Head of Department: Ms D. Marshall
‘There is a strong instinct in me to draw and describe the things I love . . . a sort of instinct, like that of eating and drinking’. (John Ruskin)
Assessment:
• Component 1: Personal Portfolio - 60% of the total GCSE in the form of coursework units/ controlled assessment. It involves generating and developing ideas informed by primary and contextual sources. Refining ideas through experimenting with media and developing and applying skills. Researching, recording, analysing and reviewing your own and others' work. Selecting, creating, realising and presenting personally developed outcome(s).
• Component 2: Externally Set Task - 40% of the total GCSE in the form of an examination with 10 hours sustained focus and supervised preparation time. The Externally Set Task represents the culmination of the GCSE course. The task consists of different written and visual starting points, briefs, scenarios and stimuli set by the exam board. From these, one must be selected upon which to base your personal response within the allocated preparation and exam time.
Why study Art and Design at GCSE?
Art is a tremendously exciting, enriching, and personally rewarding subject to study at GCSE level, which will be of great benefit to any career, arts or otherwise. The aim of the course is to strengthen and broaden your understanding of Art and Design and to provide a framework for the continued study of practical, critical and historical disciplines within the subject. It will also reveal the importance of Art and Design and stimulate imaginative responses to the world around.
How will I learn? The GCSE covers a range of activities and in-depth projects. You will have the opportunity to experiment with different materials, techniques and processes in order to explore strengths and preferences. There are a wide range of options within the Fine Art specialism; working in drawing, painting, sculpture and lens and light based media. Whatever you choose, the main aim of the course is to develop your visual language skills and for you to build a comprehensive portfolio of work to progress to further courses
or employment.
You will be expected to work independently, researching a subject. The GCSE course is specifically designed to make it personal to the individual as well as easier for you to organise your time effectively as the course is broken down into manageable components. It is essential that you complete set homework tasks each week so that advice can be given to improve and refine the work you complete, to ensure the visual journey is cohesive and for you to achieve a high grade at the end of year 11. The workload is consistent and if you work steadily over the course it is manageable.