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27/03/24

🌟 Our amazing pupils showcased incredible 'Character (to)day' diving into a variety of topics & activities! 🚀 Year 7s showed immense Courageous Advocacy, delving into Bee habitats and acing the Big School litter pick! 🐝🗑️ pic.twitter.com/zt2ebNR4ea

27/03/24

Ahoy there! ⚓️ The Year 9 crew from HGA set sail today for the Maritime Museum in Greenwich. 🌊 Anchors aweigh for a character-filled adventure on the high seas! ⛵️🌟 pic.twitter.com/yTfUrlmJjh

26/03/24

🏐🎉 Incredible news! Our year 8 netball team has smashed their way to the Harris Cup semi-finals! 🌟👏 Big shoutout to our amazing players, especially the year 7 stars shining bright! 🌟✨ Let's cheer them on as they face ! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/E4mK2T0cAT

20/03/24

🚀 Kicking off Creative Careers 2024! 🎨 Students are diving into a world of possibilities, exploring diverse pathways in the creative industry. 📸#CreativeCareers2024 pic.twitter.com/otVpl4Ua0K

19/03/24

🌟 Thrilled to share moments from the Speak Out Regional Final! 🎤 Megan Farr and May Mbabazi shone brightly, representing Harris Garrard Academy with their powerful voices. A celebration of young talent and the magic of expression. ✨ pic.twitter.com/yI8GICW9uF

15/03/24

Off to the we go, with Year 8 in tow, to witness love's timeless tale in a contemporary glow. Thanks to ’s generous sponsorship, Shakespeare's words will leap and dip. 🎭💔 pic.twitter.com/ezNpvHdema

08/03/24

pic.twitter.com/6A3IurXrFK

07/03/24

📚✨ The halls of HGA have transformed into a literary wonderland as our secondary staff channel their inner bookworms, dressing up as their favorite book characters! From the whimsical to the wicked, can you guess the characters? 📸🎭 pic.twitter.com/y8azMifcNq

06/03/24

The yr5/6 Netball final took place between today.Both teams have done exceptionally well to reach the final & were undefeated in their league so we knew we were in for a close game

05/03/24

The yr5/6 Netball final took place between today.Both teams have done exceptionally well to reach the final & were undefeated in their league so we knew we were in for a close game

01/03/24

Just wrapped up another fantastic week at HGA, proving that even when the skies open up, we find our pot of gold in the learning of our students. 🌈 pic.twitter.com/jKjPQHPkQ2

01/03/24

HGA Sixth Formers' visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau was a powerful reminder of history's darkest chapters. Their solemn reflections will echo in our hearts and history classes. pic.twitter.com/k1CaBME2Ns

29/02/24

Excited to kick off day 1 of the Y12 Biology Residential! 🌿 Stay tuned for updates, insights, and all the fascinating discoveries we'll make together! pic.twitter.com/6nqWUWrZBE

27/02/24

We're looking forward to National Careers Week, 4th-9th March 2024. We will be using the many resources available, such as a virtual careers fair, films, talks and booklets to inspire our students about their future options and pathways. https://t.co/kTXTWlyLix pic.twitter.com/RyYS0u3HQR

20/02/24

🎉 What an inspiring afternoon at our Careers Fair! Students explored a world of opportunities with leading employers, colleges, and universities. Their futures look bright! 🌟 Check out the highlights 📸 pic.twitter.com/D5uRNqGvDW

09/02/24

Congratulations to everyone you have done yourselves, your school and your Borough proud https://t.co/AxU7Tsxvjc

09/02/24

Congratulations to everyone you have done yourselves, your school and your Borough proud https://t.co/AxU7Tsxvjc

09/02/24

We are officially through to the Sports hall finals. We finished inside the top 3 of todays qualifier and now will be one of 12 schools in the grand finals on the 19th March! This is the first time in the 3 years we have achieved this! pic.twitter.com/hw1DbJxEo1

09/02/24

We have officially arrived at for the indoor sports athletics London finals representing to team Let’s go Garrard!! pic.twitter.com/op0BNKu50R

09/02/24

Look what arrived in the post! These adorable handmade worry monsters were ordered from over a year ago. Big thanks to the talented knitters - they will bring comfort to many. Therapeutic tools for little ones. pic.twitter.com/r6GhmtALKl

Harris Academies
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Art & Design

In a 21st century world which relies heavily upon visual language to communicate, Art and Design continues to play a crucial role in education.

