Art and Design

Why study this subject?

A Level Art and Design allows you to develop an exciting and extensive range of creative and technical skills. The course gives you the chance to study different aspects of the subject in greater depth. We have specialist teachers in painting, printing, textiles, digital media, pottery, sculpture, and drawing. You will also gain a strong understanding of historic and contemporary visual art practice, through supporting contextual studies.

Universities and Employers seek to recruit people who think creatively, can problem solve and are lateral thinkers. Creative skills are valued and actively sought across a wide range of University courses and employment sectors, both are looking to recruit people who are adaptable and can generate fresh ideas. Studying Art and Design helps you build these qualities.

Popular areas of study are Architecture, Digital Design, Fashion Design, Graphic Communication, Film and Media, Product Design, Illustration, Animation and of course Fine Art.

What skills will you develop?

In studying Art and Design you will develop projects with greater depth of concepts and themes through your developing skilful application of media and the formal elements. The two-year course will allow the development of Imagination, creativity and intuitive capabilities; Lateral thinking, resourcefulness, problem solving, ability to be reflective and make decisions; Self-motivation, resilience, self-management, enthusiasm designing and presenting; Investigative, analytical, experimental, practical, technical and expressive skills, aesthetic understanding and critical judgement.

Studying Art and Design is a fantastic opportunity to develop personal projects within which there is the opportunity to make connections with other sources e.g. historical, political, psychological or literary. These personal projects will develop your Independence of mind in developing, refining and communicating your own ideas, your own intentions and your own personal outcomes.

What are the key elements to the course?

The course structure is almost identical to the GCSE Art and Design. Your will record your development in written and visual form through a series of sketchbooks and other pieces. The only major difference is the inclusion of a Personal Study Essay, approximately 3,000 words which supports your coursework personal project.

The key elements are as follows:

Title Content

Personal Investigation Several outcomes (e.g. large paintings or sculptures) accompanied by an extensive range of supporting studies and sketchbooks recording development.

Personal Study An essay of around 3,000 words, supporting the Personal Investigation, accompanied by a sketchbook recording development.

Externally Set Assignment In February, Upper Sixth students undertake a new personal investigation inspired by a theme set by the exam board. Over an eight-week period, students produce a range of supporting studies and sketchbooks which inform their outcome. (A 15-hour timed piece created under exam conditions).