Art and Photography 

Head of Subject: Mrs Tracey MacKellar

‘Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up’. 

Pablo Picasso

Welcome to Redruth Art and Photography department where creativity and lifelong learning are central to our ethos.

Art & Photography curriculum intent

The Art Department at Redruth School is dedicated to nurturing students’ creative thinking as they explore a diverse range of artistic mediums and techniques. Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on developing critical evaluation skills, empowering students to analyse and interpret artwork with depth and nuance, and placing it in the context of the time and place it was created to build a wider understanding of the world. By promoting artistic freedom, we aim to instil in our students the confidence to communicate their ideas and emotions through art, fostering a lifelong appreciation for the transformative power of creativity and the tools to not only appreciate the world of art but also contribute meaningfully to it.

Art and Photograph Curriculum Intent

 

L J Art 2023

 

J L Art&Design 2023

What does the Key Stage 3 art and photography curriculum look like?

We focus on developing skills in drawing, painting, ceramics, 3D work and critical analysis, students in years seven and eight are able to join Art club where they have opportunities to extend their studies as well as taking part in local competitions and events. 

Year nine students will have the fantastic opportunity to to achieve a Bronze Arts Award through extra curricular lessons after-school.  Students will collect evidence in an individual arts log or portfolio of their experiences of:

  • developing their interests, knowledge and skills through actively participating in any art form
  • experience of at least one arts event/experience as an audience member and their review of that event/experience
  • researching the career and work of an artist or craftsperson that inspires them
  • experience of passing on an arts skill

Key Stage 3 skills taught:

  • Use a range of techniques to record their observations in sketchbooks, journals and other media as a basis for exploring their ideas
  • Use a range of techniques and media
  • Increase their proficiency in the handling of different materials
  • Analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen their knowledge and understanding
  • The history of art, craft, design and architecture, including periods, styles and major movements from ancient times up to the present day.

Year 7 Overview 

Pop Art  - mixed media outcome

Creepy Crawlies – print making

Year 8 Overview 

Urban Decay – 3D sculptures

Illustration – Drawing

Year 9 Overview 

Mixed Media Photography – photographs and sewing

Posters with Meaning – mixed media

 

What does the Key Stage 4 art and photography curriculum look like?

Students who choose art or photography at this key stage follow the AQA GCSE course.  This is divided into two units:

  • Unit 1: Portfolio of work which accounts for 60% of the final grade.
  • Unit 2: Externally set task, which accounts for 40% of the final grade.

The student’s portfolio must include more than one extended collection of work or project selected from artwork undertaken during the course of study and meet all four assessment objectives:

AO1 Develop their ideas through investigations informed by contextual and other sources demonstrating analytical and cultural understanding (Look at the work of other artists and think about how they work, show that you have really thought about this and use this to give you ideas about ways to develop your own work)

AO2 Refine ideas through experimenting and selecting appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes (When you collect images, show that you can select the best and experiment with different ways to develop your ideas to find the one that works best! We should be able to see evidence of this in your sketchbook)

AO3 Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions in visual and/or other forms (Think carefully about the images you collect for projects, if you start off with lots of good material then you give yourself a chance to do your very best!)

AO4 Present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating analytical and critical understanding, realising intentions and where appropriate, making connections between visual, written, oral or other elements. (This brings everything together – if you have worked hard on Assessment Objectives 1-3 then you will be able to develop some exciting final work)

Our students produce work that covers a diverse range of disciplines within the arts.  Unit two students produce work in response to start points set by the exam board for their practical exam.

Art and photography in the wider school community

We have a huge presence at many local community events including:

  • Murdoch Day
  • St Piran’s Day
  • Fun Palaces, Krowji
  • CreatEd, Falmouth University
  • Young Persons Art Prize, Exchange Gallery Penzance
  • Christmas Lantern Parade

We have a weekly Art Club and a weekly Fashion Club. We take part in many local trips every year to local art exhibitions and galleries.

How can you support art and photography learning at home?

1. Try to ensure there are always drawing materials for your child to access and use when they want to

 2. Talk to your child about their artwork

3. Give children the chance to experiment

4. Visit galleries

5. Find the value of art in everyday things.

Gallery

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