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Art & Photography Curriculum

Creative, ambitious and visually rich learning from Year 7 through to GCSE.

Art and Photography

Why study Art?

What Art develops

  • Develops creative thinking
  • Improves problem-solving skills
  • Enhances critical and visual thinking
  • Influences culture and society
  • Encourages self-expression

Student voice

“I enjoy painting in Art because I am very creative and Art allows me to show off my creativity! I really enjoy studying Ben Eine in our Protest Art project because of the colours and meaning of his work.” Gwen, Year 9

Key Stage 3 Art – Cycle Overview

Cycle 1

Year 7 – Yellena James & Formal Elements

Knowledge focus

Yellena James; formal elements of colour, pattern, tone and shape.

Key skills

  • Shading techniques and watercolour application
  • Introduction to sculpture
  • Understanding and responding to the work of an artist

Assessment

  • Yellena James research page
  • Shading techniques (coloured fine liner)
  • Overlapped composition
  • “Scarpace Sea Creature” final piece

 

Key Vocabulary 

  • Tone
  • Pencil pressure
  • Colour
  • Complimentary Colours 
  • Primary Colours
  • Secondary Colours
  • Tint
  • Shade
  • Symmetrical
  • Hatching 

Year 8 – Roy Lichtenstein & Pop Art

Knowledge focus

Roy Lichtenstein and Pop Art, including links to consumerism.

Key skills

  • Pop Art history and visual language
  • Grid drawing method
  • Printing techniques and portraiture

Assessment

  • Roy Lichtenstein research page
  • Pop Art poly print
  • Pop Art oil pastel print
  • Pop Art portrait final outcome

 

Key Vocabulary 

  • Cross hatching
  • Roy Lichenstein
  • Pop art
  • Ben Day
  • Andy Warhol
  • Juxtaposition
  • Composition
  • Bold
  • Vibrant 
  • Evaluate ​

Year 9 – Protest Art

Knowledge focus

Protest art, Ben Eine, and the history of protest and graffiti.

Key skills

  • Typography and lettering
  • Interpreting and analysing protest imagery
  • Using mixed media to communicate a message

Assessment

  • Ben Eine research page
  • Watercolour blending & typography studies
  • Protest sign and zine-making project

 

Key Vocabulary 

  • Analogous colours
  • Typography
  • Blending 
  • Tone
  • Observational 
  • Experimental
  • Analyse
  • Evaluate
  • Realistic
  • Accurate

Cycle 2

Year 7 – Insects

Knowledge focus

Insects, inspired by Cornelia Hesse-Honegger and ideas around Chernobyl.

Key skills

  • Symmetrical drawing and tonal work
  • Gridded drawing methods
  • Refining watercolour techniques

Assessment

  • Cornelia Hesse-Honegger research page
  • Watercolour insect
  • Tonal pencil insect
  • Insect final piece

 

Key Vocabulary 

  • Tone
  • Pencil pressure
  • Colour
  • Complimentary Colours 
  • Primary Colours
  • Secondary Colours
  • Tint
  • Shade
  • Symmetrical
  • Hatching 

Year 8 – Food

Knowledge focus

Food as subject matter, exploring the work of Sarah Graham.

Key skills

  • Gridded drawing and accurate proportion
  • Watercolour and oil pastel application
  • Photography as a reference tool

Assessment

  • Sarah Graham research page
  • Coloured pencil sweets
  • Gridded sweet drawing
  • Mixed-media food artwork

 

Key Vocabulary 

  • Cross hatching
  • Roy Lichenstein
  • Pop art
  • Ben Day
  • Andy Warhol
  • Juxtaposition
  • Composition
  • Bold
  • Vibrant 
  • Evaluate ​

Year 9 – Identity

Knowledge focus

Identity through portraiture and the work of Mark Powell.

Key skills

  • Facial proportions and drawing from reference
  • Exploring materials – watercolour, biro, tonal pencil
  • Interpreting and constructing meaning in imagery

Assessment

  • Mark Powell research page
  • Biro pen faded images & facial features studies
  • Map and celebrity identity piece

Key Vocabulary 

  • Analogous colours
  • Typography
  • Blending 
  • Tone
  • Observational 
  • Experimental
  • Analyse
  • Evaluate
  • Realistic
  • Accurate

 

 

 

 

 

Across KS3, students build secure knowledge of formal elements, artists and media, ready for GCSE Art & Photography.

