Art & Design

WJEC GCE Art & Design

This course is intended to meet the requirements of students who wish to progress to study Art in college or university and is the perfect pathway to undertake an Art Foundation Course. While it is an advantage to have studied Art at GCSE level, this is not essential. The A level course requires a questioning mind, and a student who is not afraid to experiment creatively. An enthusiasm for the subject is important as well as an interest in and enjoyment of art, craft and design. The aim of the course is to help individuals think more independently as well as encouraging and promoting their intellectual, imaginative, creative and intuitive development.

The course will require students to

  • be investigative, analytical, experimental, practical, technical and expressive skills, using aesthetic understanding and critical judgement

  • have independence of mind in relation to developing their own ideas, refining their own intentions and personal outcomes

  • gain experience of working with a broad range of media, including traditional and new media and technologies

  • have an understanding of the interrelationships between art, craft and design processes and an awareness of the contexts in which they operate

  • develop knowledge, understanding and application of art, craft, design and media and technologies in contemporary and past societies and cultures

  • have an awareness of different roles, functions and audiences and consumers of art, craft and design practice

  • have experience of having studied a creative subject at GCSE is desired for Art and Design

Summary Assessment

AS Unit 1 - (40%) A portfolio of work focused on a guided personal creative enquiry. Internally assessed, externally moderated.

A2 Unit 2 – (36%) A portfolio of work focused on an independent personal creative enquiry. Internally assessed, externally moderated.

A2 Unit 3 - (24%) Examination – Externally set, 6 weeks preparation and 15 hours to produce a final outcome. Internally assessed, externally moderated.

Course Leader: Mrs C Williams

80% of students achieved grades A*-C during the 2021/22 series for Art and Design

Career Opportunities

Art & Design enables candidates to demonstrate their ability to undertake work from a wide area of studies: fine art, graphic communication critical and contextual studies, 3d design, textiles, photography, lens and light based media. The benefits of the Art & Design course are that it offers students a rich and diverse range of experiences. The syllabuses are broad-based and the assignments set are intended to stimulate a personal response and individual interpretation. This requires students to be well motivated and show evidence of a strong commitment to the subject.