S1- S3 Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Art and Design Course
Pupils in S1 – S3 follow a follow a Broad General Education in line with the principles of Curriculum for Excellence. S1 and S2 pupils receive 2 periods of Art and Design per week, S3 pupils (who have chosen to specialise in this subject as part of their Broad General Education specialisation choice process) 3 periods. During the course of the CfE Art and Design course, pupils undertake work based around either ‘Expressive’ Units or ‘Design Units’. ‘Expressive’ Art and Design work is about pupils being able to communicate their own personal ideas in a visual way. In the Broad General Education course there are various Units which allow pupils the opportunity to develop their own artistic personal preferences and style through the following creative process:
- Select a theme/stimulus
- Investigation and Research
- Development
- Final Outcome
- Evaluation
‘Design’ Units involve solving a problem, planning how something will look and function and how it will be made. Pupils produce work in response to a design brief they have discussed with their teacher. Design work involves the following design process:
- Design Brief
- Investigation and Research
- Development
- Design Solution
- Evaluation
In addition to Art and Design work, photography is now part of the our Broad General Education curriculum and this subject is delivered by Art and Design teaching staff. Pupils will receive tuition in the use of professional photography equipment, using a range of technical and creative approaches to produce images.
In all our our Art and Design course from S1 through to S3 , pupils follow skills based courses, developing confidence in Expressive and Design. All Units covered are focussed on the development of skills and confidence whilst allowing learners to build on prior learning and apply learning in new and unfamiliar contexts. In addition, pupils are given regular homework tasks to consolidate and develop the learning completed in class.
The Units also provide extensive opportunities for pupils to develop their numeracy and literacy skills, as well as incorporating aspects of other school subjects leading to inter-disciplinary learning, to encourage them to understand the wider context of their learning and link relevant aspects to cross-curricular areas.
Senior Phase
Pupils in S4 receive 4 periods of Art and Design per week and, depending on their progress during the course of the year will undertake either National 4 or National 5 Art and Design courses. National 4/5 Art and Design courses deliver three elements: Design, Expressive and associated Critical Activity. National 4 is internally assessed with pupils completing two units (Expressive and Design) and an added value unit which forms the final solution for both. National 5 pupils also complete two units (Expressive and Design), but this course is externally assessed by a portfolio sent to SQA and includes a written exam. In S5/S6 pupils then progress to Higher Art and Design with 6 periods per week being taught, with pupils also having the opportunity to study Advanced Higher Art and Design in S6.
National 4 Art and Design – BBC Bitesize
The Art and Design National 4 consists of three units:
Art and Design: Expressive Activity Unit – This unit is a combination of practical and integrated Art and Design Studies critical work. This is a practical unit, developing skills in the Expressive element of the course. Pupils work through 3 stages (Research, Development & Final Outcome), exploring drawing techniques, a variety of media, composition and a study of the visual elements. Pupils are also expected to study the work of artists in their practical units.
Art and Design: Design Activity Unit – This unit is a combination of practical and integrated Art and Design Studies critical work. This is a practical unit. Pupils this session are studying either Textile or Product Design, in the field of 3D Design. As with the Expressive element, there are 3 stages to the Design process (Research, Development & Final Solution). Pupils are also expected to study the work of designers in their practical units.
Added Value Unit: Practical Activity – To achieve Art and Design National 4, learners must pass both units, and the Added Value Unit. The Added Value Unit draws upon the skills, knowledge and understanding learners have developed throughout the course to complete a final solution for both the Expressive and Design Units.
National 5 Art and Design – BBC Bitesize
In order to pass this subject at National 5, pupils must internally pass the following individual units.
Art and Design: Expressive Activity Unit. This unit is a combination of practical and integrated Art and Design Studies critical work. This is a practical unit, developing skills in the Expressive element of the course. Pupils work through 3 stages (Research, Development & Final Outcome), exploring drawing techniques, a variety of media, composition and a study of the visual elements. Pupils are also expected to study the work of artists in their practical units.
Art and Design: Design Activity Unit – This unit is a combination of practical and integrated Art and Design Studies critical work. This is a practical unit. Pupils this session are studying either Textile or Product Design, in the field of 3D Design. As with the Expressive element, there are 3 stages to the Design process (Research, Development & Final Solution). Pupils are also expected to study the work of designers in their practical units.
UNIT ASSESSMENT – To gain National 5, learners must pass all Units Units are as pass or fail assessed by the school (following SQA external quality assurance to meet national standards)
COURSE ASSESSMENTTo achieve National 5 pupils will also be externally assessed by means of the Portfolio Assessment Task. This task consists of two component parts, component 1 and component 2:
COMPONENT 1 Portfolio Assessment Task – Pupils will produce one piece of expressive art work and one design solution. It will include a selection of development ideas that inspire and link with the finished works. Worth 160 marks (80% of the course assessment marks)
COMPONENT 2 Exam Question Paper – The question paper allows pupils to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of Art and Design practice in an extended response format. Worth 40 marks (20% of the course assessment marks)
Higher – S5/S6 Higher Art and Design – BBC Bitesize
The course structure for the Higher is similar to the National 5 for Art and Design. The main difference with the Higher is with the Art & Design Studies written paper. The higher exam paper is worth 60 marks of the overall award.
In order to pass this subject at Higher, pupils must internally pass the following individual units:
Art and Design: Expressive Activity Unit – This unit is a combination of practical and integrated Art and Design Studies critical work. This is a practical unit, developing skills in the Expressive element of the course. Pupils work through 3 stages (Research, Development & Final Outcome), exploring drawing techniques, a variety of media, composition and a study of the visual elements. Pupils are also expected to study the work of artists in their practical units.
Art and Design: Design Activity Unit – This unit is a combination of practical and integrated Art and Design Studies critical work. This is a practical unit. Pupils this session are studying either Textile or Product Design, in the field of 3D Design. As with the Expressive element, there are 3 stages to the Design process (Research, Development & Final Solution). Pupils are also expected to study the work of designers in their practical units.
UNIT ASSESSMENT To gain Higher, learners must pass all Units Units are as pass or fail assessed by the school (following SQA external quality assurance to meet national standards)
COURSE ASSESSMENT To achieve Higher pupils will also be externally assessed by means of the Portfolio Assessment Task.
This task consists of two component parts, component 1 and component 2:
COMPONENT 1 Portfolio Assessment Task – Pupils will produce one piece of expressive art work and one design solution. It will include a selection of development ideas that inspire and link with the finished works. Portfolio Assessment Task worth 160 Marks (73% of the course assessment marks)
COMPONENT 2 Exam Question Paper – The question paper allows pupils to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of Art and Design practice in an extended response format. Exam Question Paper worth 60 marks (27% of the course assessment marks)
