Art and Design - Fine Art

‘Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.’ - Pablo Picasso

The AQA Fine Art course at KES offers the step up from GCSE into a world where you will experiment and try new ways of working, hopefully to broaden your approach to the subject. This might be through our life drawing classes or simply working on a scale never attempted before. The Lower Sixth course is experimental in design and leads to a more specialised approach at full A Level. Flair is vital as is a willingness to try new things and a broad minded approach to the creative process. Lower Sixth During the first year of the course you will have the opportunity to experience drawing, painting, printmaking and photography. This phase provides the basis for one extensive experimental project. Alongside this work you will be expected to build up evidence of your critical awareness of the wider context of art within culture to complement and inform your practical work. We have had recent students going to study Architecture with Art obviously being one of their main subjects. Students go on to study at local foundation courses and then on to degree courses at Falmouth, Bath, Leeds and Brighton studying fine art, illustration, film making and game design, as well as to London. The Art studios are designed to give each student a permanent area in which to work and individually tailored resources. The department has a huge library with over 3,500 art and design titles as well as a dedicated A Level studio and a subject specific IT suite, kiln, darkroom and printmaking facilities. You will receive continual assessment on your progress and

regular informal and formal tutorials.

Upper Sixth

The second year allows for a continuation of the work begun in the first year but with a greater opportunity for, and emphasis on, an increased level of ambition, depth, complexity and sophistication. If you choose to continue into the second year to complete the full A Level course there are two assessments:

Unit 1 Personal investigation (worth 60%). This is a practical investigation supported by written material. Students are required to conduct a practical investigation into an idea, issue, concept or theme, supported by written material. The focus of the investigation must be identified independently by the student and must lead to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes. The investigation should be a coherent, in-depth study that demonstrates the student’s ability to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning from an initial starting point to a final realisation. The aim is to produce a significant ‘body of work’ such as you might produce for a gallery exhibition. Unit 2 Externally-Set Assignment (worth 40%). Preparatory period - from 1 February. Your response to externally set questions. This involves a preparation period and 15 hour supervised time.