The Art & Design department offers two courses: Art & Design A Level and Applied Art & Design (please scroll down for information about these courses).
Art & Design A Level
Why study Art & Design?
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Although demanding in both time and commitment, we believe this course to be challenging and fulfilling. The course provides the ideal platform for any student wishing to pursue the extensive career opportunities in the design or the creative and visual arts field. It will also appeal to those students who have been successful at GCSE and wish to maintain a creative balance in their studies.
What will I study?
The course is wide ranging covering many approaches to creating Art and Design with four broad aims to develop the students’ individual work
- Intellectual, imaginative, creative and intuitive powers
- Investigative, analytical, practical and expressive skills, aesthetic understanding and critical judgement
- Understanding of contexts and inter-relationships between art, craft and design
- Knowledge of art, craft and design in contemporary society and in other times and cultures.
Although practical work forms the majority of students study, written critical and contextual projects will form part of both the AS and A2 courses with Module 4 being an extensive dissertation study.
AS Units
Unit 1
Module 1 - Drawing, casting and sculpting life form
A series of workshops designed to develop students’ observational abnd recording skills in a range of new and familiar media.
Module 2 - Identity
Unit 2
Externally Set Assignment
A2 Units
Unit 3
Module 1 - Disertation
A personal study into an area of Art & Design.
Module 2 - Personal Brief
A practical brief set by individual students.
Unit 4
Externally set assignment
How will I study?
Much of the work will be studio-based. However, students will need to meet the demands of the subject through active research, gallery visits and a broad engagement in the whole area of Art and Design. We also offer a regular study visit abroad, run occasional life classes and involve students with visiting artists and lecturers.
What do I need to start the course?
Course entry recommendation is B in Art at GCSE level.
Applied Art & Design
Why study Applied Art & Design?
Although demanding in both time and commitment, we believe this course to be challenging and fulfilling. The course provides the ideal platform for any student wishing to pursue the extensive career opportunities in the design or the creative and visual arts field. It will also appeal to those students who have been successful at GCSE art and design technology and wish to maintain a creative balance in their studies.
What will I study?
The course is wide ranging covering many approaches to creating Art and Design with connections with three broad aims to develop the students’ individual work.
- Applying Knowledge and understanding of others practice
- Candidates will show an understanding of work methods used by historical and contemporary artists and designers.
- Applying skills, techniques and understanding of different media
- Candidates develop ideas by applying and reflecting on knowledge, skills and understanding of media, materials, techniques and processes realising and presenting work that is appropriate to the project brief.
- Analysis, synthesis and evaluation
- Candidates gather, record and analyse relevant information and evidence, make reasoned judgements, present solutions and evaluate their own art practice.
AS Units
Unit 1 2&3D Visual language
Unit 2 Materials Techniques and technology
Unit 6 Produce set ideas (externally set assignment)
A2 Units
Unit 9 Contextual references
Units 12 - 14 Personal Brief
Unit 11 Develop and produce own ideas (Externally set assignment)
How will I study?
Much of the work will be studio-based. However, students will need to meet the demands of the subject through active research, gallery visits and a broad engagement in the whole area of Art and Design. We also offer a regular study visit abroad, run occasional life classes and involve students with visiting artists and lecturers.
What do I need to start the course?
Grade B or above in Art GCSE is required. Also required is a C or above in a relevant Design and Technology subject.
