Art & Photography

Mr David Valentine: dvalentine@sandbachhigh.co.uk 

Our programme is designed to contribute, support and compliment the aims and aspirations of the school. We aim to develop in young people the sense of fulfilment, fun, pride and satisfaction in producing works of art.

Art is personally enriching as well as collectively stimulating and a range of teaching styles are used to develop both creativity and practical/technical skills. The curriculum is taught by specialist teachers of Art, Photography, Craft & Design. The programme is structured to allow for continuity, depth, differentiation and progression in learning. Pupils will be able to make progress and improve their personal performance in key skills and standards across the National Curriculum.

• Teaching students about how to appreciate Art as a cultural, social, political vehicle and understand how to implement and express their own beliefs during the creative process.
• Develop aesthetic awareness and appreciation of the subject as a visual language
• To encourage diversity, equality, acceptance, appreciation, collaboration and personal development
• To create a linear experience which develops a student holistically from early formative years through to early adulthood.
• Well planned SOW and projects which include a range of skills (both practical and academic) linked to a range of culturally and socially topical issues and relevant concepts.
• Talented teachers with their own skills set utilised to share their own practice and Artistic beliefs and values
• A range of extra-curricular activities, residential trips and foreign visits designed to expose students to the wider Art world and culturally important Art forms.
• Excellent results form the basis for data based impact showing progress from KS3-KS5.
• Aesthetic awareness and technical skill is clearly the visual impact
• Students going on to University to study the creative subjects along with those who develop a career in the creative industries.
• The development of transferrable skills such as problem solving, empathy, cultural and social awareness, leadership, time management and general confidence.

The programme has been designed and tailored to meet the growing needs of our pupils and individual learners, provide compelling learning experiences and contribute towards fostering a lifelong appreciation and passion for art.

YEAR 7 

 2 x Lessons per fortnight 

Taught in mixed ability form groups 

 Knowledge and Skills: drawing, colour theory, painting, abstraction 

Artists: Vincent Van Gogh, David Hockney, Emily Miah Stewart 

Students will be introduced to Vincent Van Gogh and gain an understanding of how he uses a range of mark making techniques to create detailed drawings. Students will then draw from observation, applying this understanding to their own work.  

 Students will then develop a greater understanding of the impact and power of colour. They will study the work of David Hockney and Emily Miah Stewart and use their work as an influence to create their own abstract landscapes based on their own memories of journeys.  

YEAR 8 

 2 x lessons per fortnight 

Taught in mixed ability form groups 

 Knowledge and Skills: Egyptian Canopic jars, lay pots, drawing, printmaking, etching, photography 

Artists: Lorraine Izon, Rembrandt 

Students will explore the history of a ceramics referencing as far back as Neanderthalic man covering elements of cultural traditions, function, and form.  

 Students will then research and respond to the Ancient Egyptian tradition of Canopic jars before designing and making their own personal outcomes. Students will use contemporary patterns; abstracts shapes connected to a person they admire to represent their personalities and interests.  

Students will then investigate printmaking and in particular, etching. Students will briefly explore photography and use this to create their own etchings, considering the work and techniques of Rembrandt.  

YEAR 9 

2 X lessons per fortnight 

Taught in mixed ability form groups 

 Knowledge and Skills: abstraction, architecture, vorticism, photography, photomontage, drawing (traditional and experimental), sculptures 

Artists: Alvin Landon Coburn 

 In this unit students will work in a range of media and develop their presentation, observation, recording and making skills. They get to see their idea/recordings seen in both two and three dimension and through a variety of mediums.  

 Students gain a knowledge and of architectural styles, history of and related context i.e. cultural/political and environmental issues.  Students will consider the brief movement of Vorticism and use this to influence the abstraction of the figurative world. They will investigate the reasons why Architecture changes over time and how the different styles can influence each other, as well as their own work.  

Key Stage 4

Pupils who opt for GCSE Fine Art or Photography follow the AQA syllabus, which develops drawing, painting, printing, sculpture and mixed media forms building on the knowledge and skills introduced in Key Stage 3.

Pupils receive 5 lessons per fortnight and are taught in mixed ability option groups. The (5-9) pass rate remains very high year on year and the number of pupils opting for GCSE Fine Art demonstrates the popularity of the course.

Year 10 Fine Art

Observation & Abstraction

Sustained observational drawing, mixed media techniques and photography developing into large scale mixed media/ relief paintings. Students will refer to the work of Abstract painters such as Richard Diebenkorn and John Renshaw before experimenting with colour, composition, shape, line and texture. Ideas will be recorded using drawing, photography and annotation and developed through one-to-one support and tuition. Outcomes will be based on the accumulation of knowledge gained throughout the project and will be a personal and independent response to the theme.

