Within Art we offer a wide variety of practical experiences to pupils from Year 7 upwards. Painting, drawing and printmaking techniques are fostered in the early years, with an emphasis on developing pupils’ looking and seeing skills whilst developing the confidence to work expressively.
Generous provision is made within the timetable for a wide range of skills to be developed in both two and three-dimensional studies. Whilst conventional skills are considered an important basis for art education, we encourage a creative, spirited and thoughtful approach.
The specialist Art room occupies airy, light, purpose-built accommodation on the first floor of the Technology Building in which students, including those working at A Level, may work on their individual assignments and practical creations. Pupils' work aspires to the highest levels and explores a wide breadth of materials.
Every year, we organise an extensive programme of outings and visits and enjoy a high level of examination success. Displays of pupils’ art work are featured in many locations around the School.
Throughout their first three years, pupils are taught a range of practical art skills by specialist teachers, leaving them well placed to cope with Art and Design as a GCSE option.
The AQA course followed at Farringtons offers the pupils the opportunity to explore and use a variety of two and three dimensional media and relate their own ideas to the work of artists, designers and crafts people from different cultures and eras.
GCE AS and A- level Qualifications
Many students show the commitment to study Art at AS and A Level and to follow it in a variety of higher educational courses. The main purpose of the AS and A Level courses is to develop each student's ability to appreciate the visual world and to respond to it in a personal and creative way.
Students study the AQA examination where the AS and GCE qualifications are separate qualifications.
KS4 / 5
Pupils already taking Art or Design GCSE and A levels can choose to incorporate ceramics into their studies. Where appropriate they can work closely with staff to experiment and realise fully functional or decorative outcomes. These should support their work in other mediums and be relevant to their topics of investigation.
GCE AS Qualifications
The AS consists of two components and can be studied over ONE or TWO years.
Component 1: The Portfolio (coursework) = 50% of marks
In this component students will generate a personal starting point, taking the initiative, to venture out on their own but supported by their teacher. They will develop practical work based upon research from primary and contextual sources. They will experiment with new mediums and processes, develop their technical skills and refine their ideas as the work progresses. At each stage students will record their outcomes in a sketchbook or similar demonstrating the development of the initial idea.
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (exam) = 50% of marks
This component commences on 1st Jan and represents the culmination of the AS course. The paper consists of several broad-based thematic starting points. The delivery of this component should be planned with appropriate guidance during the preparatory period, encouraging independence in the development of their ideas, intentions and responses.
Students will then have a period of Sustained Focus = 10 hrs controlled assessment to produce their practical outcome.
GCE A Level Qualification
There are three different pathways that can be taken over the two years, tailored to students’ individual needs and requirements, which can be negotiated between the student and specialist teacher.
Component 1: Personal Investigation (coursework) = 60% of marks
This unit incorporates two interlinked elements, each with separate final outcomes:
- PART 1: Practical work
- PART 2: Personal study- an Essay/Continuous prose of 1000 words minimum
BOTH these areas are interlinked and are marked jointly as an entire submission out of a total 96 marks.
The investigation and development for both the Practical work and Personal study is shown through supporting studies.
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (exam) = 40% of marks
This component commences on 1st Feb and represents the culmination of the A-level course. The paper consists of several broad-based thematic starting points. The delivery of this component should be planned, with appropriate guidance, during the preparatory period, encouraging independence in the development of their ideas, intentions and response.
Students will then have a period of Sustained Focus = 15 hrs controlled assessment to produce their practical outcome.
The Externally Set Assignment is marked out of a total 96 marks.
Students can be offered a combination of options, not all will follow the same combination
Life drawing is an integral part of the AS and GCE syllabi. Workshops are organised both internally and externally throughout the years and are seen as an important part of each student’s portfolio as they endeavour to embark and secure places on Foundation Courses and other Higher Education pathways.
Every year, we organise exhibitions of the artwork produced at GCSE, AS and GCE to celebrate students’ creative achievements and to showcase their dedication and hard work.