GCSE Art & Design

In this course, students are prepared for Edexcel GCSE Art, Craft and Design (1AD0).

Year 10

Unit

 Content

Personal Portfolio Part 1

Students explore the key concepts of the GCSE course in a project entitled 'Inside, Outside, Looking Through'. They learn how to undertake relevant research and investigation as well as to observe and record effectively. The project teaches students to experiment and to generate ideas that allow them to realise their artistic intentions and to complete a final piece. This sustained project models a process that students employ throughout the GCSE and establishes a standard for further projects.

Key knowledge developed:

  • Understanding how sources inspire the development of ideas, drawing on the work and approaches of artists, craftspeople or designers from contemporary and/or historical contexts, periods, societies, cultures, contemporary and/or historical environments, situations and issues
  • Understanding the ways in which meanings, ideas and intentions can be communicated through visual and tactile language, using formal elements, including colour, line, form, tone and texture
  • Knowing the characteristics, properties and effects of different media, materials, techniques and processes, and the ways in which these can be used to realise creative intentions
  • Understanding the purposes, intentions and functions of art, craft and design in a variety of contexts

Key skills developed:

  • How to develop ideas through the investigation and critical analysis of sources
  • How to refine ideas by experimenting with media, materials, techniques and processes
  • How to record ideas, observations, insights and independent judgements, visually and through written annotation, using appropriate specialist vocabulary
  • How to use drawing for a range of purposes
  • How to realise personal intentions

Assessment: Students receive summative feedback every term on their progress within their independent project. Areas of strength and areas for development are shared along with strategies to help students make rapid progress. The personal portfolio is internally assessed, internally standardised, and externally moderated by Edexcel. This component is worth 60% of the GCSE.

Year 11

Unit Content

Personal Portfolio
Part 2

Year 11 starts with a practice exam paper designed to prepare students for the final exam unit which is released in January. This project gives students the experience of working within a compressed timeframe while exercising autonomy over their ideas. Students draw on key knowledge from Year 10 and respond to a given theme.

Key knowledge developed:

  • Understanding how sources inspire the development of ideas, drawing on the work and approaches of artists, craftspeople or designers from contemporary and/or historical contexts, periods, societies, cultures, contemporary and/or historical environments, situations and issues
  • Understanding the ways in which meanings, ideas and intentions can be communicated through visual and tactile language, using formal elements, including colour, line, form, tone and texture
  • Knowing the characteristics, properties and effects of different media, materials, techniques and processes, and the ways in which these can be used to realise creative intentions
  • Understanding the purposes, intentions and functions of art, craft and design in a variety of contexts

Key skills developed:

  • How to develop ideas through the investigation and critical analysis of sources
  • How to refine ideas by experimenting with media, materials, techniques and processes
  • How to record ideas, observations, insights and independent judgements, visually and through written annotation, using appropriate specialist vocabulary
  • How to use drawing for a range of purposes
  • How to realise personal intentions

Assessment: Students receive summative feedback every term on their progress within their independent project. Areas of strength and areas for development are shared along with strategies to help students make rapid progress. The personal portfolio is internally assessed, internally standardised, and externally moderated by Edexcel. This component is worth 60% of the GCSE.

Externally set assignment

The externally set assignment (ESA) is set by Pearson and will be released on 2 January in the year of assessment. This is a national broad-based thematic starting point.

Key knowledge developed:

  • Understanding how sources inspire the development of ideas, drawing on the work and approaches of artists, craftspeople or designers from contemporary and/or historical contexts, periods, societies, cultures, contemporary and/or historical environments, situations and issues
  • Understanding the ways in which meanings, ideas and intentions can be communicated through visual and tactile language, using formal elements, including colour, line, form, tone and texture
  • Knowing the characteristics, properties and effects of different media, materials, techniques and processes, and the ways in which these can be used to realise creative intentions
  • Understanding the purposes, intentions and functions of art, craft and design in a variety of contexts

Key skills developed:

  • How to develop ideas through the investigation and critical analysis of sources
  • How to apply an understanding of practices in the creative and cultural industries to one's own work
  • How to refine ideas by experimenting with media, materials, techniques and processes
  • How to record ideas, observations, insights and independent judgements, visually and through written annotation, using appropriate specialist vocabulary
  • How to use visual language
  • How to use drawing skills for different needs and purposes
  • How to realise personal intentions through the sustained application of the creative process

Assessment: The externally set assignment is internally assessed, internally standardised, and externally moderated by Edexcel. This component is worth 40% of the GCSE.