Art Department
Curriculum
Years 7, 8 and 9:
The Art curriculum is organised on a topic basis. Art is taught for one double period per week in the Upper III and Lower IV. The Upper IV has one double period for half the school year only (the other half of the year is taken by music).
Years 10 and 11:
The GCSE candidates in the Lower V and Upper V have four lessons per week. The lower VI AS class have eight lessons per week and the Upper VI have eight lessons per week as do IB students.
The predominant mode of working in Art is whole class teaching although the outcome should be individual and a creative personal response is required in almost all cases.
Teachers will draw upon the following resources:
- Use of artefacts – original and reproduction
- Previous examples of pupils work
- Use of posters, paintings, drawings and photographs
- Reference books, videos and slides
- Visits to museums, art galleries and exhibitions
- The pupils’ memory, experiences, observations and imagination
Syllabus:
We follow the AQA examination syllabus for both GCSE and AS/A2 level. Full details of the syllabus for each of these examinations can be found from the AQA website. In addition, Art is one of the available options of study for the International Baccalaureate.
In the GCSE there are three coursework assignments and one examination paper.
LV first project: ‘Pop Art’ - time 1.5 terms
LV second project ‘Portraiture’ - time 1.5 terms
UV third project based on a past question paper - time 1.5 terms.
Final examination ten hours with four weeks preparation time.
AS/A2 levels and International Baccalaureate:
LVI Art Course AS level – AQA examination board.
- One coursework project ‘Transcription’ - time 1.5 terms.
- Externally-set assignment with a lead-in period of 8 weeks. Supervised time of 5 hours.
UVI Art Course A2 level – AQA examination board.
- One personal investigation project supported by 100-3000 word essay. Time 1.5 terms.
- Externally-set assignment with a lead-in period of 8 weeks. Supervised time 15 hours.
Art combines with ANY A level to provide a broad academic/creative base for many University courses. Many students who study art at The Abbey School choose to continue the subject at University or Art School.
LVI and UVI IB Art course
Three projects over two years:
Project 1 ‘Transcription’ - time 1.5 terms
Project 2 Abstract elements in landscape - time 1.5 terms
Project 3 Everyday life - time 1.5 terms.
Candidates choose either Option A – Studio or Option B – Investigation.
Option A – Studio: 60% final piece 40% work book
Higher level – 12-18 Final works in any medium
25-30 pages of A4 workbook preparation studies.
Standard Level – 8-12 final works in any medium.
15-20 pages of A4 workbook preparation studies.
Option B – Investigation: 60% workbook 40% final pieces.
Higher level 30-40 pages of A4 workbook preparation studies
8-12 final works in any medium
Standard level 25-30 pages of A4 workbook pages
6-8 final works in any medium
