Art and Photography

Art, Craft and Design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. Our KS3 curriculum is designed to 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. Throughout KS3 students will be given the opportunities to secure the mastery of practical skill and knowledge of key artistic concepts through the experimentation of materials, processes and techniques.

Artists are careful observers of their world and communicate their understanding of the world through their artwork. At Morpeth, students will be encouraged to develop careful observational skills as well as critically engaging with the work of other artists. As students progress, they will be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of Art and Design. All students are taught once every two weeks in mixed ability groups, and homework is set every lesson.

Students are invited to attend both Art and Photography enrichment clubs exploring a variety of skill based activities to advance their knowledge and understanding of creative practices, from creating pinhole cameras to creating large scale paintings, students gain the opportunity to express their personal and collective ideas in these lunch time/after school sessions. Students attend gallery visits in line with the curriculum aims for their projects: The Saatchi, Tate Modern, The V&A.

See some of our students' work from the 2024 THAT Art Exhibition here: 

https://sites.google.com/view/encounters2024/schools-exhibitions/morpeth-school

See the amazing work from the GCSE photography showcase here:
https://www.canva.com/design/DAGAiqUTquc/9IA63RpvMLPl7m9MvM3h-Q/view?utm_content=DAGAiqUTquc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

Students can opt to continue studying Art in Year 9 on the Foundation Course to extend their experience in key techniques including drawing, painting, sculpture, and photography. This course provides a good gounding for taking GCSE in either Year 10 or 11 and work produced can be added to a GCSE portfolio.

Our Year 9 curriculum is aimed at extending practical skills supporting students to develop their creative practice and progress to study Art and Photography at GCSE level as well as identifying this time as an opportunity for exploration and thinking through making.

Students will be encouraged to communicate, record and create to secure their knowledge. Students will be encouraged to develop breadth and diversity in skill to enhance mastery in various artistic processes through experience in key techniques including fine art, photography and film-based media.

Students will investigate the wider context of Art and Photography and the cultural capital a range of contextual sources can offer in relation to their given brief/focus. Encouraged through discussion, experimentation and engagement with visual and written information, students will be supported through the critical reflection of the main concepts that underpin ‘big’ questions within Art and Photography to develop a deeper understanding. Students will also benefit from opportunities to work with our external partners, galleries, arts organisations or creative professionals.

Students embark on a one year GCSE course in Art and/or Photography taking full advantage of 100 minute lessons to extend their practical and theoretical skills in relation to a wide variety of subject matter. Students will develop artwork to communicate aesthetic, intellectual or conceptual meaning. This will be inspired by personal experiences, thoughts and feelings, observing and recording people, places and things in new and unique ways. Students' artwork will demonstrate an understanding and application of formal elements and creative skills, including mark-making, colour theory, composition and narrative. Students will use visual communication sensitively and thoughtfully to document their artistic journey and fully support their intentions in response to devised brief/s.

Students are supported through after school access to the art rooms to continue work independently and access equipment/resources. Students are taught in mixed ability groups, given weekly independent work and visit galleries, museums and workshops to support their learning. Students are encouraged to be involved with the artists exhibiting in The Portman Gallery (Morpeth’s art gallery) and use this as an opportunity to exhibit their own work.

Having spent the first term developing and refining their skills students are expected to develop a personal line of enquiry for their externally set assignment which runs throughout the spring term from January to May.

At Morpeth Sixth Form, students can study Art and/or Photography at A level. Our excellent facilities allow for a broad investigation into both digital and film-based studies exploring post-editing in the iMac suite whilst accessing numerous dark rooms to process film. Our clay room and art studio allows for an open exploration of media for artists in a variety of forms.

– Photography includes works in digital imaging and light-sensitive materials. A broad range of both digital and film-based specific techniques and processes are used to convey messages and create works related to their themes of study.

– Art includes engagement with aesthetic and intellectual concepts through the use of traditional and/or digital media, materials, techniques and processes for the purpose of self-expression in relation to their themes of study.

Students will use Art and/or Photography to record, document and present, as the vehicle for artistic expression, communicating personal ideas about the world around us. Students will research and develop ideas from a range of primary and contextual sources, expanding their contextual understanding and professional practice through a wide range of sources: from galleries and museums, architecture to music. Students will develop the ability to analyse, discuss and evaluate images, objects and artefacts, making and recording independent judgements. Students will have opportunities to use their knowledge and understanding of the work of others to develop and extend thinking and inform their own work.

Students in both Art and Photography will record their experiences and observations in a variety of ways using appropriate visual forms, generating and exploring potential lines of enquiry and applying appropriate media and techniques to communicate ideas, solutions and responses, and present them in a range of visual, tactile and/or sensory forms.

Students visit a range of galleries and museums. The College has developed links with the University of the Arts to support students with post 18 decisions and has also organised visits to other universities e.g. Brighton and St Martin’s School of Art.

Key Stage 3 Assessment Plans

Key Stage 4 Assessment Plans

Key Stage 5 Assessment Plans