Durdle Door (Year 10 GCSE classes) 
• Pitt Rivers Museum, Cambridge (Year 10 GCSE classes) 
• St Catherine's Hill and the South Downs with artist Mark Spray
• Workshop with artist Jeanette Barnes (Year 10)
• National Portrait Gallery & Royal Academy (Year 10)

Other opportunities 

We also hope to invite artists to the school throughout the academic year, so that students can get insights into their work.

If you have a specific enquiry for the Art Department, email art@kes.hants.sch.uk