Art

Staffing in Art
Art is taught by three teachers; these include Ms Millward, Mr Naylor and Mr Rose.  They are supported by Zalika Leadette- Williams, the Art Technician.

Aims of the Department
Art makes use of three general art & design rooms which are equipped to teach drawing, painting, printmaking and 3D.  One of the rooms can facilitate clay and is equipped with a kiln, pug mill, cement drying area and a non slip floor. We have the opportunity to use the textile room which we share with Technology and a darkroom is used for photography club and teaching at Key Stage

Our programme of study provides opportunities for pupils to work in groups, to take part in discussions and to present their observations. Such activities encourage pupils to collaborate with others, and to develop understanding of and respect for others. Exploring art, craft and design across both times and cultures deepens pupils’ global understanding and helps them to engage with local and national issues. Pupils recognise that they can make a difference for the better.

“Working for and celebrating achievement” is the key aim of the Art department.  We use every opportunity to promote the pupils and their artwork through Assemblies, exhibitions, art work around the school, articles in the Cumberland Chronicle and high profile events within the borough and beyond.

Last year we were involved with the “Big Draw” project, in which we worked closely with the Royal College of Art.  Pupils worked with two MA students from the college, visited the RCA and put on an exhibition and presentation to peers, parents and teachers/art educationists. From the success of this we won the overall winner for the Drawing Inspirational Awards, where the pupils again represented the school at the awards ceremony and received the award from Posy Simmonds, the children’s illustrator.

Cumberland School has been involved with the Creative Quarter event hosted by The V&A, where pupils met the managing director of a commercial animation advertising company to discuss with him projects such as the Sony/ Bravia advert and National Rail adverts.

We have good links with NewVIC.  Pupils visit year 12 lessons and discuss career pathways and art college courses.
Year 10 pupils have also attended a taster day on the fashion course at Newham College.

In terms of teaching and learning, our priorities in the past have involved:-

  • Literacy and Numeracy ensuring subject specific words for each specialist room are in place and used to full potential through starter activities.
  •  The use of language and questioning skills focusing on key stage 3.
  • The development of Schemes of Work and ensuring pupils Know your Levels and criteria for moving through levels. Creating clear marking criteria and pupil self evaluations.
  • Target pupils working at higher levels – Attend clay club
  • To continue developing Schemes of work to utilise the new equipment available to us.
  • To maintain and improve our homework completion rate through journey books.
  • Pupil’s voice through the Cumberland Chronicle.


The Art Curriculum in Year 7
In Year 7 pupils study Art for 1 hour a week and undertake 3 units of work.  These include:

  • Jammy Dodger – Observational drawing and collage project – inspired by the art movement POP Art
  • Supersized – Drawing and painting project – inspired by the artist Claus Oldenburg
  • Funky Food – 3D Group project – developing skills of leadership and team building to create large 3D sculptures. 


The Art Curriculum in Year 8
In Year 8 pupils study Art for 1 hour a week and undertake 3 units of work.  These include:

  • Movement – developing painting and colour mixing skills inspired by the Futurist art movement
  • Animation – Exploring Developing ideas of animation
  • Fishy Pots – Print project


The Art Curriculum in Year 9
In Year 9 pupils study Art for 1 hour a week and undertake 3 units of work.  These include:

  • Apples & Pears – developing drawing and painting skills, responding to Pointillism and impressionist styles
  • Identity – Exploring the theme of Identity inspired by the artists Michael Craig Martin & Banksy


The Art Curriculum in Year 10
In Key Stage 4 pupils who have selected Art as one of their option subjects follow the Edexcel GCSE Art & Design course.  In Year 10 pupils study Art for 2 hours a week and undertake 2 units of work.  These include:

  • Paper 1 =  Natural form – Skill based project
  • Paper 1 = Cumberland Masquerade project – Pupils visit an exhibition in Central London, focussing on research and developing ideas and themes around masks – pupils create their own 3D masks from their research

The Art Curriculum in Year 11
In Year 11 pupils study Art for 3 hours a week and undertake 3 units of work.  These include:

  • Paper 1= Wraps project
  • Paper 2 = Exam prep – theme changes every year.


Assessment for Learning
The Art & Design department believes the marking of coursework, class work and homework/research is centered to promoting Teaching & Learning and raising standards. The following processes are recognised as a practical and manageable guide to the application of this policy.

Key Stage 3

  • Homework/Research to be set once every two weeks, written on whiteboard at suitable point in lesson, into the planner which pupils are expected to have out at the beginning, on their desks. 
  • The teacher records and monitors the homework set in the teacher planner with appropriate action given for rewards and sanctions
  • Students are to be aware through displays; discussion and interactive whiteboards on
  • How to improve their work and level.
  • Levels descriptors are broken down so that students can access them and can know what there level is at any point this is displayed in each classroom
  • Each unit of work is marked on 3 areas
  • Exploring and developing Ideas
  • Investigating and making art, craft and design
  • Evaluating and developing work
  • At the end of each year the students are given an end of year level which is calculated
  • Through the 3 units of work taught and the exam level. This level is stuck into the journey book at the beginning of the year and this has targets on how to move onto the next level.


Key Stage 4

  • Homework/research to be set every week for KS4. This will follow the scheme of work.
  • Marks and grades will be in accordance with EDEXCEL Matrix Taxonomy & GCSE grades and boundaries.
  • Homework/research will be graded and mark for attainment will be entered in register/file. The process for marking should be at times involve discussion, feedback and diagnostic comments, in the main verbal, given with pupils arranged around display on table. Pupils are encouraged to participate in this session.


Art Department Responsibilities

  • To ensure pupils are aware of levels and have understanding of what each level represents.
  • To plan SOW that provides opportunities for pupils to achieve different levels.
  • To mark work and award levels equally.


Attainment in our Department
 

Results at end of Key Stage 3 (Level 5+)

  2008 2009 2010
Level 5+ 48% 64% 70%


Results at end of Key Stage 4 (A*-C)

  2008 2009 2010
GCSE 48% 44% 58%