KS3 Assessment
In KS3 assessment is done through a variety of different ways throughout the year. On a lesson to lesson basis, formative verbal assessment and feedback makes up a crucial part of the art curriculum, allowing you to progress and be given guidance immediately as you work on a piece of artwork. In addition you will be given a KS3 Art Mark booklet at the beginning of year 7 that follows you through your time in years 7, 8 and 9. In this art booklet you will self-reflect and evaluate your progress using a grid system at the end of each topic, imputing your levels and BFLs given at each of the 4 data collection points throughout the year. As well as summatively assessing your own work, you will regularly peer and self-assess your work at different points in the topic, commenting on strengths, weaknesses and things to improve. This is completed at least 3 times throughout the year both in and out of the mark booklet with your teachers also completing feedback of at least one project recorded in the mark booklet. At all points, an assessment dialogue is created, allowing you to respond to feedback and highlight how you think you can improve. At the end of the year you will take your entire body of work home and your parents and guardians are asked to comment on your progress throughout the year to allow that dialogue between home and school to exist.
KS4 Assessment
The GCSE course is weighted so that all year 10 work and topics and the Church Topic make up 60% of the overall GCSE grade and the exam being worth the final 40%. The art exam begins in March and finishes in May. The final deadline for all art work is before the May half term.
Year 10 and 11 students are given GCSE Art booklets that contain key information that will help guide you throughout your GCSE course. This includes the assessment objectives provided by the exam board, a list of different mediums and techniques, key words and phrases to use when analysing art work and space for teacher assessment and pupil response. During each topic teachers will give you one-to-one support in lesson, through verbal feedback and guidance. In addition at data collection points and in line with the end of topics, teachers will thoroughly audit your body of work for each topic, giving improvements and creating a ‘To-do’ list at the back of the art booklet for you to complete. At the end of each topic teachers complete summative assessment in the form of a written dialogue, referring to assessment objectives and highlighting strengths and weaknesses as well as what you need to do to improve. You will then respond to this comment, opening up a dialogue and place for reflection. This happens 3 times in Year 10 and once in Year 11. At each data collection point you will be awarded either an ‘On Target’, ‘Below Target’ or ‘Above Target’ level as well as a BFL to report on your progress.
THE BIG DRAW
“Drawing is a means of obtaining and communicating knowledge” – John Ruskin
Each year we run the Big Draw in the autumn term. The Big Draw encourages drawing throughout the school - not just within an art lesson, allowing artwork to be accessed by all. The Big Draw aims to raise the profile of drawing as a tool for thought, creativity and social and cultural engagement.
As part of last year’s theme ‘Draw Tomorrow’ we used chalk pens and paint to decorate parts of the art department and school with positive ideas, messages and images for the future.
This year's Big Draw theme is ‘It’s Our World’ and is a celebration of our environment - Urban, rural and coastal landscapes. The Big Draw is open to all KS3 Students.
Photos are uploaded to the Big Draw website gallery and photos from all over the country can be followed by searching #bigdraw on Instagram and Twitter. The Art Department also has an art Instagram page @sea_r_art which can be followed to keep up to date with what goes on with the art department, as well as seeing our ‘Artist of the Week’.
