Students will complete an internally assessed project ‘Art of Protest’ from September to May. An educational visit to London will kick start the initial phase of the project. All tasks will be teacher guided until February with the intention of enhancing skills and preparing them for Component One: The Personal Investigation and university portfolio interview.

Students will then guide themselves through the remainder of their project guided by 1:1 tutorials which will boost independence ready for their Personal Investigation. Students will follow the AQA assessment objectives and enhance their observational skills, photography, independent research, exploring artists, analysing processes, exploring media, materials, techniques, developing ideas, refining ideas and practical work, designing and realising intentions. Students will be guided through this process in order to prepare them adequately for externally assessed project work in Year 13. Students should exhibit work in a wide range of disciplines including paint, textile, ceramics, digital and photography.

A European visit is offered to students in L6th to help generate ideas for the Personal Investigations. Destinations have included Madrid, Florence, Barcelona and Paris.

The aim of the L6th course it to acquire a portfolio of work ready for university application and interview and create an exhibition space each in the End of Year Show.

Students will aim to master their process and showcase their skills developed throughout their time at school. They work towards two externally assessed projects 1) Component One: Personal Investigation 60% 2) Component Two: Externally Set Assignment 40%. The personal investigation is student led and a creative pathway forged and supported by 1:1 teacher discussions. Students will look to develop new techniques but also master previously learned skills. This project is a deep learning investigation with a written essay running alongside it.

Component Two: Externally Set Assignment examination papers are handed out from Feb 1st and students will choose one starting point navigating themselves through the AQA assessment objectives that they are familiar with. Students have unlimited preparation time and all preparatory work must be handed in at the start of their 15 hour controlled assessment period. The controlled assessment is typically completed at the end of April and concludes early May. All work completed will be exhibited securely within the department for AQA moderation purposes and forms part of the End of Year Show.

In Year 13 there is an increased focus upon metacognition and students should plan their ideas and structure their journey before embarking upon tasks, students are taught how to do this. Thinking occurs in their small sketchbooks before working up realised intentions.

Students will finalise portfolios for university interview and curate the End of Year show.