AQA Level 3 Advanced GCE in Art & Design

Our Art and Design course is flexible and stimulates creativity, offering a high degree of choice and a range of different media, processes and techniques. Our course gives students the opportunity to produce a portfolio of work that they can show to prospective employers or use to help secure a place in higher education.

In the sixth form we follow the AQA Fine Art specification. This is a broad –based course introducing students to a variety of experiences using a range of media, processes and techniques, for example:

Painting, drawing, mixed media including collage and assemblage, sculpture, printmaking, digital photography and image manipulation.

At A level, candidates are required to build upon the knowledge, understanding and skills gained, with greater depth of study.

Component 1 is a personal investigation based on an idea, issue, concept or theme supported by 1000-3000 words (60% of final grade).

Component 2 is an externally set assignment; candidates are given a question paper containing 8 starting points from which they choose one. Students are then required to develop a project around their chosen theme. 15 hours of unaided, supervised work completes this unit of work. (40% of final grade)

GCSE Art grade 5

Engagement in Art & Design enables students to stretch their minds, promotes self- esteem, motivation, cultural awareness, emotional expression and an appreciation of diversity. Students will be encouraged to explore their creativity and produce inventive solutions to meet visual challenges. An art education is a broad experience which equips students with the ability and skills that support entry into a wide and diverse range of careers. By choosing to take Art & Design you are making the decision to follow a broad based course that is the first step to any career in the creative industries.