Art
The department is focused on the development of the individual student through experiencing visual and tactile modes of expression. Our aim is to heighten the students’ intellectual awareness through exploring their imagination, creative and analytical skills. Students develop a wide range of skills and explore various materials including painting and drawing, 3D, printing, textiles and CAD. Crawshaw Art Department is a cheerful, expressive and extremely creative environment and students flourish gaining exceptionally high results. We have 4 fully equipped art rooms offering facilities for painting, drawing, 3D, textiles and printmaking. We are told that the department’s printing press is the best in the Leeds area. We have 4 experienced members of staff plus a full time art technician.
The art department hold an annual exhibition in order to celebrate and exhibit the previous year’s work. This covers all year groups but is mostly to showcase the current KS4 and KS5. This is an open event and is always very popular. There is also an awards ceremony where hardworking and achieving students receive certificates and prizes. See the Calendar for the date and keep an eye on the News pages for a full report. Lunchtime sessions are run on a drop in basis and a programme of structured afterschool sessions.
Who's Who?
Mrs Oates - Joint Team Leader
Ms Purcell - Joint Team Leader
Ms Meehan - Art Teacher
Mr Faulhaber - Art Teacher
“I like Art because you can use your own ideas and initiative” Danielle Butterfield (Year 11)
“I like Art because you can create different things and you can experiment with your ideas” Kerrie Sinclair (Year 8)
“I can express my ideas and be imaginative and creative” Josh Whittles (Year 11)
“Art is really good because you learn lots of different things and my teacher is kind and helps us lot” Brayden Addie (Year 8)
The Curriculum
Key Stage 3
The Art and Design course at KS3 aims to develop the creative, visual and imaginative aspect of the students’ personality. It also aims to build each student’s confidence and ability to express themselves in a visual language.
Year 7
Year 7 begin KS3 by working on improving their art skills and studying the formal elements. Within this scheme they learn the basic skills which are important within art and design. Year 7 look at mark making, shading, colour/the colour wheel and texture and this leads to a project based on an artist such as contemporary Dutch artist Ton Schulten or Hundertwasser. Each teacher may do different variations of this scheme to keep it exciting but all Year 7 will cover basic skills. This forms a solid grounding for KS3.
Year 8
Year 8 start by completing a drawing and painting scheme within the broad umbrella of Pop Art. They study the Pop Art Movement and this will involve researching such artists as Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. This scheme focuses on observational drawing and improving drawing skills. Students will learn to draw objects from real life and this will be centred around the work of contemporary artists such as Michael Craig Martin and Jim Dine. The scheme culminates in students producing their own painting/composition based on their observational drawing in the style of one of the artists studied.
Year 9
Year 9 complete a project called "Exploding Heads". This is a self portrait or portraiture project based on the illustrator Jimmy Turrell. Within the project Year 9 are encouraged to start working more independently and bring in images which they wish to work from. This is a painting/drawing and mixed media project and is based around the student's interests and thoughts. Students will use photoshop to enhance their design and/or filter their portraits to produce different colours and effects. This project promotes independent learning and aims to encourage students to work in a GCSE format so that those wishing to pursue Art or Textiles as a GCSE will receive an insight into what is expected. All students should produce an individual image and this should reflect their own style.
Assessment
Students self, peer and teacher assess during individual project and need to do this in order to improve upon their work. Formal teacher assessment takes place on the completion of a scheme of work. Students also receive a REG mark at the end of every half term, in line with the school assessment policy.
Key Stage 4
GCSE Fine Art (Year 10 and 11)
Fine Art is a very exciting subject as students are introduced to such a wide range of methods and skills. Students are introduced to a variety of experiences exploring a range of fine art media, techniques and processes, including both traditional and new technologies.
Throughout the course they will explore relevant images, artefacts and resources relating to a range of Fine Art, from the past and from recent times, including European and non-European examples.
Content
Candidates are required to work in one or more area(s) of Fine Art, such as Painting and Drawing, Mixed Media, Sculpture, Land Art, Installation, Printmaking, Lens-based and/or light-based media and new media, Television, Animation, Video and Photography.
Candidates are required to integrate critical, practical and theoretical study in Fine Art that encourages direct engagement with original work and practice. Where direct engagement may not be possible, the expectation is that work should include appropriate and explicit critical study.
Assessment
Coursework: 60% of the total marks. Marked out of 80
GCSE Textiles (Year 10 and 11)
GCSE Textiles is a very exciting course as students are introduced to such a wide variety of experiences exploring a range of textile media, techniques and processes, including both traditional and new technologies. Students explore relevant images, artefacts and resources relating to art and design from the past and from recent times, including European and non-European examples which should be integral to the investigating and making process.
