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Art and Photography

Summary of Department 

For decades the visual arts department at Trinity has been synonymous with providing an outstanding, progressive fine art education. It has established a tradition (originally funded by the Gulbenkian Trust in the 1980s) of hosting artists in residence. Among the first was the internationally acclaimed sculptor Ana-Maria Pacheco and latterly resident artists have included the sci-artist Seong-Hee Kim, performance artist Aaron Williamson and fine artist Alfreda McHale. The department is also renowned for creating temporary installations and exhibitions whereby classrooms are converted into a gallery resource centre for up to several weeks in the year. These exhibitions encapsulate work produced by hundreds of students from 4 - 60+ years in response to challenging issue-based themes. The core departmental philosophy is ‘Learning for All’. In essence this means that everyone who works in the visual arts department is encouraged to develop their artistic practice. Consequently, Trinity students work with and alongside, artists in residence, artist teachers and sixth-form artist mentors. When the gallery resource is available the art department provides workshops for primary school children, inset training for teachers and mature students.
The visual arts department has won the coveted Artworks Award, often billed as the Children’s Turner Prize in 2003 and 2004 with pupils’ work being exhibited in the reception area of the Tate Modern, London. This award was disbanded in 2005. Pupils’ work has also been featured in academic journals, newspapers and magazines on a local, national and international level.
The art staff consists of a dedicated team who currently offer the following specialisms: painting and drawing, sculpture, photography (black and white, and digital), film and media, printmaking, mixed-media, live and performance art, relational aesthetics and installations. Students are provided with opportunities to visit local and national exhibitions, workshops and art clubs (including life drawing). An annual critical studies field trip is also offered to sixth formers and has included destinations such as New York, Madrid, Rome, Barcelona and Paris.

Key Stage 3 Overview
The KS3 course introduces students to a range of media, techniques and processes in different disciplines and through successive projects builds a progression of skills, knowledge, experience and understanding in and about art and design.
Each term will have a specific technical focus but will retain flexibility of outcome which allows aspects of other disciplines to be included where appropriate.
Year 7          3 units of practical work
Year 8          3 units of practical work
Year 9          3 units of practical work
Termly themes are:     Term 1  The Figure              the body as site
                                    Term 2   Environments        public and private space
                                    Term 3  Still Life                   macro / micro
These themes function separately and may be changed year to year depending on curriculum emphasis. Alternative themes have included Artefact (2010), Narrative (2011) and Contagion (2012).
Key Stage 3 Working Practice
In order to establish good practice all students have an A4 sketchbook or work journal which is a combination of sketchbook and time-based record. This work journal is a vital tool in supporting and stimulating the artistic process by offering a context for exploration and discovery. Its use encourages creative thinking and can improve general learning skills. It will document technical/practical and process-based information and critical and historical studies. Work will also be produced outside this journal to enable experience of different media and approaches on a variety of scales.
Homework: 30 minutes every 2 weeks.

Critical Studies
Critical studies are incorporated into Key Stage 3 practical work by constant reference and will include analysis of traditional and contemporary art practice including artists, craftspeople and designers. Students are encouraged to visit museums and galleries in their own time in addition to any organised trips and visits.

Key Stage 4 Overview
GCSE Art and Design – Exam Board AQA
• Fine Art 4202
• Photography 4206
Examination Requirements
Coursework (60% of the overall mark)
• Supporting studies (a sketchbook/work journal)
• Final piece(s)
Final Examination (40% of the overall mark)
Year 10        1 unit deadline (June)
Year 11        1 unit deadline (December)
                     1 unit externally set exam (Jan-May)
Four Assessment Objectives
Students will be marked according to how well they have shown evidence of:
• Developing ideas through investigations informed by contextual and other sources demonstrating analytical and cultural understanding.
• Refining ideas through experimenting and selecting appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes.
• Recording ideas, observations and insights relevant to their intentions.
• Presenting a personal, informed and meaningful response which demonstrates critical and analytical understanding, realising intentions and where appropriate, making connections between visual, written or other elements.
Key stage 4 builds on the skills and knowledge acquired at key stage 3. Subject specific schemes of work are planned by GCSE teaching staff to support individual interests, specialisms and strengths.

Key Stage 4 Working Practice
In order to sustain good practice from key stage 3 all students have a personal work journal which is a combination of sketchbook and time-based record. The work journal or sketchbook is a vital tool in supporting and stimulating the artistic process by offering a context for exploration and discovery. Students will be taught how to use it in a personal way to support their examination submission by documenting technical/practical and process based information and critical/historical studies. Learners will also use materials and equipment outside of their sketchbook submission as appropriate, using different media and approaches on a variety of scales.
Homework: 1 hour per week.
Critical studies
Students are required to investigate critical and historical work which relates to the current theme. They are responsible for collecting images, visuals and supporting material in appropriate forms. Investigation should show something relevant to each individual’s work –in style and approach or demonstrate how other artists/craftspeople and designers have tackled similar problems. Teacher-led critical & historical work may provide the impetus for projects and students will be taught how to approach images and artefacts. Deconstruction and analysis using progressive skills and specialist vocabulary will enable students to comment on things seen in an informed and confident way. The option for students to complete a longer personal study is available. We promote first-hand contact with artwork and keep students up to date about relevant local and national exhibitions. They are encouraged to visit museums and galleries in their own time in addition to any organised trips and visits.