What we leave behind

In this project, students will develop an understanding of the theme through sustained investigations and experimentation. Students will explore conceptual elements based on topical and cultural themes and make links to no less than 3 Artists including 15 Century Vanitas painters such as Pieter Clausz and Willem Kalf and contemporary sculptors and mixed media artists such as Joseph Beuys and Anselm Kiefer. Outcomes will explore 3 dimensional techniques and processes and again will be the result of

Year 10 Photography

Window Worlds

In this introductory project students will develop foundation skills in Photography and photographic processes/ Students will circulate in groups on technical rotations which will introduce them to dark room techniques such as photograms, use of acetates for image creation and using wet materials/processes. Distorted portraits will encourage the use of long exposures whilst aperture and ISO will be linked to the depth of field within the subject of still life

Daily Life/Routine

The students will begin to explore the world around them in this concept driven unit where choices will be more independent and outcomes more personal. Students will be introduced to photographers and artists such as Jean Noviel and Brian Hubble who will inspire the use of a range of materials and processes (both hand manipulation and digital). Students will become proficient in the use of photoshop and will be supported in developing experiments and ideas.

This project encourages development of SMSC skills and British Values through independent and personalised learning about a range of current and historical issues

Year 11 (Fine Art & Photography)

Year 11 Artists and Photographers will begin with the mock exam unit which will allow the students to choose from a range of themes (based on past exam questions) before researching a minimum of 3 artists/photographers. Students will be encouraged to experiment with a diverse range of materials, techniques and processes and will be individually supported in developing ideas which will lead to independent outcomes.

In January yr11 will begin the externally set assignment

Please follow the link for further information and guidance:

Students will be introduced to a range of drawing, painting and 3D techniques and will be offered regular tuition both in and out of lessons and encouraged to work independently at home. 

The Photography course will introduce students to both historical and contemporary practices. Practical techniques and the use of SLR cameras will be taught all of which will be supported and enriched by regular Artist and contextual research. 

A Level photography students can expect to have regular one to one tuition both in and out of lessons and will be encouraged to take regular shoots outside of lessons. 

Students who opt for the A Level courses in Photography or Fine Art follow the Edexcel Syllabus. Students will receive 10 hours per fortnight as well as regular opportunities for independent study and extra support and tuition outside of lessons.

Results remain high in both areas.

For further information and guidance click on the link

Key Stage 5

Currently we offer both A Level Fine Art and Photography courses, both of which enjoy excellent results year on year.  

The Fine Art course offers the students the opportunities to work with a range of both traditional and contemporary processes all of which are supported and enriched by regular Artist research and contextual inputs. 

Students will be introduced to a range of drawing, painting and 3D techniques and will be offered regular tuition both in and out of lessons and encouraged to work independently at home. 

The Photography course will introduce students to both historical and contemporary practices. Practical techniques and the use of SLR cameras will be taught all of which will be supported and enriched by regular Artist and contextual research. 

A Level photography students can expect to have regular one to one tuition both in and out of lessons and will be encouraged to take regular shoots outside of lessons. 

Students who opt for the A Level courses in Photography or Fine Art follow the Edexcel Syllabus. Students will receive 10 hours per fortnight as well as regular opportunities for independent study and extra support and tuition outside of lessons.

Results remain high in both areas.

For further information on our A level Fine Art and A level Photography see the webpage on Sandbach College website    

For further information and guidance click on the link

GCSE Fine Art (AQA) 

GCSE Photography (AQA) 

A Level Fine Art (EDEXCEL) 

A Level Photography (EDEXCEL) 

The Art department offer a range of lunchtime and after school clubs and enrichment sessions which take into account the interests, passions and needs of our students at all key stages.

The Art department also offer a range of trips and visits including:

• KS3 visits to Liverpool Museum and The Walker Art Gallery
• KS3, 3 and 5 visits to European destinations. These have recently included Venice, Florence, Paris and Amsterdam
• KS4 Art residential to the Conway Centre
• London Art galleries
• Manchester and Liverpool Art galleries
• KS5 G&T trip to Tuscany (in conjunction with other Cheshire schools and colleges)

We also foster close links with the wider community and have exhibited work in local venues as well as working closely with local artists and Sandbach High School and Sixth Form College alumni.

Five ways I can help my child in Art (KS3): 

1. Foster their creativity by encouraging independent drawing/painting at home
2. Encourage them to not be worried about trying out new skills. Mistakes often make for good progress.
3. Help them learn to appreciate other pupil’s work – listen carefully to the story behind their ideas
4. Encourage your child to ask lots of questions in class
5. Regular trips to local galleries

Five ways to help your child by encouraging the following at home (KS4): 

1. Foster their creativity by encouraging independent drawing/painting at home whilst reminding them that there are plenty of lunchtime and after school sessions.
2. Encourage them to get involve in departmental promotion and or clubs
3. Help them make best use of their free time to ensure that they keep up with pace of the course
4. Ensure your child is fully equipped for the course they are on.
5. Regular trips to local galleries

Five ways I can help my child in Art (KS5): 

1. Foster their creativity by encouraging independent drawing/painting at home whilst reminding them that there are plenty of lunchtime and after school sessions.
2. Encourage them to get involve in departmental promotion and or clubs
3. Help them make best use of their free time to ensure that they keep up with pace of the course
4. Ensure your child is fully equipped for the course they are on.
5. Regular trips to local galleries

We love to celebrate the work of our students and the stunning work they produce can be found on instagram at art_photo_shssfc or via our twitter account Sandbach High Art & Photography