Art and Design is intrinsically different to most other subjects. It offers freedom, in that there can be a diverse range of responses. Reliance upon the acquisition of a predetermined body of knowledge is not necessary. Instead, Art and Design engages us in a highly creative and interrogative learning process.

At Harris Garrard Academy, we encourage individuality and believe strongly that Art and Design education should be accessible to all. That is why all students at Key Stage 3 have the opportunity to study the subject weekly, with a view to progressing further at Key Stage 4 to GCSE level and beyond.


Key Stage 3 overview

The aim of the Key Stage 3 curriculum is to foster and hone students’ passion for the arts and enrich their cultural capital. Students will develop a range of subject-specific skills, techniques and art language; they will learn how to compose, design, make, create, plan, research, experiment and experience all areas of the arts in an imaginative, engaging and creative way, acquiring and embedding knowledge and understanding on their journey through Key Stage 3. 

Year 7 is the FOUNDATION. Students learn the basic skills, the elements and principles of the subject – these are the fundamental building blocks and the key to success. 

Year 8 is the DEVELOPMENT. Students utilise and apply their skills and knowledge to create work that is more developmental. They build upon prior learning from Year 7, whilst continuing to develop skills, knowledge and understanding.  

Year 9 is the REALISATION. Students would be expected to realise their intentions, building upon prior learning from Year 7 and Year 8. Utilising and applying skills, knowledge and understanding with a greater independence and proficiency. 


Key Stage 4 overview

The GCSE in Art & Design builds upon the foundation blocks developed by students at Key Stage 3 and the National Curriculum standards that have been followed. Students at Key Stage 4 have access to a wide variety of arts-based disciplines, but with more time to experiment, develop and refine their work in a much deeper way.

We encourage students to work far more independently and individually at this level; this means that the creative work produced by our GCSE students have varied, rich and contextual approaches. In the arts, Year 10 is aimed at being more explorative and experimental, with Year 11 being more developmental and consolidating in terms of the work created. We aim to prepare students for the world of work and Post-16 opportunities by constantly referring to careers in the creative industries both locally, nationally and internationally. 


You can download Knowledge Organisers for each year group from our Knowledge Organisers page.

For queries about the Art & Design curriculum please contact David Rose d.rose@harrisgarrard.org.uk.

Further details of the curriculum can be found below.

Primary

Every child is an artist.” Pablo Picasso

Art and Design at Harris Garrard aims to engage, inspire and challenge children to equip them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, imagine and produce works of art.  

Our art provision is underpinned by several key concepts: 

  • Creativity 
  • Competence 
  • Cultural understanding  
  • Critical understanding 

At Harris Garrard, we see art as a platform through which pupils can explore visual, tactile and other sensory experiences to communicate ideas and meanings. It is this self-directed nature of teaching and learning in art which provides pupils with a sense of independence in our art lessons. We strongly believe that experimentation, innovation and risk should be encouraged, but that every piece of artwork and experimentation should be reflected on and be built on a foundation of both theoretical and practical knowledge. 

Throughout our provision of Art and Design, our pupils learn to appreciate and value images and artefacts across different eras and cultures and to understand the contexts in which they were made. This more theoretical understanding will feed into their making; their ideas will become more complex and well thought out, linking to more diverse meanings and ideas behind the art works. It is this balance between the development of practical skills and theoretical engagement which we believe will produce well-rounded artists who have a profound engagement with art and other artists. 

