KS4 Visual Arts & Design
What We Offer
The Visual Arts & Design department is strongly committed to giving students a broad experience of a whole range of key Visual Arts and Design disciplines at Key Stage 4. In delivering the BTEC First Diploma we offer an innovative approach to making work through a course that involves both traditional and experimental exploration of materials and concepts. We are involved in exploring new technologies within contemporary practice and strive to give students the essential practical, written and verbal skills in communicating effectively ideas in their own work.
Students will be introduced to a range of new areas and develop specialist skills in response to a range of briefs. During the course each student is responsible for building up coursework to meet the qualification requirements. The programme is assessed by a range of methods including projects, sketchbooks and both oral and visual presentations. Final assessment is carried out through a combination of coursework and final controlled conditions assignment for Unit 4.
Throughout the course students build a portfolio of work, which will give them an excellent foundation on which to build at Post-16 level. Throughout, students will have the opportunity to produce work linked to other areas of the school, which may be to design posters for shows or producing images that can be digitally projected as part of a performance. They may also have opportunities to lead art and design workshops in primary schools and work collaboratively within the school on cross-curricular projects. The course combines written and practical work, individual and group work and aims to use vocational briefs to develop good working practice in a range of situations. The course is tailored to create a smooth transition and development of skills in to post 16 and the BTEC National.
All year groups go on many gallery visits throughout the year; recent activities include an extremely successful project with the ICA. The department aims to give students the opportunities to enter competitions in which they have been most successful both within school and externally. Most recently, students have entered a nationwide competition organised by Animal Aid to raise awareness of factory farming.
BTEC FIRST COURSE INFORMATION
What is a BTEC First Diploma?
A BTEC First Diploma is a Level 2, practical, vocationally related course. You learn by completing projects and assignments that are based on realistic or actual client based situations, activities, and demands.
The course introduces you to the broad range of opportunities in the Visual Arts and Design area you have chosen, and provides a good base for further vocational study.
The BTEC First is equivalent to four GCSEs grades A*-C, taken at Key Stage 4 during Year 10 and 11, alongside national curriculum subjects. The overall successful grade you can be awarded is at level Distinction * (D*,) Distinction (D,) Merit (M,) Pass (P.)
BTEC First Level 2 Diploma in Art and Design
The BTEC First in Art and Design comprises 8 units over 2 years, including 6 core portfolio units and two specialist units.
All students follow core studies in general fine art, and design, introducing students to many of the following areas; photography, graphics and multimedia, animation, fashion and textiles. There are opportunities for specialising further in some areas later on in the course. The exact units students follow is subject to facilities/staffing and interests of the new intake.
The Core BTEC units are;
- UNIT 1 Contextual References in Art and Design
- UNIT 2 2D Visual Communication
- UNIT 3 3D Visual Communication
- UNIT 4 Use ideas to Explore, Develop and Produce art and Design
- UNIT 5 Building and Art and Design Portfolio
- UNIT 6 Working in the Art and Design Industry
The 2 Optional units for 2010-2012 are chosen from;
- Working with Graphic Design briefs
- Working with Photography briefs
- Working with Textiles briefs
- Working with Visual Arts briefs
The key areas for specialising are chosen from the following:
2D/3D Fine Art
This area focuses on traditional and experimental approaches to fine art, including drawing, painting, installation and mixed media, and the use of digital manipulation packages, as well as a variety of approaches to sculpture.
Photography
This area covers both traditional black and white and digital photography. They develop an understanding of the darkroom, SLR camera mechanics and photographic concepts such as depth of field, shutter speed and apply this to themed based photographic work. Digital photography includes use of digital cameras and Photoshop to further explore ideas. Camera skills will also be transferrable to all projects to aid visual recording.
2D/3D Design
This area involves traditional and digital graphics, new media, animation and 3D product design. Students will explore a variety of approaches to typography and create a range of graphics products. Animation involves drawn and digital techniques such as use of Flash software to create a short sequence, as well as traditional drawn techniques involving storyboards, pop-up and flip books.
Textiles, craft and printmaking
This area covers a range of practical textiles techniques across aspects of printed and stitched textiles, embroidery, printmaking, including screen, mono, dye sublimation work. Students will learn how to translate their techniques into final designs through fashion illustration.
Critical and Contextual studies, and Art and Design Industry research
The study of others’ work is an integral part of this course across all disciplines, and includes studying current professional practice in visual arts and design to ensure students are aware of current industrial developments, and roles and responsibilities in a cross section of the industry. This involves both written analysis and reproductions of work either from first hand experiences e.g. during a gallery visit or from research in books and the internet. This enables students to make connections between their own work and that of others, to further extend their understanding.