Fine Art

In Fine Art we follow a curriculum that inspires and challenges; equipping students with knowledge, skills to experiment, and skills to create their own works of Art.

Students will be introduced to a range of artists, craftspeople and designers from art history, as well as different styles and approaches, gaining an understanding that Art & Design reflects and shapes our history and culture. The subject equips students to appreciate art in its many forms throughout their lives.

St Bart’s participates in the West Berkshire and North Hampshire Open Studios scheme, with a selection of work from our Art, Photography, Graphic Communication and Textile Design students. The school also produces our own online Summer Exhibition at the end of the school year, with a wide range of student work and accomplishment on display. We celebrate students’ art throughout the school building and offer art clubs and competitions, such as our popular annual House Art and Christmas Card competitions.

Year 7-9

During KS3, each Year students experience 3 skills based projects: 3D, Drawing & Painting, Mixed Media/Printing. These projects develop different concepts, skills and materials processes which are repeated, embedded and developed through Year 7-9. These include the formal elements, observational studies, colour theory, painting techniques and 3D creation.

Year 7 Curriculum

Projects

3D: Hundertwasser Inspired Landscapes Tiles
Drawing & Painting: Cubist Still Life Piece
Printing: Maori Culture & Sea Life Prints

Year 8 Curriculum

A Graphics project area is introduced in Year 8, supporting students’ selection of subjects in Year 9.

Projects

Printing & Graphics: Typography Letter Card Brief
Drawing & Painting: Expressive Surrealist Landscapes
3D: Card Insects

Year 9 Curriculum

In Year 9, students build on the skills and concepts learnt in Year 8. They are also given a choice of whether to follow a Graphics or Fine Art approach to their second Year 9 project.

Projects

Graphics: Urban Shoe Design Brief
Fine Art & Graphics Options: Natural Forms
3D: The Big Food Challenge

GCSE (Year 10-11)

Examination Board: AQA ART & DESIGN: FINE ART 8202

Course Description

During Year 10, Fine Art students will develop a Personal Coursework Portfolio, exploring the areas of painting & drawing, mixed media, printing and critical studies during an Autumn and Spring term foundation course.

Using the theme of surfaces, this foundation portfolio will lead into a personal project which will be developed and produced during Year 10 Summer term and the Year 11 Autumn term. Students will learn how to develop and explore their creative ideas, producing sustained outcomes using materials of their choice.

During Year 11, students will complete their development work and sustained outcomes for their Component 1 coursework project.

Component 2, the externally set assignment, is set at the start of the Year 11 Spring term and students will visit a gallery at the start of the exam project to inspire their ideas for their selected starting point. Students will explore the theme through researching artists, finding and taking photos, producing observational studies using a range of approaches, creating ideas for outcomes and making pieces of artwork. This is a real opportunity for students to develop their growing individual art interests and experience the evolution of their ideas and artwork.

Assessment

Component 1: Personal Coursework Portfolio. Students produce one project during the course based on school set themes. This accounts for 60% of the qualification.

Component 2: The Externally Set Assignment. Students select one question from an AQA exam paper. They develop a project based on this question for around 12 school weeks. A final outcome is then created during a 10 hour exam, which is held over two consecutive days. This accounts for 40% of the qualification.

Sixth Form (Year 12-13)

Examination Board: AQA ART & DESIGN: FINE ART 7202

Course Description

In A Level Fine Art students will experience a range of materials processes looking at techniques; both traditional and new. Lessons will explore images, artefacts and resources relating to a range of art, craft and design, including European and non-European examples, and consider the use of drawing for different purposes, using a variety of methods and scales.

A Level Fine Art will develop students’ practical skills, understanding of different styles, genres and traditions, and the ability to compile sketchbooks/journals to underpin work.

Students will develop their own areas of interest within set project themes producing evidence of recording, investigating, developing ideas and presenting a personal response.

Assessment

The course is assessed as 60% portfolio, 40% practical exam

Entry Requirements

Students are required to have a GCSE Grade 5 in an art-design-based subject (Art, Fine Art, Graphic Communication, 3D Design, Photography or Textile Design).

Where might it lead?

A Level Fine Art can help open doors to careers in:

Animator
Architect
Art Therapy
Artist
Commercial Artist
Conservation & Restoration
Digital 3D Modeller
Fine Artist
Fashion Designer
Illustrator
Graphic Designer
Graphic Illustrator
Interior Designer
Marketing & Advertising
Museum Curator
Photographer
Scientific Illustration
Set Designer
Teacher
Theatrical Arts
Video Games Designer
Web Designer

Student Destinations

Emily Aldridge

2024 Offers from

University for the Creative Arts – Games Arts
Norwich University of the Arts – Games Arts & Design
Staffordshire University – Concept Art for Games and Film
Teesside University – Concept Art

Angela Stoyanova

2024 Offers from

University of Brighton – Fine Art Printmaking
The University of Edinburgh – Fine Art
University of Leeds – Fine Art with History of Art
Manchester Metropolitan University – Fine Art and Art History
Newcastle University – Fine Art

St Bartholomew’s School Andover Road, Newbury, Berkshire. RG14 6JP

Telephone: 01635 521255 | Email: office@stbarts.co.uk | Full Staff Contact List
Y7-Y11 Attendance: 01635 576372 | Y12/13 Attendance: 01635 576366