Art
The Art department staffing includes:
- Miss H Orme – Lead Teacher of Art
- Miss L Lovell- Teacher of Art and DT
As a valuable member of the STREAM focus at SST Maidstone, the Art department provides a creative and inspirational space for students to engage their artistic talents. Students explore a range of different mediums, techniques and materials whilst developing their cultural awareness through the study of Art around the world and through history.
The Art department runs a drawing club each week for all students, which is heavily subscribed with a waiting list! Enthusiastic Year 9 students take part in a weekly painting club, where they focus on improving their skills with acrylic and watercolour paint. The department also liaises with other schools in the Trust to provide exciting wider opportunities, including the recent VIAT Charity Auction and workshop with internationally renowned book sculptor Su Blackwell. SST hosted the VIAT Festival of Art, Music, and Literature in 2022 where Year 7 and 8 artwork was proudly displayed alongside GCSE and A-Level work from other VIAT schools. The art department has a strong focus on careers and extracurricular enrichment, recently running a full year group trip to Whistable seaside for observational drawing and photography.
Curriculum Intent
The focus of the SST Art department is to build upon the experience students have had at their primary school, encouraging students to take creative risks, have confidence in their artistic ability, feel comfortable experimenting with new techniques and processes and feel engaged with art.
With many students coming to SST from mixed backgrounds, it is imperative that the Art department addresses differences in individuals’ cultural capital by introducing students to the wider art world beyond just the classroom. This will include engaging with museums and galleries, nationwide cultural projects such as competitions and challenges, delving into learning about careers in the creative sector and developing oracy in the subject of art and design.
Students will develop a wide variety of transferable skills through their art experience at STT including:
· The ability to work collaboratively with others whilst having the confidence to share individual ideas and concepts.
· Strong creative problem-solving skills which are applicable to a constantly developing wider world.
· The ability to communicate ideas visually, orally and in writing.
· Strong visual literacy.
· Well-developed observational, research and analytical skills.
· Working towards briefs and meeting deadlines
· Developing resilience and openness to new ideas and concepts.
Curriculum Topics
Students will follow a comprehensive Curriculum including:
Year 7
Introduction to Drawing techniques and Still Life
In Term 1 and 2 students will begin with a module focused on developing observational drawing skills, whilst encouraging students to explore new mediums, materials and techniques and build up their creative confidence as they make their way into secondary school life. This module will give students the foundation knowledge needed to build upon in future projects.
o Experimental and realistic drawing techniques.
o Still Life and direct observation.
o Mono – printing and mark making
Colour Theory
Many students will have an initial introduction to colour theory at primary school which they will be able to recall, recap and extend upon in Term 3 for their colour theory painting module. There is no guarantee that students will have had access to wet materials such as paint in their primary setting, so a thorough introduction to the health and safety, use and experimentation with paints is important at this stage. Key vocabulary will be introduced during these initial terms and students will be regularly encouraged to engage with this language in lessons and written analysis.
o Primary, secondary, and tertiary colours, harmonious and complementary colour pairings.
o Watercolour painting techniques.
o Art Movement: Orphism and Sonia Delaunay.
o Textiles and female representation in the arts.
o History and ethics of ‘hues.
Insects and Pattern
Once students have been introduced to numerous drawing skills and mediums, along with colour theory, Term 4 and 5’s scheme of work titled ‘Insects’ allows students to begin far more individualised creative outcomes with a less prescribed outcome. Students will be introduced to new art movements and styles, the key skill of artist research and analysis, creative group opportunities and new mediums in drawing, craft, and design. Clay is an excellent opportunity to build fine motor skills, encourage the development of initial designs and ideas and learn about craft alongside fine art and design.
o Ancient Egyptian Art and symbolic meaning.
o Archaeological Illustrations.
o Scrab Beetles – working with clay.
o Entomology and natural history illustrations - Maria Sibylla Merian.
o Art Nouveau and E’A. Seguy.
o Digital image manipulation and patterns – tessellation and symmetry.
Architecture
In Term 6 students will complete their architectural perspective project, learning how to work in 1 point and 2-point perspective. Many of the students at SST have an interest in engineering and technology as well as the cohort being compromised of a higher percentage of male students. This project ensures students engagement and learning up until the end of the school year and provides excellent opportunities for cross curricular and career links.
o Architectural drawing and perspective.
o Assemblage and architectural concept modelling.
o Careers in Architecture
Year 8
Under the Microscope
In Term 1 and 2 students will complete their scheme of work titled ‘under the Microscope’. This provides an opportunity for cross curricular links with other departments in the school and encourages students to see the importance of art within other subject areas.
Using data and student voice, it is clear that students have a passion for drawing skills, so this module will give students to expand upon their drawing skills from Term 1 and 2 in Year 7, and branch out into further mediums and processes.
