Art and Design Technology

The Art, Design and Technology Faculty aims to prepare students for our ever changing and fast paced society. We want to prepare students with skills needed to succeed: creative thinking, problem solving and resilience.

Head of Faculty

Miss G. Howells (ghowells@levenshulmehigh.co.uk)


Subjects

  • Photography & Lens-based Media
  • Graphic Design
  • Product Design
  • Fashion & Textiles
  • Food, Nutrition & Catering
  • 3D design (woods, metals and plastics)
  • Art, Craft & Design.

Curriculum Overview

Year 7

One period of Art and one period of Design and Technology every week as part of the Dream Day Curriculum.

Year 8

One period of Art and one period of Design and Technology (Food, Textiles & Graphics/Product Design), every week.

Year 9

One period of Art and one period of Design and Technology, (Food, Textiles & Photography), every week.

Options offered at the end of Year 9

  • GCSE Art, Craft and Design (AQA)
  • GCSE Photography- Lens and light-based media (AQA)
  • GCSE Food preparation and nutrition (Eduqas)
  • GCSE Textiles (AQA)
  • GCSE 3D

Topics Covered

Year 7

In year 7, pupils follow the Dream Day curriculum. This allows them to experience one lesson of Art and one lesson of DT per week. Pupils will explore their own identity, their place within school, within the wider community, nationally, globally and in the future.

In Art, the theme of ‘Identity’ is explored through pupils creating their own Self-Portraits, whilst in DT they explore modelling and stop-motion techniques.

Students place within the ‘School’ is explored in Art through studying the work of The Fauvists and painting techniques, whilst in DT the project is ‘Dream Preserves’: a school-based co-operative company, whereby pupils design and make their own range of preserves (including jams and chutneys) to be sold within the community. Pupils then decide how the community can benefit from the enterprise.

In Art, students research local Artist LS Lowry, whilst producing street scenes based on ‘Manchester’ and in DT they produce a textiles-based project using Manchester architecture as their inspiration.

Students study the theme of ‘Britain’, through Art, by studying the work of A Lewin – and produce a collage. In DT they study British Symbolism and produce prints.

Looking at ‘Global Issues’ is covered in both Art and DT, by researching the fund raising by Animal charities and producing a savings pot in clay.

Students look to possible ‘Futuristic’ lives and what events could impact on their lives. They study Dystopian art, books, films etc. and produce a cross-curricular outcome, with English, by developing their own novel and front cover.

Year 8

Two themes and projects are studied with the aim of developing students’ knowledge and understanding of key ideas and concepts alongside a range of practical skills. The breadth of practical skills explored allows students to begin to find their own areas of strength and interests whilst at the same time learning how to contextualise their work.

The Natural World: Topics covered are ‘The Sea’ and ‘Birds’.

Pupils will create work in response to the theme of nature, learning about why nature has had such a profound influence on artists throughout art history and why it is still such a popular subject. Linking to a vast array of major art movements, students will create work using a range of techniques and approaches – from drawing and painting to sculptural and 3D work. All students will complete individual final outcomes to evidence their refined skills and conceptual understandings.

Year 9

In preparation for personal and individual methods of working at GCSE, students will create work in response to the theme of ‘Journey’, learning about Individual and personal responses, supported by a series of workshops and exploration of materials.

An understanding of how materials and processes can be symbolic and conceptual in addition to being used for purely aesthetic purposes.
Students will create personal work that focuses on communicating their individual and specific ideas, which will allow for the exploration of a wide range of materials, techniques, and processes, specific to the theme of ‘Journey’.

Students will be given the opportunities to explore and experiment with Mark Making – using pencil, ink, paint, sponges & brushes, Dry point printing (Intaglio) using foil plates, compasses, inks, Clay tiles, Photography, Graphics, Drawing using the Grid Method, Painting, Paper manipulation, Mixed media/Collage, Lino Printing, Pattern (tessellations, simple shapes, layers etc).

