Art, Craft and Design - A Level

St John's Catholic Comprehensive School

Rochester Road, GRAVESEND, Kent, DA12 2JW

GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent

Level 3

Available start dates

Tuesday, 01 September 2026

St John's Catholic Comprehensive School

2 Year(s)

Full time

Daytime/working hours

NULL

Block C

Please contact the provider directly to apply for this course.

Application Instructions

Applications Open: 21st November 2025 (9.00am)

Applications Close: 13th February 2026 (4.00pm)

How to apply:

- All INTERNAL applicants MUST apply via Applicaa using this link (coming soon!)

- All EXTERNAL applicants MUST apply via Kent Choices using this link https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk/login

- All correspondence between learners and the school after an application is made will be via Applicaa.

- All applicants (internal and external) will be invited in for a 1-1 guidance meeting.

- Those who have a successful guidance meeting will be offered a place to study at St John's Sixth Form from September 2026.

Course Summary

If you are creative and love exploring ideas, then Fine Art is for you. Fine Art is one of the best subjects to express your feelings in an imaginative way. You can go wild with different materials, such as acrylic, oil, pastel, chalk...or maybe wood, metal, clay etc., to make sculptures and express you ideas in a more tactile way.

The Fine Art course explores a range of creative practices including painting, mixed media, sculpture and print-making. Drawing is an essential skill for studying this subject and forms an integral part of Fine Art practice. You will use drawing to record and analyse the observed world, to explore ideas visually and to find new ways of expressing your thoughts and feelings. You will extend your drawing ability by experimenting with a range of tools, materials and techniques in order to refine your practical skills. You will also learn how to use sketchbooks as a creative journal in order to document your own creative process.

Gallery and research visits are an essential part of Fine Art practice. You will develop your study skills by researching, analysing and evaluating the work of other artists, craftspeople and designers in order to make connections to your own ideas and methods. An important aspect of your progression will be your ability to express yourself in writing. As part of the personal investigation component of the A Level you will be required to produce a minimum 1000 word critical study. At the end of the course your work will be displayed at St John's annual Art Exhibition, which celebrates the creativity of our learners.

Course Details

What you will study

• Intensive studies of the three main areas of Fine Art (Drawing, Painting and Printmaking) following a thematic approach.

• Extensive exploration of materials and techniques to enable you to develop a unique and expressive personal visual language.

• An understanding of the importance of Art, craft and design in everyday culture.

• You will be taught how to analyse and evaluate key works of art and apply this to your own knowledge and practice.

• You will develop an ability to appreciate to the visual world, respond in a personal and creative way, and produce work that can be enjoyed by a wide audience.

How will it be delivered and assessed?

• Component 1: 60%. A portfolio of creative outcomes related to set themes and experimental studies developing your visual language. This unit must be supported by work journals and includes a personal study

• Personal Study: An illustrated dissertation on a personal area of study between 1,000-3,000 words

• Component 2: 40%. An externally set, broad themed assignment issued by the board in January 2021. You will be given eight weeks to prepare followed by a twelve-hour examination

Entry requirements

GCSE Art and Design (Grade 6/B or higher)
Or
BTEC Art and Design (Distinction or higher)
Or
Interview by portfolio plus a minimum of 5 subjects at GCSE Grade 4/BTEC Level 2 Pass or higher

Your next steps...

This course leads naturally to careers in Fine Art, Graphic Design, Fashion, Advertising and Product Design. Art and Design courses are also useful if you are considering a career in such fields as Architecture, Marketing, TV & Film, Publicity, Arts Administration, Animation and the Media, Teaching and Gallery Curation.

For Higher Education this course can lead to University, Training Schemes and Foundation Courses at UCA.

For more courses like this, check our courses page.