We aim to provide a systematic and progressive development of practical skills through the exploration of different techniques and materials like charcoal drawing, screen printing and clay sculpture which underpin the students’ theoretical and critical understanding of art. 

Mrs Fisher Primary Art Lead

Year 7

In Year 7, students learn to become confident in the foundation skills in Art & Design. Students will know and understand the importance of the formal/visual elements and the art principles and be able to recognise and apply this knowledge when doing their own practical and theoretical work.

Students will know about the fundamentals of drawing and mark-making and be able to use a variety of drawing and techniques to create effective work. Students will have an understanding of colour theory, be able to use it successfully and apply this to their own work. They will know how to mix colour confidently and use a variety of painting techniques appropriately.

Students will be able to draw the human figure and face accurately and in proportion. Students will understand the importance of depth, perspective and composition when planning and developing own landscape/seascape work. Students will know how to explore imaginative and creative ideas and will be able to express this through the appropriate use of mixed media. Students will become confident in drawing from direct observation.

They will know about the tradition of the still-life in art, be able to construct a still-life and use it as a primary source for drawing. Students will be able to research and analyse artists, art movements and genres effectively using art specific language. They will know how to talk about artworks, including their own and other students’.

Year 8

In Year 8, students explore a range of themes within art that build upon and strengthen the foundation skills learnt in Year 7. Students will know about the different types, styles and genres of architecture. They will be able to use 2D and 3D drawings skills, one-point perspective and also collage and mixed-media techniques to create effective outcomes. 

Students will know about natural forms and will have explored how natural forms can be a source of inspiration for creative ideas. They will be more confident in using a wider range of media and materials, understanding that experimenting with unusual drawing media can produce different effects and outcomes. They will know about the aesthetic qualities that can be found in the natural world that can be used to develop artworks and have an increased appreciation for natural beauty.

Students will be able to plan and develop a sustained piece of work with a focus upon narrative, meaning and their own imagination. They will have knowledge of foreground, middle-ground and background and be able to use artists as inspiration for the ideas, planning and development of their own original compositions. Students will know about negative and positive space, abstraction, symmetry and balance within images and be able to use this knowledge and skills effectively.

Students will learn about artists who paint and draw the human figure in situ – creating a specific mood, atmosphere or narrative. They will understand the use of scale in images to show the contrast between the power and grandeur of nature compared to humans.

Students will have developed their knowledge and awareness of artists that use their bodies as a means of expression, know about the significance of body art and the variety of self-expression and human individuality around the world. They will know about and appreciate different cultures from around the world and the various ways that people decorate, embellish and paint their skin to ascertain cultural identity and a sense of belonging. Students will be able to research and analyse artists, art movements and genres more effectively using art specific language. They will know how to talk about artworks, including their own and other students’ work using art language. 

Year 9

In Year 9, our students are guided towards the GCSE in Art & Design. Students will have knowledge of multicultural and non-western art and know about cultural differences and global styles, they will have explored the use of pattern, motifs, decoration and design.

Students will have knowledge of Pop Art and the artists connected to the art movement. They will be able to create effective artwork using printing processes and techniques. They will know how to enlarge images and understand the importance of scale. Students will understand text and image in art, advertising and graphics. Students will understand about good composition. They will know how to create successful compositions through planning and drawing and be able to arrange a picture effectively. They will know how to place ideas using classic techniques. They will know about different compositional techniques and be able to understand and apply them.

Students will have an understanding of meaning and symbolism in art and be able to analyse relevant artworks. They will know about symbolic colour, objects and hidden meanings. Students will understand how to develop more personal and meaningful art. Students will have knowledge of the art movement Surrealism. They will understand about changing scale, altering contexts, juxtaposition and the subconscious mind.

Students will explore art through time, they will have an understanding of art history. Furthermore, students will know about different art movements, genres, styles and artists – they will have knowledge of the art timeline and a contextualised understanding of art history. 

