OIAMFS has at its heart the three drivers of Sport, Arts and Enterprise. We are committed to developing the creative element of our students and Art is a key aspect of this.

KEY STAGE 3

As the National Curriculum for art states:

‘A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.’

At OIAMFS, students have an art lesson every week in Key Stage Three. Lessons are structured to enable students to produce personal responses to each project brief set. Students are given a copy of the project sheets and task lists. By working through these tasks and the creative process students will:

• Use a range of techniques to record their observations in sketchbooks, journals and other media as a basis for exploring their ideas;
• Use a range of techniques and media, working in 2d and 3d including painting;
• Increase their proficiency in the handling of different materials;
• Develop their visual literacy through the use and theoretical understanding of the formal elements
• Analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work and develop their own ideas in response to the project brief set.
• Understand the history of art, craft, design and architecture by identifying where pieces of art “fit” into the timeline of “Art”, from ancient times up to the present. Furthering students’ knowledge and understanding of major historical events and inventions which have influenced the development of major art and design styles, movements and periods.

KEY STAGE 4

Students who are passionate about Art, making things and visually expressing themselves and who want to pursue a career in the Arts or Design and Media industries can continue their studies in KS4 by opting to take Art GCSE. 

In the GCSE Fine Art course students will develop and refine the skills learnt in KS3 by working more independently to combine materials and techniques to find new and more original ways of working in both two and three dimensions. They will be encouraged and supported to follow their own lines of enquiry in order to develop and realise more original and personal work. The course has two components; a Personal Portfolio and an Externally Set Assignment.  

What Parents/Carers can do to help:

Your child will be given a Knowledge Organiser to accompany each project sheet and task list. This summarises the key information they must know and use if they are to be successful in this subject.