There will be a focus on artist research and analysis of art using the formal elements. Art GCSE will also encourage students to develop with craft and graphic design skills and therefore students will be introduced to the textile medium of felting.
o Klari Reis and her petri dish installation artworks.
o Watercolour painting petri dish designs and using oil pastel resist.
o Textiles and wet felting.
o Photographer Wilson Bentley and drawing tonal snowflakes under the microscope.
o Tonal values and abstract art.
Human Figure Project
In Term 4 and 5 students will study the human figure and proportion. This is introduced in Term 4 and 5 to allow students to look at the topic in depth and explore a variety of mediums including 3D sculpture and photography. Students will study how artists have portrayed the human form both through realism and abstraction.
o The Futurist movement and WW1
o Proportion and human ratios – discussion on diversity.
o Photography – capturing the human figure in movement.
o Abstract human form and altering proportion.
o Sculpture introduction – Wire and Modroc figures.
Landscape and aerial perspective
In term 3 students will look at landscapes and ariel perspective, building upon their painting skills and knowledge of colour theory from Year 7. This will give students an opportunity to develop their digital drawing skills and expand their understanding of female and LGBTQ+ artists, which is key to their understanding of social and PSHE issues through an art narrative.
o Landscape – aerial perspective and colour theory.
o Painting and digital art.
o LGBTQ+ identity and David Hockney.
o Georgia O’Keeffe and spirituality.
Imaginary Creatures
In Term 6 students will explore the theme ‘Imaginary Creatures’ and delve into careers such as digital animation and graphic design. Linking with surrealism, collage and ‘exquisite corpse’ parlour games, students will then create their own surrealist clay creation.
o Imaginary Animals and digital animation – linked with the Fantastic Beast franchise.
o Surrealism and ‘exquisite corpse’ parlous games.
o Surrealist clay outcome.
Year 9
At the Seaside
The first project of Year 9 will build upon students’ prior knowledge, skills and learning to foster their own independence and confidence. Students will begin to have responsibility for their own sketchbook and through a structured scheme of work, begin to have more autonomy over their creative outcomes, whilst being fully supported by the teacher.
o Drawing from direct observation – both experimental drawing and realistic, tonal outcomes.
o Primary and secondary research skills and artist analysis and annotation.
o Introduction to seaside themes and concepts.
o The POP Art movement and work of Wayne Thiebauld.
o Oil pastel blending and large-scale 3D sculpture
Portraiture
o Proportion, ratio, and accuracy of facial forms.
o Drawing, recording and photography.
o Printing methods and processes.
o Identity and what represents us as individuals.
Year 10 and Year 11
GCSE Art, Craft and Design Students must explore, through a range of two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional processes and media, practical application of skills and relevant critical and contextual sources such as the work of contemporary artists, craftspeople and designers and the different purposes, intentions and functions of art, craft, and design as appropriate to their own work.
Year 12 and Year 13
Art and design options will be available in the Sixth Form at SST.
Transition Information
Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3
Students are provided with additional support and opportunity to experiment with new artistic techniques depending on the provision provided at their primary school.
Students can join Art Club or Make it club.
Students will be introduced to the basic elements of art and key skills which will underpin their journey through the art and design curriculum.
Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4
Throughout Key Stage 3, students are encouraged to think about the next stage of their transition, with a Foundation Year in Year 9 allowing students to explore new artistic processes and art historical context in more depth.
During Key Stage 3 and the Year 9 Foundation Year, students are educated on the varied careers in art and design and creative avenues available to them.
Students are given opportunities to expand their cultural capital with extra-curricular clubs, cultural visits and internal and external competitions.
Key Stage 4 to Key Stage 5
During the GCSE course, students are given a teacher led introduction to artistic processes and techniques and are taught to think critically and creatively.
Students are encouraged to follow their own creative ideas and visions with constant support from other GCSE students and art departments within the trust.
Students are given opportunities to explore the position of art in the wider world and outside of a classroom setting.
Beyond Key Stage 5
Students are given opportunities to look at different routes to study art and design – both in its practical application and in its theory. Avenues to study art are explored as well as the numerous career links available. Students are also encouraged to understand the role art has in wellbeing and mental health even if not chosen as a direct route of study or work.
Extended Curriculum Opportunities
- Extra-curricular clubs such as Draw It club and Painting Club.
- Trips and external visits to support in school learning and expand on ideas and concepts whilst developing cultural capital.
- Opportunities to take part in trust wide competitions, festivals and workshops.
- Internal competitions within the art department.
- Prefect opportunities and opportunities to support the department on open days.
- Assemblies with an art historical narrative.
- Reading lists and recommended visits.
