Art & Design A Level

Applications Open: - Friday 14 November 2025

Applications Close: - 13 February 2026. Applications may be considered after this date but it is strongly advised to apply before this deadline.

Entry Requirements: - Admission to courses - This is based on your needs and staff advice, but you should be aware of these points: 1. You will need to obtain a minimum of six GCSE passes at Level 5 or above including Mathematics and English (a minimum of a grade 5 in the reformed GCSE qualifications in English and Mathematics) and grades 9-6 in their preferred A-Level subjects or nearest equivalents. 2. Subjects have clear entry requirements. You will find these under the course details or from Subject Heads.

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices (Internal and External Students)

External Applicants - please click here (This form is for external candidates and parents/carers to book a slot to ask any questions about the admissions process and Sixth Form at Highsted Grammar School). Please be aware that it is first come, first served. We will try our best to accommodate your preferences but this might not always be possible).

Internal candidates - should contact their Head of Year directly.

Art, Craft and Design develops many creative and problem solving skills which are important in university courses such as fashion and textile design, graphic design, product design, painting, sculpture, interior design, animation, photography and ceramics. It is also helpful for careers in Architecture, Teaching, Exhibition Design, Conservation, Web Design, Marketing, Television Production and Journalism.

The A Level in Art, Craft and Design course is a two year course, which has two components. Coursework which counts for 60% of the final grade, and an exam which takes place at the end of the second year which counts for the remaining 40% coursework starts with an investigation into a range of media and techniques including painting, sculpture, photography, creative textiles and mixed media. Then, after selecting a personal starting point, they will research and gather relevant visual stimulus to enable them to develop and refine a range of ideas leading to a creative finished piece of work in a media of their choice. They will also undertake an in-depth written study and analysis of an aspect of artist’s and designer’s work that relates to their work. Candidates receive the exam paper at the beginning of February of the second year and after a planning and preparation time of approximately eight weeks undertake a fifteen hour exam during which they produce a finished piece of work.

To study Art, Craft and Design at A Level, students are required to achieve a minimum of a grade 6 at GCSE Art and Design.