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GCSE Art, Craft & Design
GCSE Art, Craft & Design
Examination Board: AQA
Watch the video to the right to find out about GCSE Art!
Why should STUDENTS choose GCSE Art, Craft & Design?
Why should STUDENTS choose GCSE Art, Craft & Design?
GCSE Art, Craft & Design is an exciting course for students who enjoy being creative and want to develop their skills further. Students will explore a wide range of materials and techniques and look at how artists, designers and craftspeople create and make art work. This course is for students who like exploring ideas, learning from artists and producing personal, original work.
What will STUDENTS need to be successful in this course?
What will STUDENTS need to be successful in this course?
Students are most successful on this course when they bring enthusiasm, curiosity and a willingness to experiment and learn as new skills are developed. They need to dedicate regular time to their artwork, practise drawing, explore materials confidently and respond thoughtfully to the work of artists. Organisation is also key — keeping an effective Art Sketchbook, meeting deadlines, and staying open to feedback all help make strong progress and achieve potential.
SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
Students can expect a high level of support throughout the course. Teachers provide clear demonstrations of techniques, structured guidance in developing sketchbook work, and regular personalised feedback. There are opportunities for one-to-one help, targeted advice during lessons, and access to after-school Art sessions where students can continue and refine their work. Students are supported in building confidence, exploring ideas, and understanding how to meet the GCSE assessment objectives.
Course Content
Course Content
Year 9
Students begin the GCSE course with two creative and skill-building projects:
Found Objects – exploring composition, mixed media, drawing, printmaking inspired by everyday objects.
Portraits – developing strong observational drawing skills, studying proportions of the face, expressive techniques and artist-inspired approaches to portraiture.
Year 10
Students extend and deepen their skills through two major projects:
Food in Art – a vibrant investigation into colour, form and texture using paints, inks, digital media and mixed materials.
Cultures Project – exploring art, craft and design from different cultures, developing personal ideas through research, experimentation and contextual understanding.
Year 11
Students complete the GCSE by responding to the AQA externally set exam theme. They develop a personalised project using their sketchbook to explore artists, experiment with materials, record ideas and create a confident, meaningful final piece under exam conditions.
Assessment
Assessment
Students’ work is assessed using the four AQA GCSE Art & Design assessment objectives. Their sketchbook work forms a major part of the assessment, showing the journey from initial research to final outcome. Marks are combined to give an overall grade at the end of the course.
Students are assessed through:
AO1 – Developing Ideas: researching artists, generating ideas, and showing clear intentions.
AO2 – Exploring & Experimenting: using a range of materials, techniques and processes confidently.
AO3 – Recording Observations: drawing, annotating and collecting visual information to support ideas.
AO4 – Personal Response: producing a final outcome that brings ideas together in a meaningful way.
Assessment is based on sketchbook work and final pieces, completed across coursework projects and the Year 11 exam unit.
Further Education and Career Pathways
Further Education and Career Pathways
The course allows students to progress onto A-level Art, Fine Art, Fashion, Textiles, Photography, Media Studies, Film Studies, Graphic Design and other creative media courses.
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