GCSE Art Curriculum Overview: Year 9 - 11

Year 9: Foundation Year

In Year 9, students begin to cultivate the foundational skills necessary for success in the GCSE Art program. They are expected to record their ideas, observations, and insights, aligning these with their artistic intentions. Through analytical investigations inspired by diverse contextual influences, students will refine their critical thinking abilities. Practical skill development will be achieved through experimentation with a range of media, materials, techniques, technologies, and processes, informed by the works of established artists. This experiential learning will support students in exploring and developing a sustained art project.

By the end of the year, students will present a personal, informed, and meaningful creative outcome that reflects their analytical and critical understanding of visual art. Knowledge and skills acquired during Key Stage 3 (KS3) will be utilised, with a focus on formal elements and subject-specific terminology. Students will engage with various artistic disciplines, including, but not limited to, Drawing, Installation, Lens-based Media, Mixed Media, Land Art, Printing, Painting, and Sculpture.

Themes:
- Natural Form
- Ocean Life

Year 10

In Year 10, students build on the foundational skills honed in Year 9 as they embark on their Key Stage 4 (KS4) coursework for the Personal Portfolio - Component 1. They will continue to document ideas, observations, and insights that reflect their artistic intentions. Within the Fine Art framework, students will further develop their analytical skills through contextual research, advancing their practical abilities through experimentation with a variety of media, materials, and techniques.

Students will demonstrate an independent approach to their coursework, embracing creative freedom and personal expression. They will articulate a meaningful response in the form of a final creative outcome, showcasing their analytical and critical understanding of visual art. They will apply knowledge and skills from Year 9 while exploring their own interests and career aspirations, such as Fashion Design or Architecture.

Themes:
- Natural Form (further exploration from Year 9) or Individual Approach, based on students' personal interests and career paths.

Year 11

In Year 11, students will continue to develop their Personal Portfolio (Component 1) from Year 10 for the first term. In the second term and part of the third term, focus will shift to the Externally Set Assignment (ESA), coordinated by the Examination Board. During this phase, students will prepare a portfolio dedicated to exam preparation and final outcome, culminating in a controlled assessment lasting 10 hours.

Students will have up to 12 weeks to engage in preparation work, responding to the exam theme by documenting their ideas and observations. They will provide evidence that fulfils all assessment objectives, reinforcing their analytical skills through contextual investigations. Practical skills will continue to evolve, as students experiment with various media, materials, and techniques, informed by existing artworks, to develop a substantive response to the ESA.

Students are expected to present a personal, informed, and meaningful creative outcome, aligned with their 10-hour controlled assessment while demonstrating a critical understanding of visual art. They will draw from their acquired knowledge and skills while applying formal elements and subject-specific terminology. Areas of study will include Drawing, Installation, Lens-based Media, Mixed Media, Land Art, Printing, Painting, and Sculpture. Throughout the ESA, students will exhibit independence, creativity, and self-expression. 

Final works will be prepared for the exhibition, showcasing students' progress and fostering engagement with both the school and the local community.

**Themes:**
- Autumn: Natural Form or Individual Approach based on students' personal interests and career aspirations.
- Spring: Externally Set Assignment (EDEXCEL)

This curriculum is designed to equip students with essential artistic skills, foster creative expression, and prepare them for future endeavours in the field of visual arts.