Teaching Staff

• P. Ackers (Director of Learning)
• H. Ramsey
• L Mulryan
• J Aitkin
• D Collingwood
• J Howard

Curriculum Intent in Art

Art and Design needs all of our voices in order to reflect and contribute to the world we live in. At King James 1 Academy take pride in our Art and Photography curriculum by providing our students with the opportunities to understand and access the creative process. We believe in offering students a broad, balanced and challenging experience that contributes to the development of the whole child, mentally, socially and physically whilst fostering the love of learning in every single project that we do.  

We provide an intellectually stimulating programme of study that is constantly reflecting the core values that are embedded within our school. Throughout their time in KS3, we aim for our students to: 

• To become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other Art Craft and Design techniques. 
• To encourage students to produce creative work which explores, records, and reflects on ideas and experiences in their own and others’ lives. 
• To know a range of artists, craft makers and designers and understand historical and cultural developments in Art forms. 
• To evaluate and analyse their own and others creative works using the language of Art Craft and Design. 
• To achieve well and prepare students for future study. 

• To realise the relevance of Art Craft and Design in our modern culture whilst raising awareness of career choices and engendering a love of the subject.

Department Information

The creative industry in the UK is one of the fastest growing industries; it is driving economic growth across the UK and is on track to create one million new creative industries jobs by 2030. Visual Arts, Craft, Design and Photography are extremely important subjects and play a key role within our curriculum at King James.  The Art department is a very successful department and we offer a good selection of courses that allow students to develop skills in a wide variety of disciplines. Students develop a range of skills within the creative subjects we offer; we teach students the skills and techniques they need to express their creativity, develop themselves as critical thinkers, explore and express their own ideas as well as the ability to work well independently and collaboratively. We believe learning outside of the classroom is crucial and strongly value the experiences students gain when on visits to galleries, exhibitions and different cultural venues. We offer a range of visits each year with some being more to more local venues in KS3 as well as an annual international visit for KS4 and KS5.   

Key Stage 3

During the course of study at KS3, students will participate in weekly Art lessons that explore a wide variety of disciplines. Students will develop the skills and techniques they need to express their creativity, develop themselves as critical thinkers, explore and express their own ideas as well as the ability to work well independently and collaboratively. All of our lessons are designed in line with the statutory National Curriculum for Art and Design.  

Year 7 – Introduction to the formal elements, materials and techniques 

Project 1 – Formal Element Project: Students are introduced to the formal elements: tone, texture, colour, shape, form, line and pattern. Students are introduced to a variety of artists and are able to use these to create a final outcome using clay. 

Project 2 – Skills based project: Here students explore the theme of FOOD. They are introduced to several different techniques and processes and explore the work of contemporary artists and the Pop Art movement. Students complete a 3D outcome of their choice using recycled materials.  

Project 3 – Our world project: This project encourages students to explore the theme of Climate Change. They read an extract of Greta Thunberg’s speech to the UN and interpretate it through Art using a variety of key skills, the formal elements, and materials. 

Year 8 – Development of the formal elements, materials and techniques 

Project 1 – Formal element project: Students explore the formal elements in response to the theme ‘A Bugs Life’. They will develop their skills in a variety of different materials and will produce a 3D creative outcome in response to the artists studied.  

Project 2 – Skills based project: Students are introduced to the art movement Cubism and reflect on the different influences behind the movement. They look at African Masks and the surrounding cultures as well as exploring the work of Picasso and contemporary artists who are working in similar ways. Students complete a 3D mask outcome for their final outcome. 

Project 3 – Our world project: This project encourages students to explore the theme of Endangered Animals. They read a poem and interpretate it through Art using a variety of key skills, the formal elements and materials. Students are able to explore their own interests independently throughout this project.  

Year 9 – Securing knowledge of the formal elements, materials and techniques 

Project 1 - Formal element project: Students explore the formal elements in response to the theme ‘Traditions’. They will develop their skills by exploring several different cultures and their own unique traditions. Students will learn how to present their work creatively in their books and twill work as a group to create a final outcome of their choice.  

Project 2 – Skills based project: Students will explore the theme ‘Portraiture’. Students will be taught the proportions of the face and how artists have used the theme throughout History.  

Project 3 – Our world project: This project allows students to explore the theme of ‘Speak up with Street Art’. Here students are encouraged to explore their own beliefs and ideas based on things that they would like to speak up about. Students will apply their learning from throughout KS3 to create a unique response which uses a variety of techniques, materials and processes.  

Learning Journeys