Art, Art Textiles & Photography

Welcome to the Art, Art Textiles & Photography Department

Our Department Vision

Our aim is to develop independent and creative Artists and Designers who have the skills to pursue the subjects at a higher level

At Copthall we strongly believe that Art and Design is a crucial and fundamental aspect to a students education for it’s own sake and as a means of engaging with and understanding the world.

Activities that promote risk taking and problem solving along with the development of fine motor skills equip students with attributes sought after by employers in the creative industries and elsewhere.

We have a highly successful Art department with students having the opportunity to study a range of specialisms to A’ Level. Our aim is to develop independent and creative Artists and Designers who have the skills to pursue the subjects at a higher level. We believe that every student has a creative a strength, which we endeavour to develop through the enjoyment of the subject. We are proud of our results across all key stages, which are consistently above the national average. Through our teaching we embed knowledge and understanding by working in a range of media and techniques whilst exploring the work of other Artists and cultures. Students who continue at KS4 and KS5 develop in a more individual way and build on prior knowledge to become independent and confident practitioners.

The Curriculum Leader may be contacted via email enquiries@copthall.barnet.sch.uk

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Curriculum

Document Downloads

Art and Design KS3 Curriculum Map

Art and Design KS4 Curriculum Map

Art KS5 Curriculum Map

Click here for Sixth Form Subjects

ART KS3:

Outline of the course We have developed programmes of work that incorporate a wide range of learning experiences covering drawing, painting, design, textiles and 3D work. Formal assessment takes place after homework and termly reports. General advice and information Homework is designed to extend the learning delivered in the lessons. It may cover a variety of experiences, including drawing, collage, design and Artist research. All homework will be marked. It is helpful if students have some basic Art materials at home such as colouring pencils, pencils, glue and scissors. Recommended links Students at all key stages may find the following websites useful for generating ideas or planning gallery visits

Art KS4:

Outline of course Art & Art Textiles Themes at GCSE are broad-based and encourage a personal approach whilst developing the key skills in Year 9. Students have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of materials and techniques, whilst sequentially developing their ideas through to a successful outcome. At Copthall we follow the unendorsed Edexcel syllabus in Art and Design and the endorsed in Art and Design Textiles. Students complete two units of coursework over the length of the course. We have designed the two themes to support and complement each other whilst also ensuring they develop a full range of the students’ skills. Whilst drawing underpins everything we do, there is plenty of scope for students to select and work with materials that they feel confident in using such as paint, mixed media, 3-D materials, photography and ICT. In Art Textiles students can explore a wide range of textile techniques including using sewing machines, felt-making and embroidery. Assessment Assessment is continuous throughout the course and involves discussions with the students individually while they are working. They get regular written feedback and targets in their sketchbooks. Formal assessments are given to the students monthly to monitor progress; they are awarded a grade and set targets. Students keep a record of this in their sketchbooks for reference and to share with their parents. General Advice and Information Homework is set weekly and is designed to be an extension to the work being completed in class. Students are expected to do a minimum of two hours a week. It is useful if students have access to some basic Art materials at home in order to complete tasks. GCSE students have the opportunity to work in the art studios after school, where they can complete work, receive extra support or explore new techniques. Students are encouraged to independently visit current exhibitions and galleries when possible.

Art, Art Textiles & Photography KS5:

Outline of A’ Level course:

We offer three subjects at A’ level at Copthall, Art and Design, Art and Design Textiles and Photography, all taught by subject specific specialist teachers. All courses follow the Edexcel syllabus. We have a dedicated sixth form art room which most of the A’ level lessons take place in and the space is also available to students to use for private study sessions. There is also a well-equipped textile room with sewing machines available for student use. The department has a suite of computers with Photoshop and other art software for students to use. We also have a range of studio lighting and equipment for use by Photography students. All three endorsements are popular subject choices at A’ level with many of the students progressing to prestigious art colleges such as Central St Martins, Chelsea, Camberwell and the London College of Fashion. The Art department has an excellent reputation in developing students’ individual strengths as Artists, Textile Artists and Photographers and this has been recognised and commended by external moderators and visitors to department. Assessment Assessment is continuous throughout the course and involves discussions with the students individually while they are working. They get regular written feedback and targets. Formal assessments are given to the students monthly to monitor progress; they are awarded a grade and set targets. We keep a record of this centrally in the department and students have access to it whenever they require.

General Advice and Information:

Students opting to study Art and Art Textiles at A’ Level are required to have Level 5 or above in Art and Level 5 or above in Art Textiles and the ability to use stitch with confidence. Students wishing to study Photography need to meet the school’s general sixth form entry criteria and may be asked to bring evidence of their interest in Photography.

Extra-Curricular

The department offers a good range of extra-curricular activities and visits for students across the key stages. GCSE Art and Art Textiles students visit at least one exhibition with their class during their course and we have developed partnerships with external organisations to provide students with opportunities to experience different creative careers. Examples include an architecture workshop at the Royal collage of Art with Celebrating Architecture, a photography workshop at the photographers Gallery and a sixth form evening visit to the 17-25 Access Art even at the Royal Academy. Year 12 Art, Photography and Art Textiles students visited the Henry Moore Institute in the summer term and are also encouraged to visit exhibitions independently. We organise day trips to local galleries and art related events if appropriate. As well as the visits we organise, A’ level Art students are encouraged to take advantage of the many free workshops and events available to them across London. Our KS3 pupils are given opportunities to participate in practical lunch-time school clubs where they also learn about the power of communication through Art. KS4 students have weekly Art Clubs to support their progress.

Careers & Employment

We have developed and expanded our curriculum to reflect the ever-evolving career pathways and job roles in creative industries. Students are introduced to a wide range of careers over the course of the year with connections to their practical projects. These are often short clips from professionals with a particular focus on women at the top of their profession to raise aspiration. Art and Design

During lessons we make explicit links to the following key employability skills: teamwork, leadership, problem solving, creativity, listening, presenting, aiming high and staying positive.

The creative process is one of research, planning, risk taking, reflection, review and refinement; ultimately building resilience and confidence in our learners.

With these 2 strands we aim to equip students with the information and attributes they will need to identify aspirational career paths and navigate their road to success.

Facilities

We offer our students a wide range of creative experiences across a range of Art subjects including Art and Design, Art Textiles and Photography, which reflects the specialisms of the departmental staff. Our fully resourced Art classrooms allow for every student to fulfil their potential whether drawing, painting, 3D, photography, animation, Photoshop, print-making or textiles. The department has a suite of computers, photographic studio lighting and sewing machines. We have secured funding to purchase a set of iPads to develop students’ skills in working creatively with digital media.