Content
Students are required to work in one or more area(s) of Textile Design, such as Fashion and/or costume, Printed and/or dyed materials, Domestic textiles, Constructed and/or applied textiles, Constructed and/or stitched and/or embellished textiles.
Candidates are required to integrate critical, practical and theoretical study in Textile Design that encourages direct engagement with original work and practice. Where direct engagement may not be possible, the expectation is that work should include appropriate and explicit critical study.
Assessment
Coursework: 60% of the total marks. Marked out of 80
Edexcel BTEC First Art and Design Level 2 (8 units) – equivalent to 4 GCSE’s A*-C
This new and exciting course aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the art, graphic and design environment, design practice and demonstrate a variety of practical skills, techniques and processes through working with ‘true to life’ design briefs. As part of the course students will have the opportunity to visit galleries and design studios for primary research and meet practicing artists and designers. It will provide the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to start work or progress to further study in a variety of art and design based careers. This course is ideal for students who are not quite sure which path they would like their career to take. The qualification is recognised both in industry and at FE establishments.
Content
Students will research into design briefs and use the work of designers and artists to develop ideas. They will also investigate a range of 2D and 3D techniques and processes and produce samples. The course aims to relate to contexts that are directly relevant to employment situations, thereby enhancing employability within the art and design sector. An eight ‘unit’ course is studied with titles that range from ‘Exploring Graphic Design,’ ‘Exploring 3D Design,’ working with Fashion and Textile Briefs to ‘working with 3D Design Crafts’.
Assessment
8 Units of school based assessed work are undertaken over two years. There is no examination.
Progression Routes
GCSE Art & Design provides a strong and appropriate foundation for further progression to art and design related courses such as GCE, BTEC and Creative and Media Diplomas and enhanced vocational and career pathways.
Career Opportunities
The course develops the knowledge and skills that can lead to a wide variety of employment opportunities with further training such as illustration, set design, art therapy, ceramics, restoration, animation and photography.
Key Stage 5
GCE AS and A Level Fine Art
The course provides students with the opportunity to develop personal responses to ideas, observations, experiences, environments and cultures in practical, critical and contextual forms. It also provides students with the foundations for further study within Art and Design or related subjects within Higher Education. Students will produce work in one or more areas including painting, drawing, mixed-media, sculpture, printmaking and photography.
The AS course is made up of the following:
Unit 1: Development of a coursework portfolio exemplifying work carried out during the AS course this may include sketchbooks, journals, 3D work, drawings, paintings, prints, photographs and mixed media studies. 50% of AS mark 25% of A Level mark.
Unit 2: An externally set assignment where candidates choose one of five exciting starting points. They then have a preparation period and a supervised exam of 5 hours. Work submitted may include sketchbooks, journals, and study sheets showing the development of ideas. 50% of AS 25% of A Level mark.
The A2 course is made up of the following:
In the A2 units students are required to build on the Knowledge, understanding and skills gained at AS with a greater depth of study.
Unit 3: A personal investigation which is a practical unit with written elements of 1000 to 3000 words in which students develop work in response to an idea, issue, concept or theme of their choosing. They are then expected to develop their ideas leading to a finished piece or pieces. 25% of A Level mark.
Unit 4: An externally set assignment where candidates choose one of eight exciting starting points. They then have a preparation period and a supervised exam of 15 hours. Work submitted may include sketchbooks, journals, and study sheets showing the development of ideas. 25% of A Level mark.
How will work be assessed?
The assessment objectives are common to AS and A level. You will be assessed on 4 areas, developing your ideas demonstrating analytical and critical understanding, experimentation with resources, materials, techniques and processes, recording observations relevant to your intentions and presenting a personal informed and meaningful response.
Prior learning
We recommend that students should have acquired the skills and knowledge associated with GCSE Art & Design/Textiles or equivalent. It is not a requirement but it would prove helpful to students wishing to study A level Fine Art that the GCSE grade/equivalent achieved is at grade C or above.
Progression Route
GCE Art & Design provides a strong and appropriate foundation for further progression to art and design related courses such as Art and Design Foundation Diploma and a wide range of Degree courses.
Career Opportunities
The course develops the knowledge and skills that can lead to a wide variety of employment opportunities with further training such as illustration, set design, art therapy, ceramics, restoration, animation, marketing, advertising, fashion, product design, fine artist, photographer, textile design, exhibition design, interior design, makeup artist, industrial design and jewellery design.