Year 10

Year 10 students will have built on concepts, skills and knowledge from KS3 in line with the Edexcel assessment objectives for GCSE Art and Design. They will know and understand the GCSE assessment objectives. Students will begin to know how to develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources. They will begin to know how to refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.

Students will be able to record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses. They will begin to know how to present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language. Students will understand how to explore a theme in line with GCSE assessment objectives. They will know of issues based around the themes of ‘IDENTITY’, ‘SURFACES’ and ‘PAST, PRESENT &/OR FUTURE’. 

Students will know of a diverse range of artists/designers/craftspeople/architects related to the themes. They will have knowledge of how to develop a GCSE Sketchbook. They will know how to handle materials and techniques competently, confidently or exceptionally. They will begin to know what a ‘creative journey’ looks like within a sketchbook and be able to make strong connections in their work (creative process). Students will have developed their use of more complex art vocabulary when writing/speaking about artwork – comparing and contrasting theirs and other’s work.

They will be able to research a diverse range of established artists/craftspeople/designers/architects from different times and places, which will inform the development of own work. Students will have developed their skills in observational drawing using a wide range of methods and medias (range of dry and wet media). They will be able to experiment and explore the potentials and limitations of materials and techniques, taking risks and developing the ability to review progress and justify decisions.

Students will know how to make connections and links, developing projects through appropriate documentation within sketchbooks. They will further develop the ability to successfully explore the expressive characteristics of different media, processes and techniques, to express personal ideas, and communicate meaning and intentions. 

Year 11

Before sitting their GCSE in Art & Design, Year 11 students will have a thorough and in-depth understanding of the course. They will have completed Component 1 and be prepared to do the Externally Set Assignment using the work developed for Component 2. They will know and understand the GCSE assessment objectives. Students will know how to develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources. They will know how to refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes. Students will be able to record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses. They will know how to present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.

Students will understand how to explore a theme in line with GCSE assessment objectives. They will become confident in developing personal ideas based around the ‘ESA THEME’. Students will have developed their knowledge of how to develop a GCSE Sketchbook. They will be able to handle materials and techniques effectively, having developed projects independently and with perseverance. Students will know of the properties and specific qualities of materials used. They will know of a diverse range of artists/designers/craftspeople/architects (related to their themes) from different times Art & Design KS3 & KS4 and places and will know of the political/historical/social and cultural contexts of these artworks. Students will be able to present work in a range of formats.

Students will know what a ‘creative journey’ looks like within a sketchbook and be able to make strong connections in their work. Students will have developed the use of more complex art vocabulary when writing/speaking about artwork – comparing and contrasting their own and other’s work. They will be able to research a wide range of established artists/craftspeople/designers/architects from different times and places, which will have informed the development of their own work. Students will have developed further skills in observational drawing using a wide range of methods and medias (self-selected). They will have developed skills in working with further 3D materials and processes (self-selected) Students will know how to experiment and explore the potentials and limitations of materials and techniques, taking risks and will have developed the ability to review progress and justify decisions. They will be able to demonstrate their ability to make connections and links developing projects through appropriate documentation within sketchbooks. 

Furthermore, they will have developed the ability to successfully explore the expressive characteristics of different media, processes and techniques, in order to express personal ideas, and communicate meaning and intentions. Essentially, students will understand how to develop their own ideas based on all previous learning, they will know how to develop personal and meaningful ideas for the ESA and be able to prepare with confidence for their ESA final outcome. They will complete the ESA, Component 1 and submit it. They will finalise and complete Component 2 and submit it. All work for Component 1 and Component 2 is submitted by the strict deadline 31st May 2024. Work is assessed and moderated by the art team and the exam board. 

Careers

Art and Design helps students with a wide range of future career options including:

  • Graphic designer
  • Artist
  • Photographer
  • Fashion designer
  • Computer animator
  • Architect
  • Interior designer
  • Product designer
  • Jewelry designer
  • Website designer
  • Comic book artist
  • Gallery curator
  • Illustrator

Find out more about the careers programme at Harris Garrard Academy.