Intent

Our Art curriculum develops the ability for a range of thinking skills, from analytical, reflective, logical and imaginative.  Over their time at BHA, pupils are given opportunities and encouraged to become independent learners in this field, increasing in their confidence to use a range of materials and techniques to express themselves and find their artistic voice.

Implementation

Our curriculum covers the national Curriculum which enables all pupils to:

• produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences
• become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
• evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design
• know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Throughout their studies, pupils will be taught :

• to use a range of techniques to record their observations in sketchbooks, journals and other media as a basis for exploring their ideas
• to use a range of techniques and media, including painting
• to increase their proficiency in the handling of different materials
• to analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work
• about the history of art, craft, design and architecture, including periods, styles and major movements from ancient times up to the present day

Pupils cover a range of topics throughout the three years and build on previous learning and skills. Assessment will take place throughout the year and pupils’ work will be assessed against curriculum related expectations.

Each year group has a unit of work with a three dimensional focus, due to logistics they are delivered in rotation* (in reverse House order V,T,H,C,B & A), with the remaining units given in sequence.

YEAR 6

• Ceramic Dinosaur Sculpture* - Ceramic construction techniques, glazing
• Basic Drawing and Painting Skills - Form, tone, colour theory, still life
• Greek Myth Printing - Translating audio plays into narrative imagery
• Painting Great Art - Exploring various artists’ drawing and painting styles. Developing knowledge about art movements.
• Pattern Around The World - Sampling Maori, Native American and Egyptian patterns inspiring experimental designs and marketing packages.
• Manga Mania - Distinctive genre, as a discipline/way of drawing.

YEAR 7

• Paper African Mask Sculpture* - Creating and appreciating sculptural forms, paper construction techniques, quilling.
• Intermediate Drawing and Painting Skills - Composition work, addressing proportion, depth and single point perspective and colour theory.
• Caravaggio Artist Study - Painting a figure in a local landscape, ‘reading pictures’, trialling different styles.
• Celtic Knot Art and Illuminated manuscripts - Awareness of line, tone, shape and graduated colours, developing personal monograms.
• Climate Change Poster - Reflecting on the use of propaganda posters in WW1, decoding visual clues. Thinking about the power of visual art to communicate through collage.
• Op Art - Using colour for its depth value and creating optical illusions. Exploring formal elements, colour theory.

YEAR 8

• Ceramic Caricature* - Using air-drying clay, imaginative work based on someone who inspires.
• Advanced Drawing and Painting Skills - Through portraiture, Using the grid system, developing three dimensional effects.
• Seasonal Investigation and Response - Exploring great artists and how they create a sense of meaning. Using multiple media where applicable. Creating a considered response.
• Animal Kingdom- Animal portraits, creating a likeness, experimenting with colour and tone using Geometric art and screen printing.
• Fantasy Illustration - Through mixed media, exploring work of book illustrators. Working partly in relief using tissue paper etc. Developing composition skills.
• Future Me - Individual project based seeing themselves ten years in the future. Planning, imagining, drawing, working with a range of materials to produce meaningful work.

Impact

When our pupils leave BHA, they should be able to: 

• Confidently record their ideas accurately in a sketchbook either from direct observation, from memory or their own imagination, generating ideas.  While also being able to select and annotate imagery that will support their creative process.
• Convey meaning through their work.
• Increasingly work independently as they develop their practical skills.
• Produce thoughtful responses to the study of artists. 
• Use a range of different materials and techniques to generate 2D and 3D artwork.
• Select how best to use art resources effectively.
• Analyse and compare artists’ ideas and approaches and recognise possible influences on their work.
• Know to how mix and apply colour to create depth and mood.
• Respond to art forms from a wide historical and cultural period.