Art, Craft and Design (A Level)

This exciting and stimulating course will enable you to visually explore ideas and concepts in a creative environment, through varied media. You will use a wide range of materials and processes to communicate your ideas through sketchbooks that will act as 'visual diaries' tracking your creative growth towards exciting outcomes that can be constructed using 2D or 3D processes.

What will you learn?

The main purpose of A Level Art is to develop your individual artistic skills, ideas and visions, The very nature of the subject means there are a vast array of disciplines that can be explored. We encourage the discovery of self and spend time developing your confidence and belief in your ability and your ideas. We will encourage the use of a wide range of specialist tools, techniques and processes and help you realise how to apply these to your creative vision.

How will you learn?

We strongly encourage students to take ownership of their learning. As teachers our aim is to facilitate your learning rather than dictate it. We have bridging projects to help you learn these skills and as you progress we let you take more ownership over your work. We use a tutorial style of teaching that is a two way constructive discussion on your work and how best to realise your intentions.

Year 1

The course starts with an introductory project that runs from September through to December. It is designed to bridge the gap between GCSE and A Level and help students develop a more independent way or working. From this students move onto their second thematic project running from January through to April. In this project students will start to show greater levels of independence and take a more active role in the direction their project develops. In May students will start the Personal Investigation. This is a completely self designed project where students choose their theme and guide their own learning. Teachers facilitate this process through 1:1 tutorials. It is this project from which most marks are taken.

Year 2

The Personal Investigation straddles Year 1 and 2, come to a close in January of the following year. Students are then given a month the tie up loose ends before the release of the externally set assignment in February. This is a theme chosen and set by the exam board and culminates in a 15 hour practical exam.

Assessment 1: Personal Portfolio, Coursework, 60% of final grade

This component allows students opportunities to generate and develop ideas, research primary and contextual sources, record practical and written observations, experiment with media and processes and refine ideas towards producing personal resolved outcome(s).

This course comes under the general heading of Arts, Craft and Design, leaving students free to explore all ranges of Art and Design including sculpture, print, graphics and textiles.

Assessment 2: Externally Set Assessment; Coursework and 15 hour exam, 40% of final grade

This component allows students opportunities to generate and develop ideas, research primary and contextual sources, record practical and written observations, experiment with media and processes and refine ideas towards producing personal resolved outcome(s) in response to an externally set theme during the 15 hour exam.

College minimum entry requirements plus:

• Grade 4 or above in GCSE Art

Where Next?

Academic: Art foundation course, art relegated degrees.

Career: Architecture, Fine Art, Advertising, Media, Illustration, Set and stage design, Fashion Design, Teaching Degree.