Art (GCSE)

Exam Board: Edexcel

Course Overview:

The course is split into a 60% coursework and 40% exam.

Course Content:

At Stationers’ Crown Woods Academy we follow the Fine Art route for GCSE. During this two year course 

students will be introduced to a wide variety of techniques and processes and will have the opportunity to explore these through the work that they produce. The course is structured so that the students build up their confidence by working through a series of set class tasks and activities and from these they develop their own ideas into finished pieces more independently from a thematic stimulus.

During the course the students will work on three main projects and will use sketchbooks as an important part of developing and recording their ideas.

• Component 1: Personal Portfolio (coursework)

• Component 2: Externally Set Exam (year 11) Students will receive preparatory time before this

Assessment Structure:

In year 11 students will receive their externally set exam paper and will have ten weeks to prepare their 

responses in time for the two day sustained exam. The exam work is also assessed internally and then all 

work is assessed by a visiting external moderator.

Extra Curricular Opportunities:

As part of the course students will enjoy organised trips to galleries and exhibitions as a stimulus for their 

own artwork. They will also, where applicable, have the opportunities to have their work entered for National competitions. Art enrichments will be held throughout the course and this is an important part of the learning experience.

Career Prospects and Transferable Skills being developed:

Art is a unique subject that enables us to view the world in which we live differently. It also encourages us to problem solve, be inventive, expressive and analytical. It can make us challenge ourselves and come out of our comfort zone with regards to our interpretation of topical issues. It makes us more individual and allows us a vehicle through which to express our opinions.

The creative industries are the fastest growing industries in the UK at the moment. Students who have studied Art can go on to become: 

• Architects

• Artists

• Costume makers

• Designers

• Directors

• Fashion Designer

• Illustrators

• Prop makers

• Set Designers/Painters for film and TV

• Teacher

• Television Producer

• Web Page designer

Further Information: Janina Zagloba (Head of Department Art) - email: janina.zagloba@scwa.org.uk