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Fine Art A Level (Linear)

Bennett Memorial School

Bennett Memorial Diocesan School, Culverden Down, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, Kent, TN4 9SH

GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent

Level 3

Available start dates

Monday, 01 September 2025

Bennett Memorial School

2 Year(s)

Full time

Daytime/working hours

NULL

Application Instructions

Applications Open: - 5th November 2025

Applications Close: - 5th January 2026

Entry Requirements: - Our entry requirements are subject specific, please look through our website for more information. Specific information can be found under Sixth Form and in Choosing courses. Details are here

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices

Course Summary

Endorsed Fine Art – drawing, painting and related media

Component 1 Title: Personal Investigation (60%):

The following overview of the component content is based, fundamentally, on processes which use drawing and painting from first-hand Observation; Analysis & Recording from primary sources:

Processes will involve:
- Developing ideas
- Exploring media, developing and applying skills
- Researching, recording, analysing and reviewing
- Creating and presenting outcome(s)

The component must evidence three major elements: supporting studies, practical work and a personal study. Supporting studies and practical work will comprise a portfolio of developmental work and outcome(s) and the personal study will be evidenced through critical written communication showing contextual research and understanding in a minimum 3000 words of continuous prose, which may contain integrated images.

Component 2 Title: Externally Set Assignment (40%):

This component will be produced in Year 13 from the end of term 3 onwards.
This requires students to process the same content as Component 1 (not including the personal study) but in response to an externally set theme. It also requires students to work more independently and to produce a final outcome under controlled examination conditions, over 15 hours.

Course Details

Topics:

 Still-life, self-portrait, figure, natural forms, man-made forms, environment, architecture.

 Critical/Contextual Studies and Art History .

Skills acquired:

 Analysis/First & second hand study – how to see and record formal/visual elements (Line, Tone, Colour and Form) from direct observation; primary & secondary sources

 Critical – How to analyse and evaluate images (and interpret their meaning) through research and visual investigation.

 Technical/Practical:

 Methods, Processes, Techniques.

 Manipulation of media and visual elements to express and communicate “ideas” and aims.

 Painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, photoshop, textiles, 3D work.

How will it be delivered and assessed?

Component 1 Title: Personal Investigation (60%):

The following overview of the component content is based, fundamentally, on processes which use drawing and painting from first-hand Observation; Analysis & Recording from primary sources:

Processes will involve:

- Developing ideas

- Exploring media, developing and applying skills

- Researching, recording, analysing and reviewing

- Creating and presenting outcome(s)

Component 2 Title: Externally Set Assignment (40%):

This component will be produced in Year 13 from the end of term 3 onwards.

This requires students to process the same content as Component 1 (not including the personal study) but in response to an externally set theme. It also requires students to work more independently and to produce a final outcome under controlled examination conditions, over 15 hours.

Entry requirements

Students must have done GCSE Art & Design, preferably endorsed Fine Art. Fine Art at least a 5 grade in the correspondencing GCSE.

Students must have had experience of drawing and painting from direct observation; primary sources.

Students will also need:
- Commitment
- Concentration and ability to focus (often for long periods of time)
- Motivation and initiative
- Interest/enthusiasm for visual arts (media, visiting galleries, museums)
- Research Skills (using reference systems, data-bases, etc.)
- English Language/Literature (enjoy reading and writing)

- APS 4+ including 3 5s.

- 5 in GCSE Fine Art

Your next steps...

Art & Design is one of the country’s largest industries offering an enormous range of careers in the creative sector. There is a considerable range of practical and academic subjects which can be studied at degree level.

1 year Diploma Foundation Course in Art and Design – this course is designed to learn about and experience the breadth of creative discipline, building a portfolio of work and make informed decisions for specialised degree courses. (e.g. Fine Art, Illustration, Graphics, Costume Design, Architecture, Digital Animation etc.)

4 year Foundation Degree Course

Degree Course eg Fashion, Photgraphy, History of Art etc

Additional information

https://www.bennettmemorial.co.uk/sixth-form-admissions/

For more courses like this, check our courses page.