Students will then present and critically analyse their own and other artists’ work, (within both historical and contemporary contexts), using relevant materials, processes, and techniques, and will develop confidence to be able to discuss ideas, concepts and meanings through both verbal discussions and written work.


Options offered at the end of Year 9

GCSE Art: Exam Board: AQA

No. of Controlled Assessments: All projects
No. of Exams: One ten hour (2 day) practical exam in Year 11

Unit 1
Portfolio of Work (all projects completed in year 10 plus issues-based project) 60% Unit 2 Externally set task (one project chosen from options given by AQA completed between January and April) 40%.

Year 10 Units

  • Identity
  • Independent Project

Year 11 Units

  • Unit 1 – Major Project: Issues-Based Art
  • Unit 2 – Externally set task (exam project)

GCSE Photography: Exam Board: AQA

No. of Controlled Assessments: All projects
No. of Exams: 1 One ten hour (2 day) practical exam in Year 11

Exams – One ten hour (2 day) practical exam in Year 11

Controlled Assessments:

  • Unit 1 – Portfolio of Work (all projects completed in Year 10 plus issues-based project) 60%
  • Unit 2 – Externally set task (1 project chosen from options given by AQA completed between January & April) 40%

Year 10 Units:

  • Ghost Photography
  • Levitation
  • Smoke Photography

Year 11 Units:

  • Unit 1 – Major Project: Issues-Based Art
  • Unit 2 – Externally set task (exam project)

GCSE Textiles: Exam Board: AQA

No. of Controlled Assessments: All projects
No. of Exams: 1 One ten hour (2 day) practical exam in Year 11

Unit 1
Portfolio of Work (all projects completed in year 10 plus issues-based project) 60% Unit 2 Externally set task (one project chosen from options given by AQA completed between January and April) 40%.

Year 10 Unit

  • Natural World (Insects)

Year 11 Units

  • Unit 1 – Major Project: Issues-Based Textiles
  • Unit 2 – Externally set task (exam project)

GCSE 3D

This course has been designed to suit students who may find the conceptual elements of Art & Design challenging but would otherwise still achieve a grade in a GCSE art subject.

Lessons in year 10 are planned and mapped out, with students learning and developing skills in 3D art and design. During their time in year 10, they will be given the opportunity to explore the medium of paper, clay as well resistant materials. These topics will be explored over a term each, with a completed outcome at the end of the term. In addition to the practical tasks, they will be exploring designers and artists, to understand processes and techniques that they use.

Clay – Exploring techniques; Pinch pot and slab pot construction. Focusing on the theme of architecture to create a vase.

Paper – Exploring paper manipulation techniques and using a laser cutter. Focusing on the theme of nature to create a paper headdress.

Resistant materials – Exploring the plastic and metal. This should include pewter casting, 3D printing as well as metal and plastic jewellery making skills.

GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition

Assessment Methods:
Component 1: Written exam (50%) 1 hour 45 mins
Component 2: Non-examination Assessments or NEAs, as detailed below:

NEA 1: The Food Investigation Assessment
A scientific food investigation, which will assess students’ knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to the scientific principles underpinning the preparation and cooking of food

NEA2: The Food Preparation Assessment
Students will individually prepare, cook, and present a range of dishes for a menu designed by themselves based on a brief given by the exam board. This assesses students’ knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to the planning, preparation, cooking and presentation of food.

Quality Marks, Awards & Affiliations

We strive for excellence and are very proud of our achievements and affiliations.

If you believe something is missing or should be removed from the list below, please let us know.

Greater Manchester Education Trust logo Chartered College of Teaching Institutional Member 2023/24 badge Cyber Essentials Certified logo
FFT National Attendance Award 2023/24 logo Eco-schools logo Confederation of School Trusts logo Eco-Schools Bronze Award 2020 logo Leading Parent Partnership Award logo Stonewall School Champions logo The Quality in Careers Standard logo Educate and Celebrate logo Manchester United Foundation logo Schoolastic logo The Schools Cooperative Society logo Values-based Education logo GCSEPod logo Music Mark School 2020-21