Art
The Art Department aims to provide a happy, safe, and secure place where artistic endeavour can thrive. It intends that a stimulating, supportive and efficient environment will cause all students to work hard by consent. Their work and aspirations should be valued and respected by all who use the Department. There should be trust, a sense of responsibility shared by all, and solidarity.
Images can be seen by clicking on 'Gallery' at the top of the page.
The department sees it as a priority that it enlarges the students' vision beyond West Somerset. We hope that through learning about different concepts through artists and understanding different cultures, students will question their opinions and develop their personal values.
Art and design at GCSE and AS/2 Level adopt areas of study within the Fine Art specifications and Textiles. We mostly, however, avoid specialism's, preferring to work through a range of outcomes and rarely repeating ourselves in the themes of our projects. There is a lot of drawing, of all kinds, painting and mixed media, printmaking, some light sculpture, photography and digital arts.
We are based in seven interconnecting studios, two of which are used predominantly for Textiles, and two of which are used exclusively for the Sixth Form. The spaces are well equipped and resourced and we have a well stocked Department library of books, files, videos and slides, and excellent IT facilities. Five teachers work within the Department and there is a part time technician.
All our projects have a critical focus where students are encouraged to look at the world through the eyes of other artists and designers. There is constant reference to our collection of resources, and trips to museums and galleries in London and abroad are a regular feature of our work. The Department has an annual exhibition which is always well attended, there are student fashion shows and we take the opportunity wherever possible to show our work within the community.
There are approximately 140 students each year who take GCSE Art and Design courses and we have about 50 students in Years 12 and 13 taking AS/A2 Level. Results in examinations are consistently above the national average.
The Department project structure is designed as appropriate for all projects. Its content ensures there are opportunities for research, observation, developing ideas, making, and contextual study:
- Research: by recording and collecting information, as source material or as contextual study
- Observation: by working from a primary source, recording what is seen, by analysis and interpretation
- Developing Ideas: to explore by experiment and evaluation, ideas and meanings and to select appropriate ways forward
- Making: to develop skills in the use of materials, tools and techniques
- Contextual Study: by developing an understanding of their own work and of the work of artists and designers and to apply knowledge to the students own work
We believe that drawing is fundamental and every project has drawing as a feature. We draw from observation, analysing and recording what is seen, and draw as a means of developing ideas by experimentation and exploration. Drawing is used as a tool, as part of a process, but there is also a lot of drawing in the department that is finished product.
Key Stage 3
During the year, all Year 9s will follow the following projects:
- Drawing and Developing
- Identity – Colour and Design
- Movement – Developing an Idea in an Artists Style
- Exploring different Disciplines – 3D and Printmaking
Key Stage 4
The Year 10 students follow the new AQA Art and Design – Fine Art syllabus. Projects vary from group to group but include the following elements.
Year 10
- Unit 1 – Drawing from still life. Introduction to a GCSE sketchbook. Developing from a drawing in an artist’s style. Skills in using acrylic paint.
- Unit 2 – Developing lively layered sketchbook pages, exploring different media, selecting artists to inspire work, making decisions through experimentation and evaluation, developing a final piece in a chosen style.
Year 11
- Unit 3 – Students have the opportunity to further develop their Year 10 projects or start a personal project based on a chosen starting point.
Key Stage 5
The AS/A2 courses follow the OCR Art and Design – Fine Art syllabus.
Year 1 (AS level) will be made up of 2 units:
- Unit (1a) Structures – exploring drawing, developing ideas in a sketchbook, contextual studies through a visit to the TATE gallery. Developing a painting in a style of a chosen artist/movement.
- Unit (1b) Abstraction – developing designs through collage considering the elements of colour, line, shape, pattern and texture. Colour matching and exploring painting techniques.
- Unit (1c) Personal Project – responding to a one word stimuli, researching, exploring, experimenting and making decisions towards a final piece. This acts as a preparation for the Externally Set Task.
- Unit (2) – Controlled Assignment (Practical Examination).
A2 Students
- Unit (3a) Personal Investigation – Students design a project of their own choosing. Tasks set to help them structure the project are as follows; book projects, recording using a sketchbook, book still life drawing, developing an idea in the style of an artist, developing a personal style.
- Unit (3b) Personal Study – As part of the students Personal Investigation, students produce a written/illustrated piece of around 3000 words based on their chosen theme.
- Unit 4 – Controlled Assignment (Practical Examination).
Textiles A-Level Art & Design
Entry Qualifications: Minimum of 5 GCSE grades 'C' or above - one must be in Textiles or Art & Design. A good standard of written English, a true interest in the subject (including drawing), the ability to work on one's own and present work clearly.
Course Details: Note - the themes are subject to change.
Year 1 (AS Level) will be made up of 2 Units:
- Unit (1a) Natural v Man-made Project
- Unit (1b) White project
- Unit (2) Externally Set Assignment. (Practical Examination)
Year 2 (A2 Level) will be made up of an additional 2 Units:
- Unit (3a) Contextual Study. Linking to your own practical work, you will produce a written/illustrated piece of around 3000 words, based on a broader study of art, craft and design
- Unit (3b) De-construction/Re-construction Project
- Unit (4) Externally Set Assignment (Practical Examination)
Within the above structure students will have opportunities to work across the three main areas of textiles - fashion, furnishing and fine-art. The processes followed will be based on structured, printed and embellished textile techniques and students will be encouraged to approach these in a creative, art-based manner. The study of artists, designers and cultures will be paramount to practical work. This is an art course and therefore an interest in observational drawing is essential.
Next Steps: The course can lead to Further and Higher Education and to employment in research, design fashion, construction and marketing within the textiles and fashion fields. The subject is closely related to Art and Design. Students considering a career in the field of Art and Design or fashion/textiles may find the study of both subjects advantageous.
Extra Curricular Activities
Regular trips are made to museums and galleries, including a study trip to London for 'A’ Level and the Gifted & Talented Year 11 students. In addition, Design Technology GCSE students have the opportunity to visit Disneyland Paris as a study experience, where they can research their coursework project. Here we have made contact with the costumier for the Parade, who has given us an insight into the business and students have received feedback on their own Disney textile products. A fashion shoot with the Disney characters is another highlight of this trip.
Students are also keen to take advantage of the lunch-time and after College clubs run by Textiles teachers.
We also visit local colleges to see the Art/Fashion/Textiles work produced by students on further and higher education courses, which is inspirational to students own work in addition to being helpful with regard to future courses and career choices.