GCSE Art & Design
"You can't use up creativity. The more you use it, the more you have."
Maya Angelou
Our GCSE Art & Design students follow the CCEA GCSE specification
Our GCSE Art and Design specification develops students’ understanding of how meanings, ideas and intentions can be communicated through visual and tactile language. Students learn how to use different media and technologies to realise their intentions. They develop their understanding of the creative and cultural industries, and refine their work through experimentation.
By studying this revised specification, students become critical thinkers with enquiring minds and increase their confidence in taking artistic risks. The course features a renewed focus on drawing, emphasising that it is an essential part of the creative process in all art, craft and design disciplines.
As well as exploring many artistic skills and processes, students develop their knowledge and understanding of historical and contemporary contexts, societies and cultures. The broad and flexible content gives students the freedom to pursue a range of creative pathways
GCSE Art & Design Snapshot:
Scan the QR code to access the CCEA GCSE Art & Design snapshot
Gallery of GCSE Art work:
GCSE Art & Design workshops & gallery visits
Intaglio Drypoint & Colour Theory Printmaking workshop with Robert Peters 2023
Drypoint is the most accessible intaglio process. Pupils from year 11 and 12 prepared a clear acetate plate prior to the workshop by placing it over one of their own images and then scored the surface with a sharp point such as a compass or scribing tool. During the session pupils learned how to prepare their paper for printing, ink and polish their plate, then they created variations in colour based on complimentary and triadic combinations. All students are delighted with the high standard of work they produced throughout this full day workshop. It has made a very valuable contribution to their GCSE portfolios.
Array Collective workshop 2023
Year 11 and 13 artist's had the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the commissioned artworks from the Artichoke Project Gallery and explore art in the public realm as inspiration for this fun-filled workshop[. They worked with various art mediums to create their own ‘billboard’ artwork responding to the theme of ‘The state we’re in’. Belfast based, 2021 Turner Prize winners, Array Collective facilitated this workshop and shared their personal experience of working within Northern Ireland's creative industries with our students. This was a wonderful opportunity for our young people to talk to professional artists and learn more about the arts sector as a profession.
Visit to the True Colours Exhibition at the Ulster Museum 2020
Our exam level Art & Design students enjoy an annual trip to the True Colours Exhibition in Belfast. While in the Ulster Museum our students also have the valuable opportunity to visit other galleries and carry out important research for their own project concerns.