WELCOME TO THE ATS ART DEPARTMENT

Art is a foundation subject and fundamental to every practical design-based subject taught at Archbishop Tenison's School.

Art and all activities therein are a way of enabling the children to discover themselves and to make sense of the world in which they live. It is a language for creation, communication and discovery.

As a subject, it is made available to all pupils, regardless of race, culture, sex, religion or ability. Every child's response, individual skill, ideas postulated, concepts generated and work produced is valued highly. Each child should be encouraged, and we hope that every child will acquire an understanding of the value of Art education and education through Art.

It is hoped that the confidence gained through visual expression will carry through to other subject areas and will eventually lead to the enhancement of personal and social skills.

There is a need for emphasis on the formative experience that Art gives children and on its value to all aspects of the curriculum - and life in general.

Art is Life!

As an Art Department, we participate within the community and involve students, parents and other agencies in aspects of delivering the curriculum from Year 7 to Year 13.

Our aim is to extend artistic possibilities and provide the best possible education, as seen not only within the exam result framework, but in the delivery of competent, confident practitioners, secure in their artistic achievements.

We continually visit galleries and public events with all year groups, and our policy is to broaden understanding of the arts via professional involvement, formal and otherwise, and encourage pupils to contribute independently and wholeheartedly without prejudice and fear of rejection.

As a Department, we maintain strong links with parents, carers, stakeholders and associations within the community. Art based connections are strong, both with galleries and places of further education. We have a strong and positive reputation within art institutions, and pupils and parents choose Archbishop Tenison's because of the Art.

As a Department we have been together for 20 years. We work collaboratively as a team. We are confident in our expertise and flexible within our teaching. Artistic decisions are achieved democratically. We will always adapt our teaching and schemes of work to be appropriate to pupil feedback, current exhibitions and the mood of the time. Within this, we are disciplined, aspirational and purposeful in securing visual outcomes - our philosophy differs from other departments, as it is neither rigid nor restricted by a defined curriculum. Schemes of work are thorough and relevant, but not gospel. We try to inculcate and foster a genuine enjoyment of the subject and connect to life in understandable ways. For the most part pupils are engaged and well motivated because they want to develop as artists, rather than being forced to work according to a timetable.

We believe all pupils succeed and quite often do exceed statistical predictions.

General Detail

Key Stage 3 and 4 Art is taught in two large purpose-built studios situated at the top of the school. They are equipped with up-to-date ICT equipment and facilitate the teaching of 2D disciplines and 3D activities.

There is a kiln room located next to the Art suite and clay has been a favourite part of the curriculum delivery. We are to embark upon teaching photography as a separate GCSE subject next year, starting digitally and leading to dark-room techniques. This is as well as the GCSE in Art, Craft and Design.

We have a separate Sixth Form studio with a mixed intake. A-level Art students go on to study Art at art college and university.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

All Art disciplines are covered and the basic skills of drawing, painting and making are demonstrated and practised. Year 7 teaching is based upon the formal elements. Tone and colour work is advanced and elements of Art History are introduced. Key artists are always contextualised and written responses to the work and life of artists is expected.

Observational accuracy and the manipulation and realisation of ideas are paramount, and individual responses are valued within the activity.

Key Stage 4

There are 2 Units of work that make up the overall GCSE grade:
Unit 1: Portfolio of work - This is controlled assessment work which is set and marked by the centre and then moderated by the exam board. The marks are awarded out of 80 and this figure makes up 60% of the overall exam grade. Candidates portfolio of work is selected from coursework undertaken during the course of study and must include more than one project.
Unit 2: Externally set task - This is the exam themed task which is set by the exam board, marked by the centre and then moderated by the exam board. The marks are awarded out of 80 and this figure makes up 40% of the overall exam grade. The exam is made up of 2 parts. Firstly, preparation - candidates plan for their final piece/s of project work based on the theme given on the exam paper. Then candidates must produce the final piece/s of work within an exam of 10 hours – under exam conditions (their own unaided work).

Assessment Objectives
Candidates must show evidence of all four assessment objectives in both their Portfolio Work (unit 1) and in the Externally Set Task (unit 2). Candidates must show their ability to:

AO2	Develop their ideas through investigations informed by contextual and other sources demonstrating analytical and cultural understanding.
AO2	Refine their ideas through experimenting and selecting appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes.
AO3	Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to their intentions in visual and/or other forms.
AO4	Present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating analytical and critical understanding, realising intentions and where appropriate, making connections between visual, written, oral or other elements.

Key Stage 5

A-level is a co-educational group comprising mostly of Tenison boys. It is a specialised course that leads to further education possibilities. We follow the Edexcel GCE A-level syllabus split into AS and A2.

The assessment objectives for AS and A2 are:

AOl: Develop their ideas through sustained and focussed investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.

A02: Experiment with and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining their ideas as their work develops.

A03: Record in visual and/or other forms ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, demonstrating an ability to reflect on work and progress.

A04: Present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating critical understanding, realising intentions and, where appropriate, making connections between visual, oral or other elements.

There has been 100% success rate in application to university and to art colleges.

Extra-Curricular Activities

The school has been awarded Art College Status and as a consequence, we have been able to buy in expertise and involve pupils in a variety of externally run projects.

Boys have recently produced a mosaic for Ashmole Primary School to decorate their playground. They worked directly with a mosaic specialist/artist-in-residence over an eight-week period.

Tiburcio Soteno from Mexico demonstrated a 'Tree of Life' workshop. Boys produced painted clay pieces from a specific folkloric/Mexican cultural position.

All boys visit Art Galleries and all major London exhibitions are visited.