Key Stage 3 - Art 

Art and Design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. The Art Department at The Heathland School aims to engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation (National Curriculum, 2013)

The KS3 curriculum introduces key formal elements to students through a range of projects. These projects encourage students to work both solely and as part of a group. They are introduced to basic key skills through the formal elements and then these are built on throughout the three years. Each project is designed to enhance and build on initial skills taught, going into greater depth while encouraging creative thinking, risk-taking and confidence. 

Pupils will be taught:

• To use a range of techniques to record their observations in sketchbooks, journals and other media as a basis for exploring their ideas
• To use a range of techniques and media
• To increase their proficiency in the handling of different materials
• To analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work
• To increase their independent working and time management skills
• About the history of art, craft, design and architecture, including periods, styles and major movements from ancient times up to the present day.

In each of the years 7, 8 and 9, the programme of study includes three projects:

Year 7:

• Interesting Invertebrates
  • Key artists: Maria Sibylla Merian, Kate Kato, Damien Hirst, Justin Gershenson-Gates
  • Key skills: Mark making, blending colour using paints, showing emotion, 3D Paper construction, mixed media, coloured blending.
• Still Life
  • Key artists: Wayne Thiebaud, Dawn Tan
  • Key skills: Observation drawing, blending paint, mixing colours, exploring space and composition, overlapping shapes, proportion, advanced colour mixing

Year 8:

• Architecture & Perspective
  • Key Artists: David Adjaye, Danielle Aras, Sophie Elm
  • Key Skills: One + two point perspective, pen and ink drawing, technical drawing, overlapping shape, monoprinting, linocut printing
• Weird and Wonderful Animals
  • Key artists: William Blake, Ellen Jewett, Thomas Grunfeld, Olivia Lomenech Gill
  • Key skills: Overlapping shapes, imaginative compositions, blending paints, ink and watercolour techniques, design work, clay Masks, slab building, low + high relief of Mexican mask culture.
• Natural forms (Still Life Accordion Sketchbook)
  • Key artists: Rory McEwin, Pablo Picasso, Judith T. Greenberg
  • Key skills: Observation drawing, blending paint, mark making, mixed media, experimental drawing, and sketchbook construction.

Year 9:

• Portraiture Photography
  • Key artists: Steve McCurry, Jimmy Nelson, Laura Zalenga
  • Key skills: photographer research, explore a variety of photography techniques, annotation, basic camera skills, studio set up, contact sheets, photoshoot planning, basic Photoshop, working in a sketchbook.
• Portrait and Pattern
  • Key artists: Gustav Klimt, Kehinde Wiley, B A H M A N.
  • Key skills: Explore a variety of artist techniques, artist research, proportioned portrait, showing emotion through colour, line patter, grid drawing, acrylic painting.
• In The News
  • Key artists: Hannah Hoch, Kirsty Whitlock, Shepard Fairey, Joachim Romain
  • Key Themes: homelessness/poverty, racism, gender inequalities, pollution/environment
  • Key skills: Explore a variety of artist techniques, artist research, annotation, mixed media, printmaking, collage, painting, drawing, typography/calligraph