2016 saw a few changes in the specification for GCSE. However, at HCC, in this option our first aim is for students to find the work exciting and experience success as soon as possible, leading to pride and satisfaction from what they do.

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One of our key aims at GCSE is to support and nurture imagination, questioning skills and free thinking. This is one of the only subjects in the curriculum options where there is no right or wrong as far as response. Art GCSE allows fluid questioning skills and creativity to grow within each student and to build confidence to apply these skills to situations with no obvious or prescribed outcome.

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The new GCSE specification sees a greater emphasis on drawing and annotation skills, forming links and opportunities for teaching Visual Language and Written Communication and thus allowing students opportunities to record journeys through ideas more fluently and with greater understanding of the multiple styles and purposes of drawing. This could lead to sketchbooks becoming vehicles to support more conceptual based ideas as well as continuing to support the development of skills in traditional mediums like Paint and sculpture.

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“Drawing activity might be used, for example, (i) to communicate or record information;

 (ii) as a means of development/refinement of ideas; (iii) as a process of investigation and exploration; (iv) as part of a process of planning; (v) as a means of expression; (vi) as a means to an end, or (vii) as an end in itself.” AQA GCSE SPECIFICATION

 

The aim of the Art, Craft and Design AQA GCSE which we chose as an endorsement is to allow students to develop ideas in a wide range of media including three dimensional sculptural work in different materials, textiles, ceramics, printing and mixed media work as well as drawing, photography, computer based and painting. Students must show they have worked in at least two of these areas to fulfil the course requirement, but are able to develop/ specialise in one area for more extended work. This endorsement provides plenty of scope for variety, experimentation and discovery.

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Component 1: PORTFOLIO (think of this as a coursework element)

“The content of the portfolio will be determined by the particular requirements and nature of the course of study undertaken. There is no restriction on the scale of work, media or materials used.

Each student must select and present a portfolio representative of their course of study. The portfolio must include both:

1. A sustained project developed in response to a subject, theme, task or brief evidencing the journey from initial engagement with an idea(s) to the realisation of intentions.

2. A selection of further work resulting from activities such as trials and experiments; skills based workshops; mini and/or foundation projects; responses to gallery, museum or site visits; work placements; independent study.”

    

How it's assessed: Portfolio

• 96 marks (24 marks for each Assessment Objectives)

• 60%of GCSE

Each of the 4 Assessment objectives is worth the equivalent of 15% of the overall GCSE grade

 

What this means for us as teachers is that now we have greater opportunity in Year 10 to inform students and teach more skills without the worry of completing a project, we can use workshops to teach materials and continue to provide a really broad base and range of skills before embarking on a major project. What this means for GCSE students is that they have greater time  to ‘stumble across’ themes, ideas and techniques which interest and inspire them. There is now only pressure to create one sustained unit of work and outcome. This can be done whenever the student is feeling confident and competent to do so, when they have discovered something that interests them and skills they want to ‘show off’.

 

At the end of year 11 students must organise and present their portfolio from the work produce over the course and must ensure that it provides evidence of meeting all four assessment objectives and the sustained unit of work. These decisions will be supported by the class teacher and can be an ongoing discussion throughout the GCSE course.

 

The way the curriculum is organised has now changed. There is the opportunity for no prescribed units by the teacher, although initially to allow students to gain experience of what is expected of them there is likely to be some more rigid guidance for students to react to. Teaching is likely to take the form of workshop/skills based lessons in early Year 10, leading into a more formal unit of work in the spring time. The main curriculum change is he much greater emphasis on drawing and annotation.

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Teaching will be balanced to involve students progressively in recording what they see with increasing accuracy and expressive power: They will need to show skills in selecting, researching and analysing visual material: experimenting, producing, developing and refining ideas, developing critical abilities, learning about art across the world at different times and places and relating this knowledge to their own work and ideas. Visiting exhibitions, galleries and museums is important where possible the Burton Gallery, Bideford is a good local one. Also Plymouth College Art Gallery and RAMM in Exeter will be used where possible to get the students experience Art outside the classroom.

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Component 2: Externally set assignment (think exam element)

Issued January of year 11

 

AQA will provide a separate externally set assignment for each title, each with seven different starting points. Students must select and respond to one starting point from their chosen title.

Externally set assignments will be available to students and teachers from 2 January. They must be given to students in their entirety and must not be edited, changed or abridged in any way.

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An unlimited period of preparatory time (starting from first lesson back in January of year 11 until 1st session of Supervised ‘exam’ time) is followed by 10 hours of supervised time during which students will develop their own unaided work (traditionally this is when the final outcome is completed). There is no restriction on the scale of work, media or materials used.

 

Preparatory period – from 2 January

• Students and teachers can access the externally set assignments on 2 January (or as soon as possible afterwards) but not before. It is at the discretion of schools to plan when their students start work on their assignments after 2 January.

• Following receipt of the externally set assignment paper, students should select one starting point from which to develop their own work.

• Students may discuss their starting points with the teacher.

• Preparatory work may be presented in any suitable two- or three-dimensional format such as mounted sheets, sketchbooks, journals, design proposals, models and maquettes, digital or non-digital presentations.

• Students must stop work on their preparatory studies as soon as the first period of supervised time starts.

Supervised time – 10 hours

• Following the preparatory period, students must undertake 10 hours of unaided focused study, under supervision.

• They may refer to their preparatory work during the supervised time but may not add to it or

amend it.

• The first two hours of supervised time must be consecutive.

• Preparatory work and work produced during the supervised time will be kept under secure conditions between and following the supervised sessions.

All the work submitted for this component will be marked as a whole. Students must ensure that the total submission for Component 2 evidences coverage of all four assessment objectives and evidence of drawing activities and written annotation.(Students must identify and acknowledge sources which are not their own.

 

How it's assessed

• Unlimited preparatory period followed by 10 hours of supervised time

• 96 marks

• 40% of GCSE

Each Asessment Objective is worth 10% of the overall GCSE grade.

 

Students in all Design Faculty subjects will be asked to make a contribution towards the cost of materials used. This enables us to offer a wider choice of projects and contributes to the extensive cost of colour printing as students use the functions on their Smart phones and devices to record and create their Art work.

We offer all GCSE art students the opportunity to purchase an Art pack, which contains sketchbook, glue and a good range of drawing and painting materials. We aim to ensure that all students have access to these materials for use in school and at home. Please speak to your child’s teacher if you have concerns about cost.