Key Stage Three

Students receive a one-hour lesson each week.

Term 1: Pencil theory. Pupils produce a pencil drawing without any help in the first lesson to establish their baseline level. They will then spend the first half term learning how to draw and shade using a pencil and studying the work of relevant artists. By the end of this unit all pupils should be able to progress from their base grade.

Term 3: Design and Make art challenge based on a set theme. All Year 7 students will create a 3D object at home using any materials.

• 

• 

* We use the summer term to introduce new materials and techniques, these could be; ceramics, textiles, wire, card construction, screen-printing, printmaking, collage etc.

Year 8

Term 1: During the first half term pupils develop skills and knowledge of Pencil theory that they learnt in year 7. They focus on line, shape, proportion and tone and produce an observational drawing; pupils develop their drawing to create an Abstract design.

• 

• 

• 

In the second half term our year 8 pupils re-visit the colour wheel and extend their knowledge by learning about tertiary colours. They will create a painting incorporating primary, secondary and tertiary colours whilst developing their skills of painting with tone. During both half terms the pupils will be introduced to two different artists and/or art movements to further develop their ideas and understanding.

• 

• 

Term 2: Our spring term is again split up into two different projects; printmaking and Ceramics. Pupils will be exploring a specific theme from which they will create designs that can be used to produce prints and ceramic work. They will learn how to create print backgrounds along with a variety of printmaking techniques such as polyprinting, Collograph, Monoprinting and lino. In ceramics our year 8 pupils will learn basic clay based techniques including slab work, coiling, engraving and decoration. They will use these skills to design and create a final ceramics piece based on the project theme.

Term 3: Design and Make art challenge. In the final term our pupils will design and create work based on the selected theme. In the past students have produced a wide range of 2D and 3D work which is displayed. Previous themes have included Nostalgia, The Circus, Planet Love and various cultures.

Year 9

Mini GCSE Project

Pupils will produce a design and make project based on a theme which will introduce them to GCSE project objectives.

• 

• 

Key Stage Four:

We offer GCSE courses in Art and Design, Photography and Textiles.

Year 10

Pupils will spend the first term skills training, exploring different materials and styles of Art. Term two, they will begin their main project based on a chosen theme e.g. Natural Form which will cover the four AQA assessment objectives;
AO1: Researching ideas and artists. AO2: Exploring materials and techniques. AO3: Developing ideas and designs for a final piece of work. AO4: Producing a final piece of Art.

Year 11

Photography

Year 10

Year 11

Textiles

Year 10

Pupils will spend the first term skills training exploring different materials and styles of Textiles. During term two, they will begin their first project based on a chosen theme e.g. Natural Form which will cover the four AQA assessment objectives;

AO1: Researching ideas and Textile artists. AO2 Exploring materials and techniques. AO3 Developing ideas and designs for a final piece of work. AO4 Producing a final piece of Textiles.

This will be completed by May half term. They will then start their mock exam which will be the same as project 1 but with a different theme choice.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Year 11

Completion of mock exam. External assignment starts in January Term 2.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Graphics

Year 10

Pupils will use a range of skills including watercolour illustration and photo manipulation. The main project will be a children’s book project with a collection of ‘Skills Training’ work to showcase the students’ ability across different media. Pupils will use Serif software such as Photoplus and Drawplus to create professional outcomes. This part of the coursework will be worth 60% of the total mark in this subject and will be finished by the end of Year 10. All course related resources can be found at home, on the school’s Learning Platform (Emoodle).

Year 11

Exam questions will be set by the AQA Exam Board at the beginning of January. Pupils will choose one question to complete. They will have approximately 10 weeks to complete this project and will then have 2 days (10 hours) in the Graphics classroom to complete their final GCSE outcomes. This part of the coursework will be worth 40% of the total GCSE mark in this subject. There will be no written exam in this subject at the end of year 11.

Community Art

Community Art has been a strength of Elton High school since 2004 when it acquired status as a Specialist Arts College. Although this initiative has now been phased out by the government, we continue to offer a range of provision which helps to meet the creative and social needs of people in the local area:

ART TO HEART – a registered charity scheme unique to our school with the overall aim to bridge the gap between the generations through the art making process. Pupils in Years 7 & 8 are given the chance to volunteer to assist older and disabled people in care homes and community groups to engage in a range of art and craft activities.

SATURDAY ART CLASS – for 7-14 Year olds. Initially, there were 8 children on the register. Now, there are on average between 30-35 children in attendance taught by 2 teachers who deliver a range of project themes which enable children to develop creative skills in various media and techniques.

Delivered by Miss Long, Mrs Turford & Mrs France

THURSDAY ADULT EVENING TEXTILES / ART CLASS – has been attended consistently for a number of years by a group of enthusiastic and talented learners yet continues to attract new students. They are taught by a highly experienced practitioner who delivers a range of inspiring projects to ensure that the creative journeys of the students are never ending!

Delivered by Mrs France

PRIMARY ART PROJECTS – are delivered to Year 5 & 6 classes at our main feeder primary schools, based on the current curriculum topic or an alternative theme. Children are able to experience materials and techniques they may not have access to in a primary school environment.  Through this intervention from an art specialist, teachers are often inspired / equipped with the knowledge to confidently deliver art projects to their classes in the future!

Delivered by Miss Long

PRIMARY ARTS DAY – takes place annually with ‘gifted and talented’ children from our main feeder schools being invited to develop their abilities through art, dance and music workshops which culminates in a performance showcase for parents, friends and teachers in the main hall.

Delivered by Miss Long, Mrs Stopford and Mrs Jones

SUMMER ART WEEK – takes place in the first week of the Summer holiday for children aged 7-11 from schools across the wider Bury area. A range of exciting themes have been delivered including ‘Magical Kingdom’ ‘Nostalgia Fabulosa’ and ‘Beach Bonanza’. Children learn how to use a variety of art materials and techniques, ending the week with a celebration party and awards presentation.

Delivered by Miss Long and guest art teachers

​For Community Art Updates and Imagery, please see The Elton Times – a fortnightly bulletin about life at our school which can be accessed on the home page of this website.