Art

Programme of study Y7

Study of the 'Visual Elements'. The projects will take approximately five weeks. The students will also have a drawing skills task and an artist related task done during the first few lessons of the term.

Programme of study Y8

Study of 'The Principles of Art'. Students will build upon the work learnt in Year 7 on the 'Visual Elements of Art'. Project based learning, with a drawing skills task and an artist related task done during the first few lessons of the term.

Programme of study Y9

Three projects (one per term) in line with GCSE project work, structure and assessment of objectives. I

Assessment

Three assessments per term based on a creative project, a drawing skills task and an artist related task.

https://sites.google.com/westsideschoolgibraltar.com/westside-art-department/key-stage-3 

Award: GCSE

Awarding Body: AQA

Specification Code:  8202

Specification Website:  AQA GCSE Art & Design

Fine Art course

In Component 1 and Component 2 students are required to work in one or more area(s) of fine art, such as those listed below:

 • drawing

• painting

• sculpture

• installation

• photography and the moving image

• printmaking

• mixed media

They may explore overlapping areas and combinations of areas.

Component 1: Portfolio (60% of grade)

Each student must select and present a portfolio representative of their course of study. The portfolio must include both:

• 1. A sustained project developed in response to a subject, theme, task or brief evidencing the journey from initial engagement with an idea(s) to the realisation of intentions. This will give students the opportunity to demonstrate, through an extended creative response, their ability to draw together different areas of knowledge, skills and/or understanding from across their course of study.

  2. A selection of further work resulting from activities such as trials and experiments; skills-based workshops; mini and/or foundation projects; responses to gallery, museum or site visits; work placements; independent study and evidence of the student’s specific role in any group work undertaken.

Component 2: Externally set assignment (40% of grade)

AQA will provide a separate externally set assignment for each title, each with seven different starting points. Students must select and respond to one starting point from their chosen title.

The externally set assignment provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate, through an extended creative response, their ability to draw together different areas of knowledge, skills and/or understanding in response to their selected starting point.

Students must ensure that the total submission for Component 2 evidences coverage of all four assessment objectives and evidence of drawing activity and written annotation. Students must identify and acknowledge sources which are not their own. 

Award: A-Level

Awarding Body: AQA

Specification Code: 7202

Specification Website: AQA Art & Design

Institution:  Bayside/Westisde

Fine art offers opportunities to use your creativity to express yourself. You will develop your understanding of creative processes, your ability to observe and to think, to solve problems and to communicate in a visual way. It will enable you to work independently and to make your own discoveries by exploring ideas, other artists’ work and different materials and techniques. Fine art gives you the skills and knowledge to create personal and imaginative work. If you have an adventurous, creative and enquiring mind and are excited by shaping and determining the visual world around us, there is a career opportunity waiting for you. 

Programme of Study

Practical course

The A-level is a practical course in which you learn by doing, so you will be able to create imaginative personal work. You will find out about a whole range of media, techniques and processes. You will develop your creativity and independent thought, learn to express yourself visually and let your imagination flourish. Fine Art is a great companion to all other subjects as creativity, imagination and problem solving skills can give you great ideas for your other subjects.

Fine Art A-level builds on the skills, knowledge and understanding developed through study at GCSE. At the end of the A-level course you will have the skills, knowledge and understanding needed for higher education.

 Fine Art course content

• • Drawing

  • Painting

  • Mixed-media  (including collage and assemblage)

  • Sculpture

  • Ceramics

  • Installation

  • Printmaking

  • Moving image (film and video).

Assessment

Component 1: Personal Investigation

• Non-exam assessment (NEA) set and marked by the centre and moderated by AQA during a visit to the centre. Visits will normally take place in June. 

• No time limit

• 96 marks

• 60% of A-Level

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment

• Non-exam assessment (NEA) set and marked by the centre and moderated by AQA during a visit to the centre. Visits will normally take place in June. 

