The Courses

The GCSE Art and Design, GCSE Digital Photography courses encourages learners to:

• actively engage in the creative process of art, craft and design in order to develop as effective and independent learners, and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds
• develop creative, imaginative and intuitive capabilities when exploring and making images, artefacts and products
• become confident in taking risks and learn from experience when exploring and experimenting with ideas, processes, media, materials and techniques
• develop critical understanding through investigative, analytical, experimental, practical, technical and expressive skills
• develop and refine ideas and proposals, personal outcomes or solutions with increasing independence
• acquire and develop technical skills through working with a broad range of media, materials, techniques, processes and technologies with purpose and intent
• develop knowledge and understanding of art, craft and design in historical and contemporary contexts, societies and cultures
• develop an awareness of the different roles and individual work practices evident in the production of art, craft and design in the creative and cultural industries
• develop an awareness of the purposes, intentions and functions of art, craft and design in a variety of contexts and as appropriate to students’ own work

Enrichment Opportunities

Art Club is held most days during lunchtimes, and provides a valuable space where pupils can continue with class projects or develop their own individual portfolios – using a range of 2D and 3D materials. We set creative challenges on Google Classroom to help keep pupils creative outside of school.

Homework

Homework can take a variety of forms including written tasks, revision exercises, online tasks and preparation for coursework or practical examinations. The aim of homework is to supplement the learning that takes place in the classroom and instil independent learning, a crucial lifelong skill. Staff aim to give ample time to complete homework tasks so learners should plan their own time carefully in order to meet deadlines. The frequency of homework can vary depending on the number of lessons offered over a fortnight.

The majority of subject areas make use of Google Classroom to communicate any homework requirements to the learners. I would encourage learners and parents/carers to check Google Classrooms regularly.

Parents/Carers should endeavour to provide a quiet space for their children to complete homework tasks. Where this is not possible, the school does provide such places for learners to access in their lunchtime or afterschool hours. Please encourage learners to discuss this with their tutors or progress leaders in the first instance.

Feedback

Expressive Arts

All teachers will provide verbal feedback. Feedback lessons will follow extended written assignments to allow students to improve their work in DIRT based on the guidance given.

Art and Design/ Digital Photography KS4

All teachers will provide instant verbal feedback. At least once per half term, students will be asked to produce annotation for their portfolio.

There will be at least one ‘mock’ exam in Year 10 and in Year 11. Feedback will be given half-termly using the GCSE art assessment objectives matrix provided by the exam board. Feedback lessons will allow students to improve their work in DIRT based on the guidance given.

Assessment

Assessment is an important aspect of a learner’s learning journey. Apart from indicating the current performance of an individual, assessments also inform learners and staff which areas they need to develop. At Ysgol y Grango, staff continuously assess a learner’s progress through a variety of methods. This could include informal assessment, such as quizzes or observations, or formal assessments, such as written tests or coursework.

Ysgol y Grango use an online system called Go4Schools to track and monitor individual learners. Learners and parents/carers can also access information such as reports and subject progress through their own Go4schools login.

Throughout Key stage 4, learners will sit various external assessments. The timing of these assessments varies depending on the subject. Some of these assessment timings are controlled by the school but many are put in place by the examination board. As such it is important that learners are present for these assessments as missing elements of a course can significantly affect the overall grade for a learner.

Expressive Arts

There will be at least three formal assessments each year, as indicated on the school calendar. At least once per half term, students will be asked to produce an extended written assignment. Visual artwork will be marked at least once per half term. Evidence of peer and/or self-assessment is evident at least once a half term.

Art and Design/ Digital Photography KS4

At least once per half term, students will be asked to produce annotation for their portfolio. There will be at least one ‘mock’ exam in Year 10 and in Year 11. Evidence of peer and/or self-assessment is evident at least once a half term