Art and Design

A Level

Curriculum

As a student of Art, you will develop your intellectual, imaginative, creative and intuitive capabilities through a varied and personalised curriculum. You will develop investigative, analytical, experimental, practical, technical and expressive skills alongside gaining aesthetic understanding and critical judgement. These skills will enable you to grow independently, developing, refining and communicating your own ideas and presenting your own personal outcomes. Through your practical experience of working with a broad range of art-based materials, you will develop your interest and enthusiasm for the arts, gaining an awareness of the processes and contexts in which they operate. Your knowledge and experience of the creative industries and real-world contexts will be developed through visits and project briefs that increase your understanding of the roles, functions, audiences and consumers of art, craft and design. You will apply the skills you have developed through your coursework, practical projects for AS and a personal investigation for A Level, and your exam where you choose and respond to a question through a practical project.

Progression

Many students progress to Art Foundation courses or to higher education in a wide variety of fields from Architecture, Interior Design, Product Design to Fine Art.

Careers

The Arts is the UK’s third largest industry and students may aim to join the world of work as graphic designers, illustrators and typographers or become painters, textile designers, fashion designers, photographers to name just a few. However, all companies realise that creativity and good design are important factors in generating new business.

Entry Requirements

Students must achieve six GCSE grades or equivalent at 6,6,5,5,4,4,including GCSE Art at Grade 5 or portfolio at teacher’s discretion.

Assessment

The Exam Board is AQA
Component 1: Portfolio – 60%
Component 2: Externally set assignment – 40%

Opportunities for work related activities

Trips to local and national galleries and visits from local artists and galleries through outreach programmes.