Key Stage 4 Art – AQA GCSE

Cycle 1 – Coursework Development

Year 10 – Exploring Materials

Knowledge focus

Exploring a range of materials and processes to develop a sustained coursework portfolio.

Key skills

  • Developing ideas through critical thinking and artist research
  • Refining work through experimentation with media
  • Recording ideas through drawing and annotation
  • Creating final outcomes informed by artist inspiration

Assessment

AQA Assessment Objectives AO1–AO4. Coursework makes up 60% of the final grade.

Year 11 – Mock Exam Project

Knowledge focus

A mock exam brief that mirrors the externally set task format.

Key skills

  • Managing a project from initial research to final piece
  • Targeted refinement of techniques and personal style
  • Preparing for timed exam conditions

Assessment

Mock exam assessed using AQA AO1–AO4, counting towards the coursework component.

Cycle 2 – Externally Set Exam (ESA)

Year 10 – Identity

Knowledge focus

Identity-based project preparing students for the demands of the ESA.

Key skills

  • Independent research and source gathering
  • Experimenting with combinations of materials and processes
  • Recording and refining personal ideas

Assessment

Assessed using AO1–AO4; builds towards overall coursework (60%).

Year 11 – Externally Set Exam

Knowledge focus

AQA Externally Set Assignment (ESA) leading to a timed final piece.

Key skills

  • Sustained investigation from chosen exam theme
  • Refining ideas and composition before the exam
  • Completing a final outcome under timed conditions

Assessment

AQA AO1–AO4. The ESA is 40% of the final grade and is completed as a timed exam.

The GCSE Art course is structured so that Year 10 builds coursework skills and confidence, while Year 11 consolidates learning and prepares students for the externally set exam.

Key Stage 4 Photography – AQA GCSE

Cycle 1 – Foundation Photography

Year 10 – Slinkachu

Knowledge focus

The work of Slinkachu and miniature street photography.

Key skills

  • Understanding how to use a camera and compose shots
  • Planning and creating a photography project
  • Exploring basic editing techniques
  • Using photographers as inspiration for personal work

Assessment

  • Research and analysis of Slinkachu
  • Recorded photography skills and edited outcomes
  • AO1–AO4 contributing to coursework (60% of final grade)

Year 11 – Mock Exam Project

Knowledge focus

Mock exam brief mirroring the photography ESA.

Key skills

  • Sustained photographic investigation from a starting point
  • Refining editing and presentation techniques
  • Preparing for timed ESA conditions

Assessment

Assessed through AO1–AO4; forms a major part of the coursework element (60%).

Cycle 2 – Hands & Externally Set Exam

Year 10 – Hands

Knowledge focus

The theme of “Hands” as a vehicle for developing ideas and technical control.

Key skills

  • Investigating meaning and symbolism in imagery
  • Experimenting with lighting, composition and editing
  • Recording and annotating photographic experiments

Assessment

AO1–AO4, contributing to the coursework and mock exam profile.

Year 11 – Externally Set Exam

Knowledge focus

AQA Photography Externally Set Assignment leading to a timed practical exam.

Key skills

  • Independent research and photographer analysis
  • Experimenting with materials, editing styles and presentation
  • Preparing and executing a final piece in a 10-hour exam over two days

Assessment

AQA AO1–AO4. The ESA counts for 40% of the final grade.

Cycle 3 – Fantastic & Strange (Y10)

Year 10 – Fantastic and Strange

Knowledge focus

Exploring surreal, imaginative and experimental photography.

Key skills

  • Sustained investigation informed by photographic and artistic sources
  • Advanced editing and image manipulation
  • Recording and reflecting on creative choices

Assessment

AO1–AO4, contributing significantly to mock-exam-style assessment in Year 10.

For Key Stage 5 Curriculum information please click link here to our Sixth Form Curriculum