Key Stages 4 and 5
Level 2 BTEC First Diploma in Art and Design: Exam Board – Edexcel
This diploma which is equivalent to four GCSEs is offered as a two year course in Year 10 or one year course in Year 12. This course is modular and assessed on a continuous basis. It comprises of 6 units including: drawing and painting, sculptural practice, film studies, printmaking, photography and critical studies. The course is designed either to introduce learners to working in the art and design sector or prepare them for further study, such as BTEC National qualification or an appropriate NVQ. During this course students will go on arts based work experience placement, or an aspect of employment that they may wish to move into in due course

Unit	Core Units
1	2D and 3D Visual Communication
2	Contextual References in Art and Design Ideas
3	Explore and Develop Art and Design Ideas
4	Produce Art and Design Ideas
Unit	Specialist Units
6	Working with Photography Briefs
10	Working with Interactive Media Briefs

All units are underpinned by four grading domains. Assessment criteria vary according to each unit. The four grading domains are:
• Application of knowledge and understanding.
• Development of practical and technical skills.
• Personal development for occupational roles.
• Application of generic and key skills.

Working Practice
Students are required to have an A4 and an A3 sketchbook/work journal. These time-based documents are an integral part of the course in which students’ record a wide range of processes and techniques. Each unit is documented separately and learners will be provided with subject specific briefs.
Students will be encouraged to explore and develop ideas and concepts, in order to realise their own conclusions. They will also be required to deliver mini-lectures, slideshows, produce a portfolio and critique their own and others work.
Homework: 4 hours per week.
Critical Studies (Contemporary and Historical)
Learners will explore work produced by artists, designers and craftspeople in order to develop their research and presentation skills. Contextual references will fold in upon and inform practical work. Pupils will be given opportunities to visit art galleries and museums and be involved with professional practitioners.

Key Stage 5
Edexcel AS/A2 GCE Examination Syllabus
Fine Art: 6FA01 & 6FA02
Photography: 6PY01 & 6PY02

Examination Requirements

Component	Weighting	Method of Assessment
Unit 1 Coursework	60& AS 30% A2	Internally set Internally marked Externally moderated
Unit 2 Externally Set Assignment	40% AS 20% A2	Externally set Internally marked Externally moderated 8 hours timed exam

Four Assessment Objectives
AO1: Develop their ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
AO2: Experiment with and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining their ideas as their work develops.
AO3: Record in visual and/or other forms; ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, demonstrating an ability to reflect on work and progress.
AO4: Present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating critical understanding, realising intentions where appropriate, making connections between visual, oral or other elements.
Key Stage 5 Working Practice
The students are given experience of working with a variety of media and processes. Preparatory work and supporting studies will normally be presented in a workbook, journal and portfolio. A combination of sketchbook and time-based work journal is a vital tool in supporting and stimulating the artistic process by offering a context for exploration and discovery. It will contain evidence of the development of students’ ideas including reference to the work of others showing understanding of meanings, contexts and the ability to make skilled judgements, using appropriate visual/verbal form. Students will be taught how to use it in a personal way to support their examination submission by documenting their art practice and theoretical study.

Homework: 4 hours per week. Students will be expected to work during their non-contact periods in the art department studios.
Critical studies
Students are required to research and collect information (written, verbal and visual) relating both to their current brief or topic and also to wider interests and concerns relevant to their own creative development. The critical and historical component will be developed through the Work Journals offering students a means of relating their own practice to that of other artists, craftspeople and designers past and present and developing the ability to make critical judgements about their own work and the work of others. The aim is to construct a personally relevant and informed document which becomes a visual/textual diary, genuinely reflective and discursive, yet anchored to a coherent structure.
All Key Stages
Presentation and Display
The presentation of all work (whether finished or in a stage of work in progress) is regarded as important. Students are taught strategies for effective presentation and display. Exhibitions of work produced are organised so that students have regular experience of preparing work for an audience.
Art and Photography Clubs Key Stages 3-5
KS 3 Art Club:   6-8 weeks May-June.
KS 4 Photography: Mondays: 3.15pm – 5.30pm
KS 4 & 5 Art:  Mondays 3.15pm – 5.00pm. Wednesdays 3.15pm – 6.00pm. Rm A3.
KS 4 & 5 Life Drawing: Wednesdays 3.30pm – 5.00pm. Rm A4
KS 5: Everyday 9.15am – 6.00pm.
Saturdays may also be negotiated (please see Head of Department). To work on a Saturday requires the presence of a member of staff.
Enrichment Days and Trips
KS 4 & 5 Annual 4/5 day critical studies field trip to a city. 2011 – New York. 2012 – London.
Enrichment Days
Year 10 – 16th – 17th August 2011. Helena Godwin – Stone Carving.