GCSE Fine Art

In this course, students are prepared for Edexcel GCSE Fine Art.

Year 10

Unit

 Content

Personal Portfolio Part 1

Students are taught the assessment objectives through the generation of a project. This involves learning how to develop an investigation and how to undertake relevant research. This project forms the ‘portfolio of work’ and is designed to set students up for working with growing independence as the course progresses.

Key knowledge developed:

  • Understanding how we can be inspired by a range of sources
  • How to show the development of ideas visually
  • Knowing how to annotate and how to evaluate our own work and the work of others
  • How to manipulate and experiment with a range of drawing techniques and processes
  • How to generate an idea and make this process tangible
  • The development and refinement of a final piece

Key skills developed:

  • Tonal pencil
  • Colour pencil
  • Pen and Wash
  • Acrylic paint
  • Mono printing
  • Photography compositional techniques
  • Etching
  • Collage

Year 11

Unit Content

Personal Portfolio
Part 2

Year 11 typically starts with the continuation of the major component and the completion of the final piece. It then moves on to a combination of retrospective adjustments and one-off studies designed to elevate projects and expand visual language skills.

In January, the exam paper is released from the exam board and work on the externally set assignment begins which forms a controlled assessment. Students make the final piece during 2 consecutive practical exam days at the end of the course.

The externally set assignment builds on the skills and knowledge learned during the major component in year 10.

Key knowledge evidence:

  • How to apply prior knowledge of project making
  • How to evidence the use of visual language skills across a range of techniques
  • How to experiment with a range of processes and media
  • The development and refinement of a final piece

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.