Art
Welcome
“Creativity Takes Courage”
– Henri Matisse
Welcome to Art, part of the Creative Arts Faculty at DCHS!
The Art Department is part of the Creative Arts Faculty and collectively we are very proud of the facilities, curriculum, Arts Mark Gold status and the opportunities we offer young people at DCHS.
The work of artists and designers is an integral part of our lives. It is the vehicle by which we record and understand the world around us. We are surrounded by the rich influence of art and culture in every day life without even venturing into an art gallery, which shapes our understanding of our world.
Every child has the natural urge to sculpt with textural forms such a sand, mud and even food from a young age. As children we learn through mark making to create imagery that reflects not only how we view ourselves but the world in which we live. As adults we record our everyday through smartphones, doodles and social media.
Early years teaching encourages development through play resulting in ‘Art’ that is intuitive and unique. As a child progresses from primary to secondary school their skills are enhanced by specialist art teachers who value the potential of art in our lives. Many of our students continue that journey into adulthood.
At DCHS we aim to provide an outstanding provision in Art education. We aim to encourage and nurture potential talents of our students and develop cultural and creative awareness to enrich their mind, soul and wellbeing.
Key Stage 3
At KS3, Students follow a broad and varied curriculum from Years 7 – 9.
Year 7 students will follow a thematic cross curricular Create programme across 4 lessons, creating work which will form a collaborative piece for the Year group.
In Years 8 & 9, students follow a curriculum based on the formal elements of Art and Design, building upon prior knowledge to support understanding of line, tone, form, colour, pattern, mixed media, 2D/3D . Students explore the formal elements through a wide range of 2D and 3D mediums and through the work of Contemporary and Traditional artists, craftspeople, designers and designers from around the world. Where possible students are encouraged to take their own photographs to inform their artwork and creative practise.
Key Stage 4
Students opting to study Art at KS4, have the opportunity to select from 3 Creative options.
AQA GCSE Fine Art
AQA GCSE Art Textiles
AQA GCSE Photography (Please see Photography page for further details)
GCSE Fine Art at DCHS
Students opting for GCSE Fine Art will be introduced to a variety of experiences exploring a range of Fine Art media, techniques and processes, including both traditional and new technologies.
Students will develop skills in drawing and painting, which is central to all work, with opportunities to do photography, printmaking and sculpture. Sketchbooks are an integral element of the course and students will be expected to research and analyse the work of Artists and designers and show connections with this work in their own practical outcomes.
GCSE Art Textiles at DCHS
Students opting for GCSE Art Textiles will be introduced to a variety of Art and Textile mediums and will explore the wide range of Art Textiles genres from garment making, traditional and applied crafts to installation work and contemporary practise.
Students will develop skills in drawing, mixed media, thematic enquiry, contextual studies, print, felting, applique, fashion, applied design, machine work.Sketchbooks are an integral element of the course and students will be expected to research and analyse the work of Artists and designers and show connections with this work in their own practical outcomes.
Key Stage 5
Students opting to further their Creative practise at KS5 may opt for the following Creative options;
AQA A Level Fine Art
AQA A Level Art Textiles
AQA A Level Photography (Please see Photography page for further details)
A Level Fine Art
It is anticipated that Students wishing to follow the AQA A Level Fine Art specification will have followed one of the KS4 creative subjects and achieved at least a level 4/5 at GCSE.
The course has been developed in a Foundation style, with a strong emphasis on drawing and personal practise. Students are encouraged to explore their understanding of the wider world through a wide range of mediums, before embarking upon their major study of work (Personal Investigation) around Easter of Year 12. Students can work in any discipline found within the A Level specification, which can include sculpture and digital.
A Level Art Textiles
This course is currently run alongside the A Level Fine Art and students are taught jointly within Fine Art groups.
It is anticipated that Students wishing to follow the AQA A Level Fine Art specification will have followed one of the KS4 creative subjects and achieved at least a level 4/5 at GCSE.
This course follows similar thematic and foundation skills based topics in Year 12 allowing students to explore a wide range of Textile based mediums before starting their personal investigation from the Easter of Year 12.
Assessment
At KS3, students work is assessed through the following core objectives;
Recording
Developing ideas
Personal response
Experimentation
Investigation
Each topic / project will explore different combinations of skill levels and students will build up confidence in using a wide range of mediums which will be recorded through regular feedback within their sketchbooks.
KS4 – AQA GCSE Fine Art & GCSE Art Textiles
Unit 1 Portfolio of work
The portfolio of work is the students’ coursework. The teacher will introduce projects and tasks throughout the course and the best of the work is assessed using Assessment Objectives determined by the exam board. 60% weighting
Unit 2 Externally Set Task
Exam papers are issued to students from January 1st in the year of the examination..At the end of the preparatory period students will produce an unaided personal outcome over a period of 10 hours in the Externally Set Task. The sketchbook work, preparatory studies and 10 hour task will be marked using the Assessment Objectives above. 40% weighting
Assessment is 1-9
KS5 – AQA A Level Fine Art & A Level Art Textiles
Unit 1 Portfolio of work
Students produce a portfolio of evidence and an extended Personal Investigation . 60% weighting
Unit 2 Externally Set Task
Exam papers are issued to students from January 1st in the year of the examination.At the end of the preparatory period students will produce an unaided personal outcome over a period of 15 hours in the Externally Set Task.
Examination Boards
Our GCSE & A Level courses are all accredited by AQA
Details can be found on the AQA website
GCSE –
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/gcse/art-and-design-8201-8206
A Level
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/as-and-a-level/art-and-design
Resources to Support Learning
Pinterest – DCHS Art_Dept Department resource pages
Instagram – dchs_artdept Celebration of students work
Students have access to ICT resources within the Department to support their engagement in class.
All students in KS3 are given a sketchbook at the start of the academic year.
Links to Museums and galleries across the region – visits and workshops throughout the year.
Arts Award – Explore, Bronze, Silver and Gold offered by all Arts areas within the Faculty.
Careers Links
Advertising, Art director, Animator, Antique Dealer, Architect, Architectural technician
Architectural technologist, editor, Art gallery curator, Art therapist, Art valuer
Arts administrator, Blacksmith, Body piercer, Bookbinder, CAD technician
Ceramics designer-maker, Chef, Clothing alteration hand, Community arts worker, Conservator
Costume designer, Design and development engineer, Dressmaker, Exhibition designer
Fashion design assistant, Fashion designer, Fine artist, Florist, Footwear designer
French polisher, Furniture designer, Furniture maker, Furniture restorer, Glass engraver
Glassmaker ,Graphic designer, Hat designer, Illustrator, Interior designer
Jewellery designer-maker ,Knitter, Landscape architect, Law (Art acquisitions)
Leather craftworker, Machine printer, Make-up artist, Medical illustrator, Model maker
Museum curator, Musical instrument maker and repairer, Naval architect, Pattern cutter
Pattern grader, Photographer, Photographic stylist, Photographic technician, Picture framer
Printing administrator, Product designer, Prop maker, Reprographic assistant, Sample machinist
Set designer, Sewing machinist, Signwriter, Stonemason, Tailor, Tattooist, Teacher
Textile designer, Textiles production manager, Upholsterer, Visual merchandiser, Web designer
Subject Staff
Mrs R Brown – Head of Art & Creative Arts Faculty
Mr R Hay – 2nd in Art Department
Miss J Hynes
Mrs C Moorhead
Miss J Kidd