Welcome to Beaumont School Art Department!

We are very proud of the opportunities available to students at Beaumont  to realise and develop their artistic abilities. Art and Design is primarily concerned with the Visual and Tactile modes of expression. It offers a unique vehicle for communication and self-expression equivalent in importance to literacy and numeracy and encourages the ability to observe, select and interpret with imagination, feeling and understanding.

Departmental Aims

The aims of the Art and Design Department are:

• To enable pupils to become visually literate.

• To use artistic expression in order to communicate in visual and tactile ways.

• To develop creative and technical skills so that pupils can produce artefacts and realise their ideas.

• To develop pupils’ ability to value the contribution made by artists, craftworkers and designers and to respond thoughtfully, critically and imaginatively to ideas, images and objects of many kinds and from many cultures.

• To develop pupils’ confidence and competence in reading and evaluating visual images and artefacts, as well as developing their enthusiasm about art and design and to encourage their capacity to enjoy art within society.

The practice of art will:

• introduce a range of two and three dimensional art, craft and design activities in a systematic way which encourages confidence and progression in both understanding and skill
• develop pupils' confidence and competence in reading and evaluating visual images and artefacts
• consider works of art, craft and design from a wide range of times and cultures and relate them to practical activities and informed responses.

Curriculum

Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9)

Pupils will develop skills in painting and drawing and experience working in both two and three dimensions using a variety of media.  By the end of KS3 pupils will have a broad knowledge of materials, techniques, historic connections and influences both Western and Non-Western.

For a summary of the curriculum in a particular KS3 school year you can download the relevant Year Course Booklet by clicking on these links:

Year 7 course booklet
Year 8 course booklet
Year 9 course booklet

Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)

Pupils who choose Art as a GCSE or BTEC subject will extend and develop their skills during their two year course.  The course involves researching a variety of themes, developing ideas in a sequential manner and experimenting with materials, techniques and processes in order to produce a final piece of work.

Pupils on the GCSE course prepare a portfolio of coursework that contributes to 60% for their final examination grade, and take a 10 hour practical examination that makes up the remaining 40%.

Pupils on the BTEC course prepare individual portfolios of work for each of the three Units covered over the two years. The course is 100% coursework, with no final exam.

For details of the GCSE syllabus for students who began their GCSE course in September 2010 click on this link:
GCSE 2010-2012 syllabus

For details of the BTEC syllabus for students who began their BTEC course in September 2010 click on this link:

BTEC 2010-2012 syllabus

For details of the GCSE syllabus for students who began their GCSE course in September 2011 click on this link:
GCSE 2011-2013 syllabus

For details of the BTEC syllabus for students who began their BTEC course in September 2011 click on this link:

BTEC 2011-2013 syllabus

You can also obtain details of the course and coursework deadlines etc from the relevant Year Course Booklet by clicking on these links:
Year 10 course booklet
Year 11 course booklet

Years 12 and 13 (Sixth Form)

We offer two year ‘A’ level courses in each of Art, Textiles and Photography. In addition our partner schools in the BeauSandVer consortium offer alternative courses. For details of all courses on offer at Key Stage 5 go to the BeauSandVer consortium website

Assessment

During Key Stage 3 pupils are assessed through the evidence demonstrated by their own art work, participation in group activities, homework in their Art books and by self-assessment. At the end of each unit each pupil will receive a level through one-to-one contact. Homework is marked regularly and reports are written at various stages of their course. Observations made of the pupils' artwork and attitude are communicated to parents at consultation evenings.

Examination courses are assessed with regular tutorial sessions, written assessments of each unit of work and by communicating estimated grades.

Resources

The Department is well resourced and has a large variety of equipment and tools that allow students to work in both two and three dimensions, including textiles, printmaking, ceramics and photography.  The department has its own art reference and resource library.  There is a fully equipped darkroom and three standalone computers with flatbed scanners for Desktop Publishing, and Photoshop for editing and manipulation.

Visits and Extra-Curricular Activities

Visits to galleries and exhibitions are organised as appropriate. Recent trips and visits have included Tate Modern, Tate Britain and the Frieze Art Fair in Hyde Park.
Art Club is open for all Year 7, 8 and 9 students The Art club is run in collaboration with the Art captains and gives students the opportunity to explore a range of media through fun project, as well as entering competitions. A full list of extra curricular clubs and activities, including those of interest to art enthusiasts, can be downloaded here.

The Art and Design Team