Key Stage 3
Year 7
In Year 7, students will cover a range of topics across the design and art curriculum.
In art, students complete an introductory project based on learning fundamental knowledge, skills and techniques and learning about different artists. In textiles, students will design and develop an ugly doll, using a variety of hand embroidery stitches to decorate their fabric. In food technology, students complete a project studying and making food from around the world. In resistant materials, students design and make a battleship using a variety of materials and techniques.
Year 8
In art, students complete two projects - the first, exploring Mexican Day of the Dead, where students research, design and produce a Mexican Sugar Skull. In the second, they explore their inner identity to produce an 'inner self' clay sculpture. In food technology, students complete a ‘Come Dine with Me’ style project where they design and make a three course meal. In textiles, students design their own graffiti tablet/iPhone case using techniques such as tie-dye and batik. In resistant materials, students make an art deco clock, looking at wood and joints, and use CAD to design a clock face.
Year 9
In art, student complete a project based on portraiture and identity. In Year 9, students build on their skills from Years 7 and 8 to develop a body of work based on stitched portraits, using a variety of techniques, including embroidery, batik and the freehand sewing machine. In product design, students make a wooden maze game. In Food, students complete a skills test based project. Students draw on what they have learnt in Years 7 and 8 and complete a project that furthers these skills and also revisits important theory wokr that has been completed in previous years.
Homework at Key Stage 3
Students in art are set homework on a weekly basis with a one week deadline. In DT students are set homework projects to work on over a number of weeks.
Key Stage 4
Year 10
In Year 10, students studying their GCSEs complete either one or two projects before beginning their controlled assessment. This includes a mechanical animals project in art, a natural forms project in textiles and a number of advanced mini projects in product design, using different materials and skills. In food, students continue to develop their understanding of food preparation and nutrition using advanced techniques. In photography, students complete an introductory project before starting an extended project on unusual portraits.
Year 11
In Year 11, GCSE Product Design students complete their controlled assessment projects before beginning revision for the exam. Projects are chosen by the students and a high level of independence is expected. In food, students focus on their non-exam assessment work, including making three meals in three hours and various revision topics. In art, photography and textiles, students complete their controlled assessment on a theme of their choice before starting their final exam project in January.
Homework at Key Stage 4
Students are set homework each week according to the homework timetable. This will vary from class to class and could include research, practical tasks or acting on feedback to improve coursework. This will usually take one hour to complete.
Key Stage 5
We currently deliver A Level Art, Textiles and Photography qualifications over Years 12 and 13. We also deliver the WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition course in Years 12 and 13. The courses consist of several units on a variety of different projects. Students in Sixth Form are expected to complete 240 minutes of homework per week, per subject.
If you have any queries about the DART curriculum, please contact the Curriculum Leader, Mrs Morgan, by email at sarah.morgan@swindon-academy.org