Art, Craft and Design (Fine Art)

Applications Open: - Friday 28th November 2025

Applications Close: - Friday 6 February 2026 - Please note - If you do not complete your application fully by the deadline of Friday 6 February 2026, we may not be able to consider it until August when GCSE results are published.

How to Apply:

Internal students - Applications to join our Sixth Form, via Applicaa, can be made via this link Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend (applicaa.com). PLEASE NOTE that you should use an e-mail address that you check regularly as the Applicca system will contact you with updates about your application.

External students - Year 11 Students from other schools applying to Mayfield Grammar School should apply via KentChoices using this link - https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk/login. Please note - After sending your application, you'll receive a welcome email from Applicaa asking for further information.

If you applied to us before the deadline but have not heard from us for a while please bear with us, we are working through the applications and will get back to you with our decision and advice as soon as we can. We will continue to send messages via Applicaa so please logon from time to time to check if we need some additional information from you

Applications After the deadline

Students who are interested in applying to Mayfield Grammar School for Sixth Form but have missed our application process can contact us once they have their GCSE results in August. After the publication of GCSE examinations results in August we ask that you make an appointment to discuss your application with the Sixth Form team. You need to call 01474 352896 or email admissions@mgsg.kent.sch.uk. Please check you have met our entry criteria for the subjects you want to study and read our Options Booklet under the Sixth Form tab on our website for our general entry criteria. If you meet our criteria, please get in touch, and bring your original documents for GCSE Results Summary and Birth Certificate as ID when you are offered an appointment.

Entry Requirements: -

Entry to the Sixth Form is dependent on demonstrating achievements which show general breadth of ability as well as depth in the specific courses chosen for study in the Sixth Form. For this reason you will need to have achieved all the following:

1. A minimum of 6 GCSEs at Grade 5 and above, preferably on the higher papers, in discrete subjects, with the exception of Combined Science, which counts as two subjects.

2. Grade 5 or above in GCSE English and GCSE Mathematics.

3. To have met the requirements of the individual subjects that you intend to study at A Level/Level 3, which are all, with the exception of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Languages, a minimum of Grade 6 at GCSE on the Higher papers. This is essential.

Essential skills

• Passion & aptitude for the subject.

• Ability to use initiative and work independently.

• Willingness to take risks.

• Good organisational skills!

The Art and Design A level consists of 4 units of work which comprise a portfolio of Personal Investigation (60%) and an Externally Set Assignment (40%). Students will follow the July induction session with a summer project on the theme ‘Sense of Place’ which develops the skills learnt at GCSE and will culminate in an early September outcome. The first term is dedicated to artist inspired workshops where students will practice a diverse range of processes in addition to building a foundation of higher level skills. Intense sessions in painting and drawing will be interspersed with print making, ceramics and sculpture. A focus on a student selected title encourages students to manipulate the formal elements. A day of life drawing from a professional model introduces this fundamental skill. This explosion of practical work explores still life and the human figure and informs the first major unit. Students pursue an independent direction which is documented through their journal and culminates in a series of two outcomes.

The second unit in Year 12 evolves from a mock Externally Set Assignment paper. Students begin preparatory studies with work from observation and develop ideas towards a timed assessment. Students research relevant artists, experiment with their own choice of media and develop work to show sequential thinking and evidence of self-review. The artist research element requires students to be critical in their analysis of Artwork and to show an understanding of context. Students participate in group critiques, mini presentations and peer and self-assessment activities.

Students show increased independence and the benefit of their earlier experience as they embark on the final unit of their portfolio. This self-directed exploration runs concurrently with the writing of a Personal Study. The illustrated, extended essay demonstrates a high level of critical analysis and is closely linked to the ongoing practical investigation. Sustained development of summer drawing work and a more in depth and risk taking approach leads to two outcomes. The Externally Set Assignment paper is issued in early February and forms the final 40% of the A level qualification. Students develop personal work from the externally set theme demonstrating the knowledge, understanding and skills that they have developed over the course. The A level concludes with the 15 hour timed assessment which takes place in early May.

Students who do well in this subject have an interest in Art and Design outside the classroom and will independently visit galleries and museums to further this. Students who achieve the highest grades also devote a lot of independent time to extra studies to develop their skills, techniques, knowledge and processes.

The Art and Design A level consists of 4 units of work which comprise a portfolio of Personal Investigation (60%) and an Externally Set Assignment (40%).

The second unit in Year 12 evolves from a mock Externally Set Assignment paper.

GCSE Grade 6 in Art & Design

University requirements

Students wishing to continue their studies at university will usually apply to complete a 1 year Foundation course to help them choose an area to specialise in at degree level. All candidates are required to submit a portfolio of work to take to interview. Alternatively, some Universities will offer a 4 year undergraduate degree course straight from A levels.

Links to Further Education

Art and Design; Fine Art; Product and Industrial; Graphic Design; 3-D Design; Design and Computing ; Marketing; Interior Design; Fashion; Industrial Design; Multi-media Design and Computing, Architecture

Links to Careers

Advertising; Marketing; Fashion; Interior Design Industry; Textile Design Industry; Arts Journalism; Graphic Designer; Teacher; Product Design; Digital Design; Computer Game Design; Website Design, Freelance Artist, Curator, Photographer