Students follow a programme of study which provides experience and knowledge of a wide range of materials and processes including drawing and painting, printing and collage and sculpting in clay.

Alongside this pupils develop an understanding of selected areas of historical and contemporary Art and Design.

Learning and progress are assessed against four criteria:

1. Understanding Skills, Materials and Processes.

2. Observation and Drawing Skills.

3. Understanding Arts, Design and Culture.

4. Reflective learning, Independent Enquiry and Self-Management.

Our aim is to make enjoyment and achievement in Art and design attainable and relevant for every student. With this in mind we place much emphasis on transferable skills that the students use throughout the curriculum. These include research skills, manual dexterity, designing and crafting skills as well a self management and effective learning skills.

At KS3 there is no formal weighting given to the assessment objectives and so the way we set targets and assess them is quite fluid and varies according to teaching groups and projects.

Marks with Key Stage 3 levels are provided half-termly, with notes that indicate which of the objectives have been assessed.