Wilmington Grammar School for Boys, Common Lane, Wilmington, Dartford, DA2 7DA
01322 223090

ART

ART

Department Vision

Our vision for the Art Department is to cultivate a vibrant and inspiring creative environment where students can explore and develop their artistic talents. We aim to ignite a passion for artistic expression, foster critical thinking, and nurture technical skills across various media. Through a rich and diverse curriculum, hands-on studio experiences, and engagement with contemporary art practices, we prepare our students for success in higher education and creative careers, empowering them to make impactful contributions to the cultural and artistic landscape.

  • All students have creative potential and through a well-structured & diverse curriculum we develop students’ practical, creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • We balance the teaching of skills whilst giving students a voice to communicate their thoughts, feelings and ideas through the artworks they learn about and create.
  • We guide our students to develop independent thinking skills and visual literacy along with a knowledge of and passion for art throughout history and in the contemporary world, alongside an understanding of the value of arts in society.
  • Drawing is the fundamental element of visual language and in encouraging an ambitious growth mindset we teach students this fantastic skill as soon as they join Year 7.  It is reinforced at all key stages.
  • We provide a learning environment that encourages the students to embrace the schools PRIDE values, all of which underpin successful learning in the department.
  • Above all we aim to give students a safe and nurturing environment within which they can develop their confidence as creative individuals.

Year 7
 TOPICLEARNING OUTCOMES
TERM 1ELEMENTS OF ART
Observational drawing course introduction
LINE
SHAPE
Understanding ‘Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain’Observational drawing of hand‘Upside down’ drawing of a portrait 
TERM 2ELEMENTS OF ART
Observational drawing course introduction
LINE
SHAPE
TONE
Understanding ellipsesLearning to use a range of tonal values
TERM 3ANIMALS
Observational drawing course continued
TEXTURE
MARK-MAKING
Drawing test – assessment of skills learnt so far  
TERM 4ANIMALS
Drawing course continued
LINE
SHAPE
TONE
COLOUR
MARK-MAKING
Charcoal drawingColour and wash drawingColoured pencil drawing skills
TERM 5ANIMALS
Exam preparation
Artist’s styles
Animal symbolism
Picasso studiesExam practice piecesStatement of Intent
TERM 6End of Year Exam
REVIEW, REFINE & PRESENT
Coloured animal drawingYear 7 portfolio completion & presentation
Year 8

YEAR 8

 TOPICLEARNING OUTCOMES
TERM 1POINTILLISM
COLOUR  
Learn aboutcolour theorypointillist paintersoptical colour mixingLearn to mix, apply and layer coloursSmall pointillist style painting
TERM 2GIACOMETTI
LINE
MARK-MAKING
FORM
Expressive portraitsFoil sculptures
TERM 3KANDINSKY
COLOURAB
STRACTION
Wassily Kandinsky & SynaesthesiaMark-making abstracts in response to musicOil pastel abstracts inspired by Kandinsky
TERM 4MECHANICS
FORM
LINE
TONE
SHAPE
Robot sculptures – creative problem solvingCar drawings – close ups of classic cars
TERM 5POP
ART
Learn about Pop ArtistsExam practice piecesStatement of Intent
TERM 6End of Year Exam
REVIEW, REFINE & PRESENT
Pop Art style carYear 8 portfolio completion & presentation
Year 9

YEAR 9

 TOPICLEARNING OUTCOMES
TERM 1IDENTITY ICONSARCHITECTURAL PAINTINGIphone app icon designs that show students’ interestsMonet inspired Westminster paintings
TERM 2ARCHITECTURAL PAINTING ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGMonet inspired Westminster paintingsSunga park studies
TERM 3ENVIRONMENTAL DRAWINGARCHITECTURE PANORAMAS3D STRUCTURAL DESIGNPHOTOGRAPHY ILTHundertwasser inspired coloured pencil drawingsStephen Wiltshire inspired drawingDavid Moreno inspired 3D constructionArchitectural photography
TERM 4PERSONAL RESPONSE TO THEMEDesign and produce personal response to architecture & environment theme
TERM 5STREET ARTYear 9 exam planning – skateboard designs
TERM 6YEAR 9 EXAMPORTFOLIO PRESENTATIONComplete Year 9 Art examPresent final portfolio of work
Years 10 & 11

YEAR 10

 TOPICLEARNING OUTCOMES
TERM 1ARCHITECTUREMonet inspired Westminster paintingMixed media urban collage David Hepher & Laura Oldfield Ford inspired
TERM 2ARCHITECTURESunga Park studiesMark Bradford inspired abstractsSurrealist environments
TERM 3ARCHITECTUREAnish Kapoor/Olafur Eliasson 3D piecesExperimentationPlanning & refining for Year 10 exam
TERM 4YEAR 10 ART EXAMComplete Year 10 Art exam pieceRefine & present Year 10 coursework portfolio
TERM 5PERSONAL PROJECT Working from photos in a range of mediaContextual source analysis
TERM 6PERSONAL PROJECTStudies of works of relevant artists in a range of media

YEAR 11

 TOPICLEARNING OUTCOMES
TERM 1PERSONAL PROJECTExperimentation pieces for Yr 11 mock examinationPlanning & refining pieces for Yr 11 mock examination
TERM 2MOCK EXAMINATIONCompleted sustained mock examination pieceRefine & present personal portfolio
TERM 3EXTERNALLY SET ASSIGNMENTPreparation work for externally set assignment
TERM 4EXTERNALLY SET ASSIGNMENTPreparation work for externally set assignment
TERM 5EXTERNALLY SET ASSIGNMENT TIMED TESTPortfolio hand in
TERM 6  
Post 16 at WG6

YEAR 12 ART

 TOPICLEARNING OUTCOMES
TERM 1PORTRAITS AND FIGURES    MEDIA & TECHNIQUES OVERVIEWLeonardo da Vinci studySkeleton Life drawingJonathan Yeo studyPortrait painting Natural materials collageObservational fineliner drawingsObservational Ink & bleach drawingsColoured pencil drawingsArtist study 3 x artists
TERM 2THRESHOLD CONCEPTSArtists make marks, drawing our attentionArt has its own vocabularyArtists use (and abuse) traditionsArt is not fixed in meaning, context is everything
TERM 3THRESHOLD CONCEPTSArt has value, in unequal measuresArt makes people powerful, for good and bad
TERM 4EXAM PREP/PERSONAL PORTFOLIOChoose personal portfolio themeContextual researchDeveloping an ideaExperimentingRefining
TERM 5MOCK EXAMExperimentingRefining
TERM 6PERSONAL PORTFOLIOContextual researchDeveloping an ideaExperimentingRefining
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

YEAR 13 ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

 TOPICLEARNING OUTCOMES
TERM 1PERSONAL PORTFOLIO CONTINUEDPERSONAL WRITTEN STUDYContextual researchDeveloping an ideaExperimentingRefiningEssay 1000-3000 words
TERM 2PERSONAL PORTFOLIO CONTINUEDPERSONAL WRITTEN STUDYContextual researchDeveloping an ideaExperimentingRefiningEssay 1000-3000 words
TERM 3PERSONAL PORTFOLIO COMPLETIONMOCK EXAMINATIONUNIT 2 LAUNCHRefining portfolio workMock examCoursework deadline 31st JanuaryUnit 2 launch 1st February
TERM 4UNIT 2Contextual researchDeveloping an ideaExperimentingRefining
TERM 5UNIT 2 & FINAL EXAMExperimentingRefining
TERM 6