At Key Stage 4 students follow the Edexcel GSCE syllabus for Art, Craft and Design. Students build on their Key Stage 3 skills and knowledge to meet four assessment objectives. The course involves two units, comprising a coursework portfolio and an externally set assignment (including a 10-hour exam spread over a number of days).
Students have the opportunity to explore and develop their art skills in a wide range of areas and are encouraged to develop their own ideas and outcomes. Students take risks through experimentation and reflect on their work and that of others. Learning from mistakes promotes students’ self-confidence and self-esteem, and helps them to become independent learners.
Year 10 to Year 11 (January)
Year 10 students begin the course by developing a theme idea and building up a body of work, demonstrating high-quality experimentation using a variety of media and different techniques and processes. Students also learn how to analyse a piece of artwork and recognise how artists have used the key elements of art in their work. They are encouraged to draw inspiration from artists to help inform and to develop their own ideas.
Students will develop a range of transferable skills, including problem-solving. They will create two final outcomes – one 3D piece and one 2D piece – over the course. This work will make up their core portfolio which is worth 60% of their GCSE. We follow the Art, Craft and Design specification to give students the flexibility to concentrate on areas of art they feel particularly passionate about or to build on work they have perhaps started at another school.
Unit 1 – Coursework portfolio 60%
Click on the link for our KS4 Year 10 Art curriculum map.
Year 11 (January to May)
Students receive an externally set assignment in January of Year 11, which will set a theme for the students to explore and develop over the next few months. Students follow the same format as their Year 10 coursework to develop ideas to create a final outcome.
Students have a 10-hour period, under exam conditions to create their final outcome idea. This exam is normally spread over a number of days. All preparatory work is marked for the externally set assignment as well as the final outcome.
Unit 2 – Externally Set Assignment (ESA) 40%
Click on the link for our KS4 Year 11 Art curriculum map.
We also offer the Bronze Arts Award Certificate, a Level 1 course. Students can work towards this qualification particularly if they arrive late in the Year 11 term or are due to make the transition back to a mainstream setting.