Art and Design Curriculum Intent
The Art & Design department aims to support students in realising and fulfilling their potential,
through experiencing a culture of collaboration and creativity. Our curriculum allows students to
explore a breadth of materials, processes and resources. We deliver a flexible, knowledge rich
curriculum across all Key Stages to broaden the cultural literacy of our students. Underpinning
our assessment values from KS3-5, are 4 essential skills which we believe are stepping stones to
successful outcomes. These key skills are known as ‘Develop,’ ‘Experiment,’ ‘Record’ and
‘Create.’ We have a shared belief that creative education is fundamental for students to explore
culture, identity, and craftsmanship. Along with critical thinking and problem solving, the
subject of Art facilitates students to make connections, developing a deeper understanding of
the world around them. Our teaching style and curriculum aims to instil high values such as
being resilient, respectful, reflective, adventurous, and creative. At the heart of our department
is quality first teaching, where we strive to offer students an opportunity to study historical and
contemporary artists, architects, crafts people, and designers from a global perspective.
Key Stage 3:
Our KS3 curriculum in Art is designed to help students develop a range of skills including
drawing, painting, textiles, and sculpture. Taking inspiration from a diverse range of artists and
designers, we feel it is essential for our students to see how their creative skills can be
contextualised in the real world. The KS3 curriculum aims to embed foundational knowledge
and skills which are revisited in various creative contexts. Students are introduced to the basic
elements of art and spend a significant amount of time developing their understanding and
application of these skills along with deepening understanding of assessment criteria. Our
curriculum embodies challenge as students’ progress from Year 7-9 to preparing them for the
next phase of their educational career at GCSE.
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Key Stage 4:
Following the Eduqas syllabus, our KS4 curriculum challenges students to refine their creative
practice and demonstrate independence as they progress through the course. Taught in a mixed
ability setting, our students thrive from a flexible curriculum that can meet the needs of all
students. Exposed to a range of styles, mediums and processes our aim at GCSE is to equip
students with the necessary to skills to achieve success at A Level.
Year 10
Year 11
Key Stage 5:
Following the Eduqas Art Craft and Design endorsement, our A Level Art students can further
develop their personal areas of interest. Independent practice is essential to success at A Level,
with teachers facilitating learning through targeted feedback, tutorials and creative workshops.
Our A Level students aspire the lower school, producing confident, personal, and meaningful
outcomes in relation to their chosen themes.