Why do we learn art?
Head of Department
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Studying Art at GCSE
Year 10
Year 11

Why do we learn art?

Ark Alexandra’s Art Curriculum aims to:

  • Promote interest in traditional and contemporary art from the local community and the wider world.
  • Inspire a love of creating and provide opportunities for students to experiment with different materials, techniques and processes.
  • Cultivate students’ ability and confidence to express themselves, and the value of their own and others’ experiences.
  • Challenge and stretch our students as artists to develop their personal potential and open doors to career pathways.
  • Support students to be independent, self-motivated and resilient.

Students are encouraged to reflect which is a distinctive principle of Christianity and other faiths. They also learn to celebrate differences by acknowledging individuality and understanding that every person deserves to be valued.

Head of Department

Head of Art and Design

Kelly Hawes

Year 7

Autumn 1 Autumn 2
Drawing and Discovery Drawing and Discovery
  • Mark making
  • Experimentation with materials and processes
  • Observational drawing skills
  • Mark making
  • Experimentation with materials and processes
  • Observational drawing skills
Spring 1 Spring 2
Abstraction, Colour and Pattern Texture and Clay
  • Colour theory
  • Painting skills
  • Expressive use of colour in response to personal experiences
  • Pattern, tessellation and printmaking
  • Clay tiles
  • Exploring carving and relief/layering of shapes
Summer 1 Summer 2
Metamorphosis 3D Sculpture
  • Art & literature – Franz Kafka
  • Metamorphosis in nature
  • Mythology and hybrid animals
  • Figure proportions
  • Exquisite creatures
  • Wire sculpture
  • Group work – large-scale sculpture
  • Links with local artists

All Year 7 subjects Next Year 7 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 8

Autumn 1 Autumn 2
Portraiture Portraiture
  • Facial features and proportions
  • Expressive mark making
  • Colour and pattern linked to personal identity
  • Facial features and proportions
  • Expressive mark making
  • Colour and pattern linked to personal identity
Spring 1 Spring 2
Viewpoints Masks
  • Cubism
  • Perspective
  • Simultaneous viewpoints and angles
  • Card relief & mixed media collage
  • Ritual and celebration
  • Links to local events - Jack in the Green
  • Mask making - green man heads
  • Character and identity – hero and villain
  • Expression of own identity and experience
Summer 1 Summer 2
Illusions Murals
  • Optical Art
  • Rhythm, shape and scale
  • One and two-point perspective
  • 2D and 3D illusions
  • Community-led project

All Year 8 subjects Next Year 8 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 9

Autumn 1 Autumn 2
Art & Architecture Art & Architecture
  • Urban/built environment
  • Skill building and experimentation with materials, techniques and processes
  • Urban/built environment
  • Skill building and experimentation with materials, techniques and processes
Spring 1 Spring 2
Sense of Place Investigating Culture
  • Landscapes
  • Colour, mood and atmosphere
  • Skill building and experimentation with materials, techniques and processes
  • Contemporary and traditional cultures, e.g. Celtic, Nordic, Street culture
  • Transitions and rites of passage
  • Research & presentation
  • Responses in a range of materials
Summer 1 Summer 2
Surrealism GCSE Style Thematic Project
  • Storytelling
  • Juxtaposition and transformation
  • Generation of ideas
  • Investigation in response to a theme
  • Experimentation and recording of ideas
  • Creation of a personal response

All Year 9 subjects Next Year 9 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Studying Art at GCSE

Year 10

Autumn 1 Autumn 2
Recording Observations and Research Experimentation and Personal Response
  • Introduction to GCSE assessment criteria
  • Observational drawing skills
  • Annotation and key vocabulary
  • In-depth investigation of an artist
  • Experimentation with materials and techniques using own source material
  • Development of a personal response
Spring 1 Spring 2

Research, Recording, Development and Response

 Independent Project
  • Artist investigations
  • Recording observations in response to research
  • Planning, development and refinement of ideas and compositions
  • Experimentation with techniques and processes to make personal responses
  • Investigation and presentation of research on the chosen theme
  • Initial responses and idea development
Summer 1 Summer 2
Independent Project Independent Project
  • Review choices, theme and progression
  • Experimentation with materials, techniques and processes
  • Planning of ideas
  • Creation of personal responses
  • Evaluation of project and setting intentions.

All Year 10 subjects Next Year 10 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages

Year 11

Autumn 1 Autumn 2
Independent Project Independent Project
  • Review intentions
  • Artist Investigations
  • Recording observations
  • Experimentation and extending ideas
  • Recording observations and experimentation
  • Planning and refinement of ideas
  • Creation of final response or responses
Spring 1 Spring 2
Externally Set Exam Externally Set Exam
  • Exam paper - select a theme from the options provided by the exam board
  • Research and investigate themes widely, including artists and art movements
  • Initial responses
  • Record ideas and observations through a range of materials, techniques and processes
  • Idea development
Summer 1 Summer 2
Externally Set Exam -
  • Further experimentation and planning of refined ideas
  • Creation of final responses
 -

All Year 11 subjects Next Year 11 Subject - Modern Foreign Languages