Art & Photography & Textiles

In Creativity Faculty at City Academy Norwich, we believe in a holistic educational experience that nurtures experiences of creativity, and self-expression that allow students to know, understand and fully integrate into the world around them. Our Creative Subjects curriculum incorporates a diverse range of disciplines, including Art, Photography, and Textiles, each offering unique opportunities for exploration and expression.

We believe that creativity is a fundamental aspect of human experience, our curriculum is designed to ignite passion, cultivate skills, and empower students to engage meaningfully with the creative world around them to become positive and contributory members of our community.

We encourage individuality and originality, raising the self-esteem of students by valuing their ideas and opinions and celebrating individual and collective successes. We have an up-to-date learning environment where students have access to a wide range of materials and facilities. In our creative subjects we seek to provide an effective learning environment that is both stimulating and welcoming to all.

KS3

The curriculum intent for Art and Textiles at Key Stage 3 focuses on developing students’ creativity, critical thinking, and artistic/ design skills. Students are encouraged to explore and express their creativity through various artistic mediums.

Through developing a range of artistic skills and techniques working in both 2D and 3D art forms; students are introduced to fundamental art skills such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and digital media. Students progressively build on these skills to develop their personalised artistic vision. Students are developing critical thinking and investigation skills by exploring the ability to analyse& evaluate artists artwork and their own creative processes. Students learn to observe and study various artist styles and artworks and are encouraged to discuss the meaning, subject matter, context and techniques used in different artworks.

Year 7:

  • Visual Elements of Art/ Natural World/ Observational Drawing
  • Colour Theory, Painting
  • Portraiture/ Ceramics
  • Perspective/ Urban Typography

Year 8:

  • Creatures and Characters, Ceramics
  • Portraiture, Self portrait
  • Contemporary Still Life, Mixed medium
  • Landscape/ Perspective/ Environment-Inventive architecture- Printmaking

Year 9:

  • Wings and Flying Things- Mixed medium
  • Pop Art, Portraiture
  • Still life/ Observational Drawing/ Vanitas- Painting
  • Architecture/ Landscape/ Perspective- Mixed media

Textiles

Throughout KS3 Textiles journey we encourage students to be expressive and creative. Students have opportunities to experiment with techniques, materials, and processes. Our curriculum is designed to empower students to develop practical skills, develop a deep appreciation for textile arts, and explore the limitless possibilities of fabric-based design.

Students will be investigating the work of artists and designers to express their thoughts, emotions, and ideas through their own artwork. Students will apply their develop their Health and safety knowledge withing the Design cycle.

Year 7:

  • Claire Youngs/ Animals
  • Mark making/ Embroidery

Year 8:

  • Mr Finch/ Tie dye
  • Embroidery
  • Design Brief

Year 9:

  • Nature and Decay
  • Design Process/ ACCESS FM
  • Mark making/ Embroidery

KS4

The GCSE Art & Design courses have been designed to encourage students to be creative risk takers over the two years, where students have the opportunity to develop their skills in a wide range of different 2D and 3D materials and techniques. The course will enable students to and refine skills and techniques developed in KS3 and continue to express their ideas and opinions visually. Students will study and analyse other artists’ work to refine and influence their own creative process.

At City Academy Norwich we offer the following Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Art and Design qualifications:

Fine Art (1FA0), Textile Design (1TE0,) Photography (1PY0).

Students will learn to:

  • apply a creative approach to problem solving
  • consider and develop original ideas from initiation to realisation
  • analyse critically their own work and the work of others
  • express individual thoughts and choices confidently
  • take risks, experiment and learn from mistake.

Students will have opportunities to express creative ideas and experiment with a wide range of materials and techniques. Students will explore a variety of media such as: drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, ceramics, mixed media.

Assessment Overview

All GCSE Art and Design qualifications consists of two internally assessed and externally moderated components.

  • Component 1: Personal Portfolio (internally set) 60% of the qualification 72 marks (18 marks for each of the four Assessment Objectives)
  • Component 2: Externally Set Assignment. 40% of the qualification 72 marks (18 marks for each of the four Assessment Objectives)

 

Art and design: Fine Art

Fine Art may be defined as work developed primarily to communicate aesthetic, intellectual or purely conceptual ideas and meaning, rather than to serve a practical or commercial function. For example, work could be the outcome of personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings, or simply to observe and record people, places and things in new and unique ways. Fine artwork will demonstrate an understanding and application of formal elements and creative skill. Students will use visual communication sensitively and thoughtfully to document their artistic journey and fully support their intentions.

Art and design: Photography

Photography is an experimental and creative course where students have the opportunity to develop their skills in both traditional and non-traditional materials and techniques. Photography requires students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of practical skills to realise personal intentions. Students will be required to demonstrate the ability to develop their ideas through selecting and analysing the work of others. Students will record and refine their ideas through experimenting with media, materials, techniques and processes and through written annotation.

Students will develop graphic design skill and apply photo manipulation including software’s like Photoshop. Students use a range of digital cameras and have the opportunity to develop images using chemicals in the Dark Room.

Art and design: Textiles

Textile Design is a versatile practice that involves the creation, selection, manipulation and application of a range of materials such as fibres, yarns and fabrics, and processes such as weaving, knitting, stitching and printing to create designs and products.  Students undertake practical projects that demonstrate their skills in designing and creating textile products and presenting their ideas through written annotation. Students learn about the design process, from initial research and idea generation to development, planning, and evaluation. They explore different design techniques, approaches, and methodologies relevant to textiles. Textiles course covers a wide range of materials used in textiles, including natural and synthetic fibers, fabrics, dyes. Students learn various textile techniques such as sewing, embroidery, printing, weaving, felting, and surface decoration.

Textile designers work in multi-disciplinary ways to create ideas, materials, and techniques for different applications.

Enrichment Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to access a wide range of enrichment activities including clubs, trips to galleries, exhibition opportunities, visiting artists and other creative ventures. Throughout our curriculum we provide activities and opportunities for students to develop the skills they need to identify risks and stay safe. This is also extended to include material that will encourage our children to develop essential life skills.

Career opportunities linked to this subject

There are many careers in the field of Art & Design such as advertising, marketing, textile and interior design, product design, architecture, animation/film, fashion, photography, illustration, publishing and media, architect, graphic designer, illustrator, web designer, animator, software developer, product designer, production artist, game designer, film maker, typographer, film editor, photojournalist, camera operator, cinematographer, fashion photographer, police photographer, wedding photographer, makeup artist, hairdresser, fashion designer, set designer, costume designer, printer, urban planner, landscaper, interior designer, silversmith, metalsmith, ceramist, publisher, teacher, restorer, historian, commercial artist, florist, tattoo artist.