Art and Design

Why study Art and Design?

The main purpose of any course in Art and Design is to develop your ability to appreciate the visual world, and respond in a personal and creative way. We want to encourage self-expression and creativity and build confidence as well as a sense of individual identity. The creative industries are now Britain’s greatest export; studying Art and Design can help with developing skills and ways of working that will benefit you in the future in whatever career you choose. Employers value people who can think creatively and innovatively; studying Art facilitates this as well as improving your time management skills. Studying the arts teaches determination and resilience – qualities useful to any career. The Art Department is committed to providing a diverse, rigorous and exciting course which will provide a rewarding and exciting element to your A Level choices. You will develop:

• a working knowledge of materials, practices and technology within art
• the skills to interpret and convey your ideas and feelings using art and design
• your imaginative and creative powers and your experimental, analytical and critical skills
• the knowledge and understanding of the place of art and design in history and in contemporary society

We run a number of visits to galleries in London and a residential visit to Amsterdam or another destination to develop this understanding. This course is suitable for students who:

• wish to undertake further studies in art or design such as a Foundation Diploma, BTEC Diploma and Undergraduate Degree.
• will study subjects or take up careers for which an art background is relevant (these might include Architecture, Advertising, Jewellery, Product Design / Design Engineering, Film, Fashion Marketing/Promotion, Fine Art, Illustrator, Textiles, Fashion, Theatre Design, Costume Design, Special Effects, Journalism, Fashion Journalism, Retail Management, Interior Design, Lighting, Fashion Buying, Visual Merchandising, Fashion Forecasting )
• have an interest in and aptitude for the subject, but who do not intend to take the subject beyond A Level (this course will extend the breadth of the curriculum for these students)

Entry Requirements

The individual creative developments which appear at GCSE form the basis for A Level study. It is therefore essential that a potential A Level Art students should have a genuine interest in the subject, and have achieved at least a grade 6 for Art or Textiles GCSE.

If you have an aptitude for the subject, if you are creative and are prepared to work hard at developing your abilities, you will have the skills to succeed. Above all, you should have an interest in creating and understanding art and want to develop that interest through a range of art and design disciplines showing expressive, individual and risk taking work.

Special features of the course

The opportunity for you to develop your own particular strength, style and way of working is what makes this course unique. In Year 12 you have the opportunity to explore, expand and consolidate your technical skills and grasp of the assessment objectives by using the whole of the first year as an exploratory and investigative year, learning and honing skills, and gradually developing a sense of your own strengths in the subject. In Year 13 you are able to use the time to fully consolidate your expertise and hone in on selected skills and disciplines, taking risks and developing your work on your area of focus for the Contextual Study and produce work relating to that theme.

Costs

Amsterdam or other destination trip (4 days, optional) - £500-£600

Gallery trips - £10 - £15 (depending on location)

Visiting Artist - £20 - £30

Portfolios/sketchbooks - £5 - £10 (depending on size)

Canvas board - 75p - £3 (depending on size)

Printer credits - £5 (depending on usage)

Where can I find out more?

See Mrs Hartwell or Mrs Curtis

Presentation from Open Evening

How is the course organised?

Autumn Term Year 12: Environment project

Spring Term Year 12: Externally Set Assignment (ESA) set by the exam board. Students do not sit an exam but use the themes set as the starting points for their first self-directed component.

Summer Term Year 12 and Autumn Term Year 13: Independent coursework assignment practical and written investigation (essay).

Spring Term Year 13: ESA set by the exam board.

Assessment

The A Level is made up of 2 units over 2 years:

Coursework 60% Externally Set Assignment 40%