Open Evening - Thursday 17 September 2026
Look around our school, talk to staff and students and hear from the Headteacher, Mr Simon Wade. He will give presentations throughout the evening when the hall is full, starting from 5:30pm.
Art and Design
Art & Design subjects at Beckfoot ignite a creative spark and are key to enhancing cultural capital.
Art & Design subjects at Beckfoot ignite a creative spark and are key to enhancing cultural capital by nurturing students who are knowledge rich artists, designers and photographers.
Our dynamic and exciting curriculum enables students to explore practical, theoretical and discipline-based knowledge resulting in proficient students who are fluent, experimental, capable of producing authentic work and who can see and interpret the world through the lens of Art. Mastery of skill and technique is alive in Art & Design at Beckfoot. Please see our Intent Document, Curriculum Overview and Sequencing Maps to find out more.
Enrichment
In art we enrich our learners through a wide range of experiences both in our school and the wider community. This includes:
- Workshops led by visiting artists
- Study visits
- Residential trips
- Extracurricular activities and clubs
We also also enhance students’ cultural capital by
exposing them to a wide variety of contemporary and historic art & design practitioners, art movements and cultures.
Assessment
In years 7, 8 and 9, internal assessments will take place throughout each year to monitor student progress and further inform teaching and learning.
At GCSE, we offer three Art and Design courses to our students, these are Fine Art, Graphics and Photography
KS4 Specification
Careers
Our art curriculum develops a range of employable skills: creativity, self-expression, critical thinking and confidence. We also encourage discussion about careers Art and Design could lead towards.
- Art Consultant
- Cinematographer
- Video Editor
- Photographer
- Fashion Designer
- Concept Artist
- Animator
Curriculum Overview
| Year | Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 | Cycle 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | Drawing – Elements of art Abstract art – sculptural form | Day of the Dead – Embossed metal sugar skull Assemblage – Wall hanging | Cultural masks – design and relief sculpture |
| Year 8 | Semi-abstract art – Annibot (animal robot) isometric design Architectural styles – Ceramic fireplace (candle holder) design and sculpture | Architectural styles – sculpture embellishment Cubist portrait – lino production print | Abstraction – mixed media drawing |
| Year 9 | Semi-abstract art – natural forms Semi-abstract art – cityscape | Assemblage – mask Human form – wire and mod-roc sculpture | Recycled art – recycled robot Organic abstract art – soap carving and observation |
| Year 10 | Fine Art – Mechanical objects: Experimentation – x5 surface textures, observations – x5 drawings Graphics – Pop culture convention: Artist research Photography – Forces: Research, nature, chemical | Fine Art – Mechanical objects: Artist studies (Michael Lang, Nicola Tilley and Kerby Rosanes) and development 1, preliminary grid and embellishment Graphics – Pop culture convention: Artist studies (Justin Maller, Mike Mahle) Photography – Forces: Applied and movement – research, analysis and trip prep | Fine Art – Mechanical objects: Further developments – abstract prisma drawing, abstract acrylic transfer and ceramic sculpture and design Graphics – Pop culture convention: Techniques, supporting research and logo development Photography – Forces: Artist studies (Aaron Yeomen and Helder Santos) |
| Year 11 | Fine art – Mechanical objects: Further developments – sculpture embellishments, mixed media experiments and surreal (morphing) animal Graphics – Pop culture convention: Experimentation Photography – Structures: Experimental drawings | Fine art – Mechanical objects: Further developments – ceramic portrait, artificial heart, synthetic portrait or abstract outcome Graphics – Pop culture convention: 3D pop-up box, final outcomes Photography – Structures: Sculpture, mixed media, experimentation, final design ideas and outcomes | Fine art – Externally set task: Mind map, observations, artist study, develop, experiment, refine and supervised time Graphics – Externally set task: Artist research, Artist studies, Related Research, Typography, Logo Developments, Experimentation, Final Design Ideas Photography – Externally set task: Mind-Map, Research, Analysis, Drawing, Studies, Experimental Photography and Post-Production |