The Longfield Academy Art & Design department offers students a diverse range of courses and has an excellent track record of achievement. We aim to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to follow careers within the creative industries as well as many other professions. Department staff come from a range of art and design disciplines which further enhances the learning experience.

Art and Design is taught to all pupils in Years 7-9. Year 10 and 11 pupils who have opted to study the subject for 5 hours over the two week timetable. The department has been very successful in the past, particularly regarding examination results.  External moderators have all commented on the scale and variety of the examination projects.

There are three options available including Photography, Graphic communication and Art, Craft and Design.

Learning Sequence Overview

Year 7

Year 8

Year 6 to 7 Transition Stage

In Year 7 pupils complete a baseline assessment. This tests their basic drawing skills and understanding of artistic vocabulary. This creates a platform level which is used to set a target for the end of Year 9. 

Sequence of Learning KS3 

In Key Stage 3 pupils on average are taught for 2 hours each fortnight.

The pupils complete one project each term. Every topic is designed to enhance a variety of skills, allowing pupils to experiment with lots of materials and techniques. At the end of each project pupils produce a final piece.

Year 7 projects:

• Colour Theory
• Collage
• Still Life/ Introduction to artist research

Year 8 projects:

• Sci-Fi Character Design
• Research through Drawing/Mark Making
• Pop Art

Year 9 projects:

• GCSE based practical work
• Photoshop/painting/camera functions
• GCSE artist based research linked to assessment objectives

KS3 Intervention Programme

The department is open Lunchtimes every day. Pupils are able to come and work on any aspect of their project. Pupil’s identified as struggling to maximize potential are offered lunchtime catchup sessions and are monitored closely until potential is met.

How can parents/carers help? 

• Parents can help their children by ensuring that homework tasks are given concentration and not left to the last minute.
• Discuss homework tasks together, offer ideas, support, encouragement and praise to build confidence.
• Pupils have access to the Art rooms at lunchtime should they wish to use any materials and equipment not available at home.
• Gallery visits – local and national – are an excellent way to develop insights into the world of Art and Design as well as helping to generate ideas. Below are some links to some suggested galleries, all of which are free entry:

The Baltic Art Gallery (Newcastle)
MIMA Modern Art Gallery (Middlesbrough)
Laing Art Gallery (Newcastle)
Tate Art Gallery (London)

Sequence of Learning KS4

If pupils decide to choose Art, Craft and Design, Graphic Communication or Photography as one of their GCSE options they must have passion for the subject and be prepared to work hard on exciting and innovative projects.

Art, Craft and Design

This title promotes learning across a variety of experiences and through various processes, tools, techniques, materials and resources to generate different kinds of evidence of working and outcomes. Emphasis is on an increased breadth of approach commensurate in demand with the other titles.

Knowledge, understanding and skills

Students must explore and create work associated with areas of study from at least two titles listed below.

• Fine art: for example drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, lens-/light-based media, photography and the moving image, printmaking, mixed media and land art.
• Graphic communication: for example communication graphics, design for print, advertising and branding, illustration, package design, typography, interactive design, (including web, app and game), multi-media, motion graphics, signage and exhibition graphics.
• Textile design: for example art textiles, fashion design and illustration, costume design, constructed textiles, printed and dyed textiles, surface pattern, stitched and/or embellished textiles, soft furnishings and/or textiles for interiors, digital textiles and installed textiles.
• Three-dimensional design: for example architectural design, sculpture, ceramics, product design, jewellery and body adornment, interior design, environmental/landscape/garden design, exhibition design, three-dimensional digital design and designs for theatre, film and television.
• Photography: for example portraiture, location photography, studio photography, experimental imagery, installation, documentary photography, photo-journalism, moving image: film, video and animation, fashion photography.

Graphic Communication

Graphic communication is defined as the process of designing primarily visual material to convey information, ideas, meaning and emotions in response to a given or self-defined brief.

Students are required to work in one or more areas of graphic communication, such as those listed below:

• communication graphics
• design for print
• advertising and branding
• illustration
• package design
• typography
• interactive design (including web, app and game)
• multi-media
• motion graphics
• signage
• exhibition graphics.

They may explore overlapping areas and combinations of areas.

Knowledge, understanding and skills

Students must develop and apply the knowledge, understanding and skills specified in the Subject content to realise personal intentions relevant to graphic communication and their selected areas of study.

Photography

Photography is defined as the practice of producing images using light-sensitive materials such as photographic film, or digital methods of development and production to create static or moving images.

Students are required to work in one or more areas of photography, such as those listed below:

• portraiture
• location photography
• studio photography
• experimental imagery
• installation
• documentary photography
• photo-journalism
• moving image: film, video and animation
• fashion photography.

They may explore overlapping areas and combinations of areas.

KS4 Intervention Programme

Students are monitored using subject specific marking tokens and are aware of their progress from the start of the GCSE. Students are given the AQA marking scheme and can monitor their own progress using these AO descriptors. Students and teachers can work together to evaluate progress and discussions are held frequently to decide on the level of progress.

The department is open Lunchtimes every day. Pupils are able to come and work on any aspect of their project. Pupil’s identified as struggling to maximize potential are offered lunchtime catchup sessions and are monitored closely until potential is met.

GCSE Specification

For a more detailed breakdown of the Art and Design GCSE specification please click on the link below:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/gcse/art-and-design-8201-8206/subject-content

Extra Information

The department is a dynamic and forward thinking body that is committed to pupil progress in the most industry relevant way. All subject specialists have worked professionally in the art industry and have incredible subject knowledge. The department offers the most up to date software and practical equipment. The department is dedicated to promoting students work. Students have won inclusion in the Better Lives exhibition in London 2018 and featured in the brochure of excellent work. We have also had a Guardian young photographer of the year and graphics students who have worked on professional commissions creating poster and t-shirt designs for the rock band Crashed Out used on their American tour.

How can parents/carers help? 

• Parents can help their children by ensuring that homework tasks are given concentration and not left to the last minute.
• Discuss homework tasks together, offer ideas, support, encouragement and praise to build confidence.
• Pupils have access to the Art rooms at lunchtime should they wish to use any materials and equipment not available at home.
• Gallery visits – local and national – are an excellent way to develop insights into the world of Art and Design as well as helping to generate ideas. Below are some links to some suggested galleries, all of which are free entry:

The Baltic Art Gallery (Newcastle)
MIMA Modern Art Gallery (Middlesbrough)
Laing Art Gallery (Newcastle)
Tate Art Gallery (London)