Art, Expressive Arts & Design Technology
Members of Staff
Miss S. Boota: Head of DT/Teacher of Design & Technology
Mrs C. Walsh: Teacher of Art/Assistant Principal
Mr A. Wilkinson: Teacher of Art/Head of Year 8
Mr I. Anderson: Head of Drama
Mrs K. Knaggs: Teacher of Art and Design Technology
Mrs P. Hastings: Teacher of Food Technology/SENCO
Ms S. Patel: Teacher of Food Technology/Art/Photography
Mrs K. Eastman: Expressive Arts and Design Technology Technician
Mr D. French – Teacher of Music
Faculty Overview
The Expressive Arts Faculty at Lancaster, now combined with Design Technology is very popular and successful. We run many different lunchtime and after school activities and pupils have regular opportunities to show their work through exhibitions and performances.
The Arts and Technology are taught holistically across the individual departments enabling pupils to develop many different creative skills technically, intellectually and socially. At the heart of the Faculty is the belief that the all subjects in the faculty contribute enormously to the overall emotional development of our pupils.
In year seven and eight pupils rotate between Art, Music, Drama, Food Technology, Product Design and Resistant Materials allowing them to build a broad awareness of skills and techniques across the subject areas
Key Stage 3 Courses
Pupils have 3 hours of Expressive Arts a per week and 3 hours of Design Technology in Year 7 and Year 8 spanning the six major creative and artistic disciplines in each year.
Art - Key Stage 3
Art is taught in three purpose built studio rooms and a separate digital art suite. Pupils work across all art forms: observational based drawing, painting, sculpture and ceramics, printmaking and digital art. The classes are always busy but focussed with an established staff and clear rules and expectations.
The course content for Art varies each year but currently we are focussing on the following:
| Year 7 | Year 8 |
| Pupils are assessed on their observational drawing and painting skills and their knowledge and understanding of art.
| Pupils develop their understanding of non western art.
Pupils develop both 2D and 3D skills building on techniques learned in year 7 and readying them to make informed choices for what they would like to study from Year 9 onwards. |
Design Technology - Subject Overview
Design & Technology is a thriving department at Lancaster where pupils combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking to design and make products and systems that meet human needs. They use current technologies and consider the impact of future technological developments. They learn to think creatively to improve the quality of life, solving problems as individuals and members of a team.
Key Stage 3
The department has three key areas each with its own subject specialist – Food Technology, Product Design and Resistant Materials. These equip pupils with practical and problem solving skills, and provide pupils with a strong lead into the Design & Technology GCSEs.
Pupils undergo a termly rotation through the key areas each academic year, having 3 lessons per week in each of the technology disciplines
There is a state of the art ICT suite that enables ICT to be significantly incorporated into the curriculum. Computer Aided Design and Manufacture (CAD CAM) features across the faculty, and high quality products are manufactured through Laser Technology.
The curriculum at KS3 is exciting and diverse:
Product Design
Projects: Monster Toy, Cushions, Mobile Phone Case Holder
Learning about: Fibres to fabrics, pattern cutting and modification, applique, sewing machine skills and Driving Test, basic construction techniques, surface decoration techniques and print processes, CAD/CAM, modelling and construction, including fastenings and components
Projects: Table Lamp, Interactive Information Sign, Audio Amplifier
Learning about: Assessing user needs, designing electronic circuits, creative design layout, CAD, shaping and joining wood, vacuum forming / casing manufacture, soldering components, printed circuit boards, testing and evaluating electronic products
Food
Projects: Licence to Cook
Learning about: Hygiene, health & safety, balanced diet, skills for life, knife safety, cooker safety, design and make tasks, eat well plate, fruit salad, pasta salad, savoury rock cakes, food labels, storing and cooking meat, foods from around the World, vegetarianism, healthy recipes, sauces, fair trade and multiple practical tasks.
WJEC Level 1 & 2 Hospitality and Catering
Summary of Assessment
Unit 1: The Hospitality and Catering Industry
40% (90 Marks) are assessed through an online written examination – 1 hour 30mins
Unit 2: Hospitality and Catering in Action
60% Non-Examination Assessment: internally assessed, externally moderated.
9 hours which includes a practical exam.
Practical exam is a two course meal for two people with accompaniments.
