Art & Design BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate

Applications Open: - Monday 3rd November 2025 - 9am

Applications Close: - 1st May 2026 - 4pm

Entry Requirements: - Three Grade 4s and specific to subjects.

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices.

Please add three Level 3 courses to your application. These can be a combination of A-Levels, BTEC AAQs or BTEC Extended Certificates. Core Maths must be an additional fourth subject.

The BTEC LEVEL 3 National Extended Certificate in Art and Design provides pupils with opportunities to develop personal responses to ideas, observations, experiences, environments and cultures in practical, critical and contextual forms. Pupils will experience a broad area of study and develop skills in a variety of areas. They will be encouraged to use their creative skill to work independently whilst under the guidance of experienced and enthusiastic teachers. A lively imagination and a willingness to experiment with ideas and processes will help a student to succeed. This qualification is equivalent to 1 A Level.

Year 1

• Unit 1- Visual Recording and Communication External Assessment (Exam)

In this unit, pupils will develop your visual recording and communication skills through exploration and experimentation with materials and methods, gaining confidence in your ability to create work and express and communicate ideas. Pupils will extend their skills through exploring the work of others, ongoing personal reflection and the refinement of your own work.

• Unit 12-Fine Art Materials, Techniques and Processes

Pupils will explore the breadth of materials, techniques and processes used to create fine art. Pupils will investigate their characteristics and properties, and experiment with technical processes to develop an understanding of how fine artists communicate ideas. Pupils will then develop some of their own ideas and outcomes using learned techniques, and review the development of their skills in this area.

Year 2

• Unit 3- The Creative Process

Pupils will experiment with ideas generation techniques and contextual research activities. Pupils will develop ideas through use of materials, techniques and processes, refining your ideas and reviewing your working practices. Pupils will explore ways to present their work and understand the importance of self-reflection and evaluation as an ongoing process. Pupils will also explore how these activities can relate and support each other, looking at alternative and innovative approaches. Pupils will then apply their own creative process to a piece of art and design work, reflecting on what they have learned to help inform your future practice.

• Unit 2- Critical and Contextual Studies in Art and Design

In this unit, pupils will develop contextual research and critical analysis skills. Pupils will investigate the contextual influences on practitioners that drive and underpin their work. Pupils will learn how to critically analyse pieces of art and design work, deconstructing images and thinking critically about what they see. Pupils will develop these skills through investigation by selecting and sourcing relevant information in order to gain a full understanding of the work of artists and designers.

The course is assessed over two years.

Two of the units are assessed internally; Unit 12 and Unit 3. Two units are assessed externally; Unit 1 and Unit 2.

A Grade 4 in GCSE Art, Textiles or English Or Level 2 Pass in BTEC Art.

WHERE NEXT?

Pupils that have studied Art and Design gain UCAS points that can be used to go on to study courses at university or apprenticeships.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

Art Therapist

Art Teacher

Fine Artist

Art Lecturer

Illustrator

Art Conservator

Architect

Landscape Designer

Graphic Designer

Web Designer

Photographer