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. Pupils 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 pupil to succeed. This qualification is equivalent to 1 A Level.

Year 12

• Unit 1- Visual Recording and Communication

Pupils will develop their visual recording and communication skills through exploration and experimentation with materials and methods, gaining confidence in their ability to create work and express and communicate ideas.

• 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 understand how fine artists communicate ideas. Pupils will then develop some of their own ideas using learned techniques, and review the development of their skills in this area.

Year 13

• Unit 3- The Creative Process

Pupils will experiment with idea generation techniques and contextual research activities through the use of materials, techniques and processes. Pupils will explore ways to present their work and understand the importance of self-reflection and evaluation as an ongoing process. 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 their future practice.

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

Pupils will develop contextual research and critical analysis skills by investigating the contextual influences on practitioners. Pupils will learn how to critically analyse pieces of art and design work, deconstructing images and thinking critically about what pupils see. They will investigate relevant information in order to gain a full understanding of the work of artists and designers.

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

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

WHERE NEXT?

Pupils that have studied this Art and Design course, worth the equivalent of one A-Level, gain analytical skills that could lead them into many areas. This course will also allow pupils to go on to study a variety of subjects at university or help them to gain apprenticeships.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

Art Therapist

Art Teacher/Lecturer

Fine Artist

Illustrator

Art Conservator

Architect

Landscape Designer

Graphic Designer

Web Designer

Photographer