Graphic Design

Year 7 - In Year 7 our aim is to provide opportunities for students to gain an understanding of how Graphics fits in to the world outside of school. Students are introduced to the design process whereby ideas become high quality products that are fit for their intended purpose. Learners complete one project over approximately 8 weeks, focussing on ‘Gift Bag Packaging’, enabling them to develop their technical knowledge and practical skills through researching, designing, making, modifying and evaluating. The project covers past and present designs, production methods, paper engineering, 2D and 3D design developing both digital and traditional drawing techniques.

Year 8 - In year 8 we begin to extend our knowledge and skills using a wider range of tools, materials and techniques within the area of Graphics. Students complete one project over approximately 8 weeks, focussing on ‘Fragrance Packaging’, building on prior knowledge and skills, and enabling them to realise their own creative ideas and produce high quality, attractive and functional products. This project covers a variety of both artistic and industrial processes and methods of manufacture, including packaging nets, isometric and drawing techniques, design development and investigations into one-off, batch and mass production.

Year 9 - In Year 9 our aim is to nurture and inspire the future generation of designers and to lay a strong foundation for GCSE Graphic Design. We aim to ensure that students learn the necessary skills for GCSE and have the knowledge to enable them to make correct subject choices. In Graphics, students independently design and make high quality products. Learners complete one project over approximately 8 weeks, focussing on ‘Festival Branding and Tickets’ which involves them developing and using in-depth subject knowledge, selecting and working with a wide variety of tools, equipment and techniques, and responding to a design brief in original and innovative ways. Students are challenged to create an effective corporate identity for a Festival of their own choice and produce a quality ticketing product to promote it; thus encouraging them to experiment with ideas and explore new and alternative methods for making graphic products. The project covers designer and artist research, design and presentation skills including rendering and graphic techniques, typography theory, modelling and assembling their final graphic product.

We currently offer GCSE Graphic Design in years 10 & 11, please see the Full Options Booklet 2021 - 2023 below for details

For information on our GCSE choices within Art and Design please refer to our year 9 Options Evening video located at the bottom of this page. If you have any questions then please feel free to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for Art or Textile Design, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for Graphics and we will do our best to help.

3D Design
(offered in Yrs 7-9 only)

In year 7, 3D Design includes 8 weeks with the primary focus on wood. Students experience the material, and then they will design and make a final piece. Students will saw, sand, screw, nail, design, make and create. Previously we have used mostly new wood, this year however we will incorporate reclaimed wood and objects made of wood in our designed artefacts. We will be using old natural wood, old painted wood, off cuts, bashed and unloved wood. Items will include old wooden utensils, discarded gardening and household tools, wooden boxes, wooden rulers, driftwood, brushes and so on. If it is originally created in wood, year 7 will use it!
The students' outcomes will be creative and diverse. Not only will they gain knowledge of the subject but also how to reclaim, reimagine and repurpose.

Year 8 carousel includes 8 weeks of Resistant Materials with the focus on ceramics.
Students experience the material from the first week and throughout. During the 8 weeks, students are set a 'Sea life' brief, which they research, design, and sample, and then make a final piece in clay.
All focus is on good practice and the handling of the material, designing and researching, hand sculpting and glazing.
A ceramic artist study is researched that inspires and introduces the students to techniques, including incising and applying. These techniques are incorporated into all of the pieces, from initial sample tiles, pinch pots and through to the final pieces.

As a completely new subject introduced in September 2021, the development, growth and enjoyment is already evident, with a collection of creative, vibrant and well-made sea inspired ceramics.