The Visual Art and Design sector encompasses a wide range of creative disciplines and careers, such as Graphic Design, Illustration, Fashion Design, Photography and many more. Through exploring these potential creative careers you will have opportunities to engage with a range of techniques and processes such as drawing, painting, digital arts, photography, typography, printmaking and 3D Design. You may have the opportunity to undertake collaborative projects with arts professionals and with our partners, such as schools and galleries, and you will undertake a number of visits to exhibitions, artist spaces and museums.

What will I learn on this course?   

The Art and Design Pathway is a predominantly practical based course enabling our students to develop and extend their skills as an Art practitioner. This specialist programme is for those students who are passionate about the Art and Design world and who want to be immersed within it for their future career path. On the course you will learn to use the visual language of Art and Design to develop ideas and explore a wide variety of materials, processes and techniques allowing you to build your own Art portfolio. You will explore painting, printmaking, photography, digital arts, textiles, typography and 3D design. You may have the opportunity to undertake collaborative projects with arts professionals and with our partners, such as schools and galleries, alongside having the chance to visit these spaces too. This course will help you to build the foundations for your progression within the Art world.

How is the course structured?

The BTEC Tech Award consists of 3 components:

Component 1 –  Generating ideas in Art and Design – Internally assessed

Component 2 – Develop practical skills in Art and Design – Internally assessed

Component 3 – Responding to a client brief – Externally assessed

How will I study?

You will work in purpose designed art areas on skills workshops, collaborative projects and with arts professionals. You will work on assignments set by your teachers on mini projects and on independent research. In our purpose-built state of the art facilities we are able to offer a first rate environment for the study of Visual Art and Design. We have facilities for textiles, ceramics and three-dimensional design, a photography darkroom, fine art studios and computer suites with the latest Art and Design software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Final Cut and graphic tablets for digital drawing. Added to this excellent setting is a superb set of departmental teachers making what we believe is a unique environment for the preparation of tomorrow's artists, designers and visual communicators. Studying at BOA will enable you to develop your skills and ideas whilst benefiting from working in a dedicated arts environment.

How will I be assessed?

The course is continuously assessed throughout the two years. There will be a number of exhibition opportunities throughout the course. There are two external assessment opportunities, one in year 10 and one in year 11. Themes for these externally assessed units are provided by Pearson Edexcel and are completed in timed examination conditions.