What will I learn on this course?

You will learn to use the visual language of art and design to develop ideas, explore techniques and processes, and to integrate these to form your own art work and to connect with the work of other artists, craft-workers and designers. You will learn how to respond to a theme or stimulus and to develop your own ideas. You will learn how  to organise a project from the initial starting-point, through the use of a sketchbook and other studies, into a final considered outcome.

This course is for Key Stage Four students who show an aptitude for visual arts and design and who want to continue  to develop their image-making skills, conceptual understanding of the visual arts and technical skills. It is an excellent preparation for further study in visual arts and design either at A level or BTEC Level 3.

How is the course structured?

This is a two year course, divided into two units:

Unit 1 – Personal Portfolio in Art and Design: 60%. This takes the form of a number of projects set by the teacher and is completed over approximately 45 hours of supervised study.

Unit 2 – Externally Set Assignment in Art and Design: 40%. This takes the form of broad themes set by AQA and is completed over approximately 30 hours of supervised study and a 10 hour practical, timed test.

How will I study?

You will study in our state-of–the-art purpose built facilities that encompass areas for digital art, fine art, three-dimensional design and textiles. In addition to these facilities there is a set of experienced and well-trained art, craft and design tutors who will carefully guide you through the course.

How will I be assessed?

 You will be assessed in four broad, equally weighted, areas: developing , refining, recording and presenting.

 Each unit is assessed independently – unit 1 60% and unit 2 40%.