Year 10 – 11
Art
Key Stage: KS4
Exam Board: Edexcel
Qualification Gained: GCSE Art & Design
Assessment breakdown:
- Personal Portfolio: 60%
- Externally Set Exam: 40%
GCSE Art and Design enables students to develop a confident and personal artistic voice. Through a range of media, techniques and ideas, students build practical skills alongside critical thinking and analysis. The course encourages experimentation, independence and reflection, supporting students to explore and communicate their own ideas creatively while preparing them for further study and future pathways in creative disciplines.
The course is designed to build skills and independence across two years. In Year 10, students develop core techniques in drawing, photography and printmaking, while learning how to research and respond to artists. Projects explore themes such as identity and visual communication, gradually leading to an independent project where students develop their own ideas and outcomes based on their chosen theme.
In Year 11, students refine their practice, producing more personal and resolved work. This leads into the Externally Set Assignment, where they respond to a theme provided by the Edexcel exam board and complete a final piece under exam conditions. Throughout the course, students develop critical thinking, learn to analyse and interpret visual sources, and make informed creative decisions.
The GCSE provides a strong foundation for A Level study and supports progression into a wide range of creative fields, including fine art, design, photography and architecture.
Year-by-Year Curriculum
Year 10
Modules include:
- Module 1: Foundations – Exploring Fear and Comfort through Photography and Portrait Drawing
- Module 2: Printmaking Techniques – Lino and Monoprint
- Module 3: Artist Study – Response to Sarah Jane Moon
- Module 4: Artist Study – Response to Barbara Kruger
- Module 5: Independent Project – Theme Development, Research and Initial Responses
- Module 6: Independent Project – Mid Component Planning and Realisation
Year 11
Modules include:
- Module 1: Independent Project – Advanced Artist Research, Response and Synthesis
- Module 2: Independent Project – Final Piece Development and Realisation
- Module 3: Externally Set Assignment – Theme Exploration and Initial Artist Research
- Module 4: Externally Set Assignment – Development, Refinement and Final Outcome
- Module 5: Revision and Coursework
Skills Gained
- Creativity – generating original ideas and personal responses
- Technical ability – using a range of materials and techniques confidently
- Observation – recording from life and visual sources accurately
- Critical thinking – analysing work and making informed artistic decisions
- Problem solving – developing and refining ideas through experimentation
- Independence – managing projects, time, and coursework effectively
Partnerships & Enrichment
Students benefit from rich external experiences and cultural opportunities through engagement with:
- Tate Modern
- Hayward Gallery
- National Portrait Gallery
These experiences broaden students’ understanding of art, craft, and design, connecting classroom learning with real-world artistic practice and developing creative confidence and cultural awareness.
Potential Careers & Progression
The creative, analytical, and independent skills developed through GCSE Art equip students for a wide range of professions in the creative and cultural sectors.
Fashion Design | Textile Design | Interior Design | Photography | Graphic Design | Fine Art | Illustration | Animation | Jewellery Design | Film Making | Theatre and Set Design | Architecture | Art Therapy
