Art at Key Stage 3
Throughout Key Stage 3 (from Years 7 to 9) students undertake one hour of Art each week. The aim is clear, to improve and develop students' understanding and experience of making art. The curriculum is designed to develop specific skills linked with artists to help them develop a visual literacy in Art. In Art students explore a range of media, techniques and processes such as, painting, drawing, collage and printmaking.
Homework - Throughout Key Stage 3 (Years 7 and 8) students are encouraged to undertake a range of homework activities on a regular basis which are designed to reinforce and extend their studies in the classroom.
Assessment - Art students can expect to receive a working at grade after regular assessment which is consistent and in line with the academy's current Assessment Policy. This includes both verbal and written feedback.
GCSE Fine Art at Key Stage 4
Following the Year 8 Parents/Options Evening during Term 3 of the Spring Term, Year 8 students select their options to begin their GCSE course of study in Year 9. From Year 9, GCSE art students are allocated three one hour periods of Art a week. Over Year 9 through to Christmas of Year 11, students complete a range of studies towards their Coursework Portfolio. This will showcase the students best examples of classwork and homework and in turn, this element is worth 60% of their GCSE grade. The timed exam paper is released from January of Year 11 and culminates in a 10 hour exam, usually in April of the final year of study. The exam board and specification followed at Kingswood is AQA GCSE Fine Art and Design.
Assessment - Students can expect to have their coursework assessed on a regular basis according to the academy Assessment Policy. This will include verbal and written feedback.
Art in the Sixth Form
In the Sixth Form, Art students will be timetabled four single one hour periods of Art a week. In Year 12 they follow a two year AQA GCE A Level Fine Art course. In Year 12 students develop and extend their skills from GCSE and work towards an internal Mock AS Art Exam at the end of Year 12. While in Year 13 they undertake two units: The Portfolio Unit (60% of the final grade) and a 15 hour Timed Exam Unit (40% weighting of the course). The exam board and specification followed at Kingswood is also AQA GCE A Level Fine Art.
Throughout Year 12 the art students might find themselves working in the following disciplines; Painting and Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture, Photography, Mixed-Media and Textile processes/techniques. It is expected that the art students will use at least three of their 'free' lessons or more to extend their studies in order to keep up with the expected standard of work at A level.