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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 Insects and Plants
    • Key artists: Maria Sibylla Merian, Georgia O'Keefe, Diane Sutherland, Rosalind Monks
    • Key skills: Drawing construction, Mark making, blending colour using paints, creating tone, creating texture, coloured blending.

 

  • Still Life
    • Key artists: Georgio Morandi, Fernando Botero, Dawn Tan
    • Key skills: Observation drawing, blending paint, mixing colours, exploring space and composition, overlapping shapes, proportion, advanced colour mixing

 

Year 8:

  • Organic Form
    • Key Artists: Barbara Hepworth, Peter Randall Page, Henry Moore, Magdalene Odundo.

    • Key Skills: Exploring organic form, Wax Resist, pen and ink drawing, clay tile making.

       

  • Imaginary Creatures
    • Key artists: Olivia Lomenech Gill, Edgar Flores Saner, Albrecht Dürer

    • Key skills: Imaginative compositions, design work, lino printing, watercolour techniques.

 

Year 9:

  • Text and word
    • Key artists: Ahmed Mustafa, Jasper Johns, Bob and Roberta Smith, Morag Myerscough
    • Key skills: Composition techniques, 3D paper craft, poster design, colour pen work, watercolour and blending techniques, one-point perspective.

       

  • Portrait, Pattern and Identity
    • Key artists: Kehinde Wiley, Faith Ringgold, Bisa Butler, Althea McNish
    • Key skills: Explore a variety of artist techniques, artist research, proportion of the face, showing emotion through colour, mixed media, mono printing, collage.