Art & Photography
Encompassing art, craft and design, photography, chemical darkroom and ceramics, whilst leading in the visual medium of digital technologies.
The Art and Photography department at Leeds West Academy is a vibrant and inspiring place to learn. Creativity is at our heart. The department compromises of a computer suite that support the full Adobe package and three practical art studios. We also have a chemical darkroom, printing press and kiln, allowing us to provide a rich and varied curriculum that covers fine art, photography, printmaking and ceramics.
Art follows the National Curriculum at KS3 and is taught to all students for 1 hour a week. Students have the opportunity to opt at the end of Year 9 for AQA GCSE Art and Design or AQA GCSE Photography, which they will study through Year 10 and 11 for 3 hours per week.
Through their studies, students will have the opportunity to experiment with a variety of materials, techniques and processes, learning to communicate their ideas visually. Students will create personal work in response to their own ideas and the work of other artists and designers.
For further information on the curriculum offered please contact the academy F.A.O Mrs R Nevison nevison.r@whiteroseacademies.org
Courses in Art
Key Stage 4
- GCSE Art and Design (AQA)
- GCSE Photography (AQA)
Key Stage 3 Art & Design Curriculum Breakdown
Year 7 – National Curriculum
Half Term |
Topic |
Learning Outcomes |
Assessment |
Term 1 |
Wonder |
“Who we are,” he said, underlining each word as he said it. “Who we are! Us! Right? What kind of people are we? What kind of person are you? Isn’t that the most important thing of all? Isn’t that the kind of question we should be asking ourselves all the time? “What kind of Person am I?” |
|
|
|
|
|
Term 2 |
Sweets & Treats |
The ‘Sweets and Treats’ project is designed to extend students’ knowledge about the elements of art and develop their ability to apply this in practice. |
|
|
|
|
|
Term 3 |
World Culture |
This project will introduce students to art from Mexican culture, focussing on the traditional Day of the Dead festival. This will develop their understanding and awareness of cultural traditions. |
|
Year 8 – National Curriculum
Half Term |
Topic |
Learning Outcomes |
Assessment |
Term 1 |
Portraiture |
In the first half term, over 3 lessons, students will firstly explore facial proportion, focusing on refining key features of the face and locating them in the correct place (AO3).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term 2 |
Bugs & Butterflies |
This project will allow students to develop their drawing and painting skills. They will start by looking at famous entomologist and artist Eugene Seguy and create an artist research page, developing their layout and presentation skills.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term 3 | Fantastic & Strange |
‘Fantastic & Strange’ is an opportunity for students to explore their creativity and imagination whilst developing knowledge about the artistic movement Surrealism. The project will begin by exploring the surreal movement, including looking at and responding the work of key artists. Students will then design their own surreal creature, which will lead into the development of a final 3D outcome.
|
|
Key Stage 4 Art & Design Curriculum Breakdown
Year 9 – GCSE AQA ART & DESIGN
Half Term |
Topic |
Learning Outcomes |
Assessment |
Term 1 |
Drawing - Natural Forms |
Through this project, students will investigate experimental drawing techniques, exploring line, tone, mark making and dimension. They will be encouraged to observe and record in a variety of ways from a range of primary and secondary sources. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with a wide variety of materials such as stick and ink, charcoal, pen and pencil.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term 2 |
Colour (Portraiture) |
Through this project, students will investigate painting techniques, exploring colour, tone and texture. They will be encouraged to observe and record in a variety of ways from a range of primary and secondary sources. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with a variety of paints, including watercolour and acrylic, in addition to other materials like oil pastels and coloured pencils.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term 3 | 3 Dimensional Design (Street Art) |
Throughout this project students will investigate street art and political art. They will be encouraged to develop contextual links and critically analyse pieces and the meaning behind them. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with digital art, stencilling and 3D sculpting work. The project will ensure students have a good contextual understanding of art and the ability toto develop these ideas into further project ideas. Students will also gain knowledge of 3D techniques and materials which will allow them to widen their creativity and skill base. |
Year 10 – GCSE AQA ART & DESIGN
Half Term |
Topic |
Learning Outcomes |
Assessment |
Term 1 |
Extended Project: Flora & Fauna |
Students will meet the four assessment objectives through this extended project, making personal choices to explore the topic in their own way. |
|
Term 2 |
|||
Term 3 |
Year 11
Year 11 – GCSE AQA Art & Design
Half Term |
Topic |
Learning Outcomes |
Assessment |
Term 1 |
Satellite Project - Architecture and Spaces
|
Throughout this satellite project, students will meet the four assessment objectives by exploring the relationship between art and architecture. They will make personal investigations into the topic through research and response. |
|
|
|
|
|
Term 2 |
Externally Set Exam – Various Themes |
Students will meet the four assessment objectives through the exam project on the question of their choice. |
|
|
|||
Term 3 |
Key Stage 4 Photography Curriculum Breakdown
Year 9
Half Term |
Topic |
Learning Outcomes |
Assessment |
Term 1 |
Natural Forms |
Students will grasp the fundamental concepts of Mac computers, file management and the Adobe suite. |
|
Term 2 |
|||
Term 3 |
Photoshop and graphics editing |
Throughout this term, students will investigate a range of Photoshop artists and use the researched techniques to manipulate their own photographs. Students will begin to develop their photoshop skills and apply an experimental style of editing. |
|
Year 10
Half Term |
Topic |
Learning Outcomes |
Assessment |
Term 1 |
Physical Photography |
Students will focus on the exploration of assessment objective 2, investigating ways to manipulate and display printed photographs. |
|
Term 2 |
Extended Personal Project |
Students will meet the four assessment objectives through this extended project, making personal choices to explore a topic area of their choice. |
|
Term 3 |
Year 11
Half Term |
Topic |
Learning Outcomes |
Assessment |
Term 1 |
Extended Personal Project |
Students will meet the four assessment objectives through this extended project, making personal choices to explore a topic area of their choice. |
|
Term 2 |
Externally Set Exam – Various Themes |
Students will meet the four assessment objectives through the exam project on a question of their choice. |
|
Term 3 |