By studying Level 1 & 2 Hospitality and Catering learners will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective and safe cooking skills by planning, preparing and cooking a variety of food commodities whilst using different cooking techniques and equipment
- Develop knowledge and understanding of the functional properties and chemical characteristics of food as well as a sound knowledge of the nutritional content of food and drinks
- Understand the relationship between diet, nutrition and health, including the physiological and psychological effects of poor diet and health
- Understand the economic, environmental, ethical and socio-cultural influences on food availability, production processes, diet and health choices
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of functional and nutritional properties, sensory qualities and microbiological food safety considerations when preparing, processing, storing, cooking and serving food
- Understand and explore the Hospitality and Catering industry, the job roles and the different types of equipment use to support the industry.
Grading
Level 1 Pass
Level 2 Pass
Level 2 Merit
Level 2 Distinction
Resistant Materials
Projects: Racing Car, Educational Toy, Clocks
Learning about: Creating templates, marking, drilling & cutting wood, basic joinery, gluing up, working in acrylic, CAD/CAM embellishment, shaping and forming a range of materials, edge and surface finishing and assembly.
Key Stage 4 Courses
GCSE Fine Art, BTEC Art and Design, BTEC Music, BTEC Acting and Performance GCSE Design & Technology and Hospitality & Catering are optional subjects at KS4.Pupils have 3 hours in Year 9, Year 10 and Year 11. The subjects currently available for pupils to choose are:
GCSE Fine Art
A more traditional course in Art, students combine prior learning in artistic techniques with new and more modern methods of working and thinking to produce three major projects as coursework in Unit 1 and an Externally Set Task culminating in a 10 hour exam from a chosen theme for Unit 2
Students will work in a variety of media and using a range of methods from traditional, drawing, painting and printmaking to the use of photography and digital media
BTEC Art & Design
Students will work on a variety of different units across a range of artistic disciplines. Each unit will be awarded a final mark which will be added to subsequent unit marks as students progress through the course. This subject is more suited to students who prefer to work on smaller, more focussed areas in Art and allows the freedom to choose and submit work from disciplines which satisfy each unit.
GCSE Design & Technology (WJEC)
The new format GCSE in Design Technology has been built to encompass a wide range of disciplines traditionally found separate from each other in previous years.
Students will follow one Design & Technology course and work towards a final grade which will test all of their learning in both practical and theoretical design technology
In years 9 and 10, students will learn to use and apply design and technology principals through several different projects.
In year 11, students will complete to major components; a practical Controlled Assessment Task and a written exam
Performing Arts
Working within the Expressive Arts faculty, the Performing Arts department aims to provide an enriching experience for all learners through KS3, and as an optional subject pathway at KS4. Teaching is embedded towards inclusion and collaboration in year seven and eight. Learners are encouraged to take part in a variety of performance disciplines, developing knowledge on theatrical styles and music taster workshops.
In year nine, learners can choose to follow either a musical pathway, or develop their acting skills in dedicated Drama lessons. Both our courses follow the popular RSL KS4 qualifications, giving learners an insight into how professional performers approach work in vocational settings. Both qualifications are the equivalent of one GCSE grade, and require learners to build up their practical skills with a firm focus towards performance.
Learners are able to access our dedicated Drama studio, digital music production suite and instrumental rehearsal rooms. There are also a variety of extracurricular activities on offer, to allow learners to work towards public performances each year.
Additional Information
The Expressive Arts & Design Technology Faculty is a vibrant and exciting place to work and study. Pupils have regular opportunities to share their successes through exhibitions, school plays and musical performances. These occur both in school and within the wider community. Our musicians perform in a wide range of events, from rock gigs in Leicester town centre to the school Awards evenings. There are three concerts within every calendar year; the very popular traditional Christmas Carol Concert, the KS4 concert in the Spring Term and the Summer Show. As well as offering organised extra-curricular activities throughout the year we open up the music department and offer our expertise to assist the students in rehearsing and setting up their own groups and this is an opportunity for the them to showcase their musical talents in either a solo or a small group capacity.
In Art, pupils’ work goes on display at a range of exhibitions throughout the year including the ‘The Open’ Exhibition at New Walk Museum. Further to this you will see our pupils work adorning the walls of the school and being displayed at selected evening events.
The Drama department puts on an annual school play. Each event is always performed in front of a full audience.
Most evenings the work of staff and pupils continues after the end of the school day. Activities include structured sessions such as GCSE Art and Design Technology Target groups and BTEC Music extension work to band rehearsals, choir practices and acting workshops.
