The Hollyfield School & Sixth Form Centre

AQA

“Essence of the City” – Art based on the theme of the city

Externally Set Task (exam project)

In each project students produce a body of work and a final piece. The body of work explores the theme through drawing and experimenting with different materials and then the students come up with their own idea for a final piece based on the theme. Once completed these projects are assessed and students are awarded a grade and feedback for improvement.
The ‘Externally Set Task’ is assessed by teachers and then externally moderated by the exam board, this project is worth 40% of the overall grade.
Student’s sketchbooks are marked regularly with concise and specific feedback for improvement and a GCSE grade that they are working towards.
In year 11 students will sit a 10 hour mock exam in the Autumn term, students will plan a final piece to create in this exam based around the theme of Essence of the City.

Students should always arrive with a pen, pencil, ruler, rubber and a selection of coloured pencils. Students will always be informed of special requirements as and when necessary.
For home learning tasks we encourage students to have a selection of Art materials that are solely used for home learning tasks. This would include paints, shading pencils, pastels etc.

Home learning is set every week and is very varied. Some are specific tasks which students should spend 1-2 hours on, and some are ‘finishing off’ class work tasks.
Home learning tasks are taken very seriously as everything that is created in year 10 to January in year 11 is submitted as coursework. Coursework is worth 60% of their overall grade.
As a department we run an ‘Art catch-up’ afterschool for GCSE students so they can do their home learning tasks in school and use the schools resources.