• Preparatory period + 15 hours supervised time

• 96 marks

• 40% of A-level

Future Options

Possible degree options

• • 2D and 3D animation

  • 3D design

  • Applied arts

  • Architecture

  • Art history

  • Art therapy

  • Ceramics

  • Digital media

  • Fine art painting

  • Fine art printmaking

  • Fine art sculpture

  • Game design

  • Illustration

  • Industrial design

  • Interior architecture   and design

  • Visual communication

  • Visual effects for film and television

Possible career options

Studying a fine art related degree at university can give you all sorts of exciting career opportunities including:

• • Architect

  • Art technician

  • Art therapist

  • Art valuer

  • Artist in residence

  • Arts administrator

  • Community arts worker

  • Illustrator

  • Lecturer

  • Multimedia artist

  • Mural artist

  • Museum/gallery curator

  • Painter

  • Printmaker

  • Sculptor

  • Teacher

Award: A-Level 

Awarding Body: Edexcel

Specification Code: 9HT0

Specification Website: Edexcel A-Level History of Art

Institution: Westside

It is recommended that students who opt to do History of Art have a passion for reading and a good solid command of the English language. It is expected that students will need to research all topics covered and use their notes and critical text information to quote authors and Art historians to support their exam answers. Students are required to analyse or interpret works of art and to create a critical argument in response to questions.

Subject Content

The study of art in its historical and contemporary forms gives students crucial knowledge of world civilisations. It gives students visual and analytical skills that can be applied in many walks of life and the tools to understand how images and objects work to shape our social and political identities. This specification allows students to develop particular strengths and interests, encourages lifelong learning and provides access to higher education and university degree courses in art history and related subjects, as well as art historical-related and other careers. Students should be encouraged to research and investigate art through first-hand experience.

The subject content is divided into three areas:

• • A: Visual analysis

  • B: Themes

  • C: Periods.

Qualification aims and objectives

The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to:

• • engage actively and independently in historical, theoretical and critical study of art

  • be encouraged, where possible, to research and investigate art through first-hand experience of works of art

  • understand the relationship between society, culture, technology, politics and art

  • understand the ways in which art has been used and interpreted by past and present societies

  • understand the influences on, and contributions of, artists

  • know key art historical terms, concepts and issues

  • understand how visual language is used by artists to communicate ideas, including formal characteristics, materials, techniques, and processes

  • be able to analyse and make critical judgements about art

  • use evidence to substantiate structured arguments about art

  • study a sufficient range of artists and works of art to ensure an appropriate depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding of specified movements/periods and themes.

Knowledge and understanding

All students must develop the ability to apply their knowledge and understanding in evidenced, structured arguments across all investigation areas. These cover:

• • art historical terms and concepts

  • influential artists and art of key historical movements, periods, styles and types of art

  • changes in art over time, including: the influence of cultural, social, political and technological factors on relevant works of art, artists and movements/periods

  • significant developments in materials, techniques and processes and how they have contributed to changes in art

  • ways in which art has been used and interpreted by past and present societies

  • influences of prior art movements/periods on artists and works

  • critical texts that discuss specific artists’ work, their contributions and influences

  • the impact of exhibition/gallery and curatorship choices on the reception of works of art

  • how original and subsequent environments and settings contribute to the impact of works of art and architecture.

All A Level specifications must require students to study:

• • appropriate terminology, visual language and concepts to communicate knowledge, understanding and interpretation of formal features and their effects or intentions 

  •  knowledge and understanding of developments in art and connections between movements/periods in the context of specified Themes, including at least two works by three specified artists 

  • knowledge and understanding of artists and works of art representative of two specific Periods, including at least three works by two specified artists 

  • works representing the different types of art (painting/2D, sculpture/3D and architecture) 

  • at least one critical text relevant to each Theme/Period, artist and/or work studied 

  • impact and influence of curatorship, setting and environment, both original and subsequent, to the overall impression of works of art. 

Year 12

Visual Analysis in painting, sculpture and architecture is covered in the first year.

Themes covered in the first year will be:

• • B2 Identities in art and architecture 

  • B3 War in art and architecture 

Year 13

Periods covered in the Second year will be:

• • C1: Invention and illusion: the Renaissance in Italy (1420–1520) 

  • C5: Pop Life: British and American contemporary art and architecture (1960–2015)

Assessment

Paper 1

• 3 Hours

• 50% of A-Level

• Content Covered:

  • Visual Analysis

  • B2 Identities in art and architecture 

  • B3 War in art and architecture 

Paper 2

• 3 Hours

• 50% of A-Level

• Content Covered:

  • C1: Invention and illusion: the Renaissance in Italy (1420–1520) 

  • C5: Pop Life: British and American contemporary art and architecture (1960–2015)