Coundon Court Website

INTRODUCTION

Art & Design at Coundon Court is a successful department which is forward thinking allowing for excellent independent learning across Key Stage 3, 4 and post-16.  Our aims are to provide opportunities for students to:

• Enjoy turning their ideas into creative work
• Strive for successful outcomes and self expression through visual artwork
• Be creative and develop thinking skills
• To develop enquiry, initiative, ingenuity and resourcefulness
• To experiment with several different artistic materials and processes with success

Course Description

KS3- The Visual Art Course assesses the level of a student's artistic skills and allows them to develop personal repsonses to projects, using a variety of drawing, painting and 3-dimensional work.  By the end of KS3 students are expect to use their creative and critical skills in sustained activities, They should engage confidently with art and design from a variety of times and cultures, and be able to communicate ideas and feeling using visual language.

KS4 - GCSE This course involves creative work in a variety of disciplines, including drawing, printing, printmaking and 3D work. Students are introduced to their projects one at a time and are expected to do at least 1 hour of homework a week to support the work they do in lesson time.  This enables them to build a flip file of preparatory studies to inform their final pieces of work.  The coursework is made up of 1 project which is 60% of the final mark. The examination project, including a practial examination makes up the remaining 40%.

KS4 - BTEC - This course involves the same sort of creative work as the GCSE course, but does not have an examination element.  Students are expected to do at least 1 hour of homework each week to support the work they tackle in lessons.  This enables students to complete the guided hours required for each unit of work.  Students will be awarded a Pass, Merit or Distinction grade.  To pass the BTEC Level 2 Diploma students will need to complete 6 mandatory units and 2 optional units of work.

For all students in KS4/5 Art rooms are open and lunchtimes and often after school to support students in finishing work or to help improve their use of materials and techniques.

KS5 - AS/A2 Level - Candidates are introduced to a variety of experiences, media and techniques.  They explore drawing and painting using a varety of methods and scales. They are encouraged to develop and push their ideas through their creative work. They analyse ideas and images from many different times and cultures in their practical and written work and are able to give a personal response to them.

At AS the coursework is made up on 1 project, which is 50% of the fina mark; the examination making up the other 50%.  At A2 the AS grade makes up 50% of the final grade, with the A2 coursework being 25%. The examination project makes up the remaining 25%.

KS5 BTEC Level 3 National - Candidates are introduced to a wide variety of experiences through 4 core and 2 specialist units of work.  Students are encouraged to be independent and crative with their ideas and will explore a range a mark making and making techniques during the 2 year course.  Students will be awarded a Pass, Merit or Distinction grade.

Summary of Home Learning Arrangements

KEY STAGE 3
In Year 7, 8 and 9 students are given a homework project each half.  Projects are designed to extend and develop skills taught in the classroom or to study and appreciate the work of professional artists.  Students should spend approximately 2 hours completing their projects.  Due dates are set by individual teachers.  Students are able to access computers and printers at lunchtimes to complete work if they do not have access to them at home.  They should seek permission from their teacher first.  Home learning projects are available on the school website/Moodle.

KEY STAGE 4
Students are expected to spend one hour per week on homework in both Year 10 and 11.  Work in Year 10 focuses on practice and preparation for their coursework and development of knowledge and understanding for each project.  Students can arrange to come in and work with their teachers after school to complete their homework. This allows students to get further support from staff and allows them to use materials in their classrooms.

KEY STAGE 5
Students often complete a great deal of extra work. Many students work independently on their work and enjoy coming in during their free time to work on their projects.

Governing Body

KS4 – OCR (GCSE), Edexcel (BTEC Level 2 Diploma)

KS5 – AQA (AS and A2), Edexcel (BTEC Level 3 National Award)