Karl Goodere-Dale, Art and Design Subject Advisor

As the summer holidays approach, now is a good time for art and design teachers to start thinking ahead to the next academic year. 

My guide includes simple ideas to help you plan for a successful year, focusing on the key dates, important milestones, and implementing best practices to ensure your students are well-prepared and your workload is manageable.

Why plan now?

By being proactive now, you can alleviate some of the stress so you can truly relax and recharge over the summer holidays. My forward-thinking approach not only benefits you in your professional life but also helps support your overall well-being, allowing you to enjoy your summer to the fullest. 

Taking some time now to outline your plans and gather necessary materials can also help ensure a smooth transition when school returns in September, and a productive term for year 11 and 13 students. 

Key dates and planning backwards

At the beginning of the academic year, continue focusing on component 01 until you are confident that your students have successfully achieved their personal responses. Remember that students can work on this component until your final assessment deadline before the marks submission deadline.

Pre-release date for component 02

This is one of the most critical dates in the academic calendar for art and design qualifications. For the upcoming academic year, the pre-release material will be available on 1 January for GCSE and 2 February for A Level. Mark these important dates prominently in your calendar as it signifies the start of the intensive preparation phase for your students’ externally set task (EST).

Working back from the mark submission deadline

The final mark submission deadlines are 15 May for GCSE and 31 May for A Level. To manage your time and workload efficiently, it’s advisable to plan backwards from these two dates. 

Here’s a suggested timeline for planning GCSE:

1 January – pre-release material for Component 02 is published.

Early January – introduce the pre-release material to students and begin initial discussions and ideas storming sessions.

Mid-January to mid-March – focus on research and idea development. Encourage students to explore and experiment their concepts thoroughly. Students should start developing their idea for the final pieces.

Mid-March to April – facilitate your centre’s supervised timed sessions. However, when planning these sessions each academic year, it's important to allow for the variable timing of the Easter holidays. 

To ensure a smooth schedule for your centre, consider factors such as drying time for materials like clay or oil paints etc. We suggest incorporating intervals between sessions whenever possible to assist with this process.

End-April to early May – conduct internal assessments, inform student of their marks allowing a week for any internal appeals, and factor in time for any remarks in line with regulatory rules. You can learn more about managing non-examination assessments from the JCQ website. 

Mid-May – submit marks on or before by the deadline.

You can apply this same timeline for your year 13 A Level course, making the necessary adjustments to account for the publication of pre-release material on 2 February and the marks submission deadline on 31 May.

Engage and motivate your students

Engagement and motivation are key to success in art. Here are some of my helpful strategies to keep your students inspired:

Diverse activities – incorporate a variety of activities to keep lessons dynamic and interesting, this could include gallery visits, hands-on workshops or inviting guest speakers.

Encouraging exploration – allow students to experiment with different media and techniques to find their preferred modes of expression.

Promoting peer feedback – organise peer review sessions where students can give and receive constructive feedback on their work.

Time management

Careful time management plays a vital role for both teachers and students. Here are two useful tips:

Schedule regular check-ins – to review progress and address any issues with your students early, keeping them on track and you informed and up to date. 

Balanced workload – be mindful of balancing the workload throughout the year to avoid overwhelming students and yourself during peak times.

In summary

By following these guidelines and maintaining a proactive approach, you can ensure that the new academic year runs smoothly, and your year 11 and year 13 students will be well-prepared for their final assessment year. 

Here’s to a well-deserved and restful summer, balanced with a touch of thoughtful preparation for a productive and inspiring year ahead.

Stay connected

If you have any questions, you can email us at art&design@ocr.org.uk call us on 01223 553998 or message us on X (formerly Twitter) @OCR_ArtDesign. You can also sign up to subject updates and receive email information about resources and support.

About the author

Before joining OCR in September 2019, Karl taught creative subjects in both art and design technology for 12 years. With experience with a variety of roles in secondary schools, including as a head of department, he has a wealth of knowledge and experience in teaching creative subjects at GCSE, A Level and BTEC. He has also previously worked as one of our examiners.

Related blogs

• Art and Design moderation - what to expect