A Level - Art & Design

Course Summary

Subject: Art

Course Title: A Level - Art & Design

Course Types: Sixth Form

Course Level: A-Level

Course Description

Introduction and Course Description

The A Level Art course offers a rewarding opportunity to pursue the study of the creative process beyond GCSE and provides an avenue to express your individuality. Increasingly the degree of self-directed learning necessary for successful completion of this A Level is making it a valuable contribution to university offers and subsequent career paths, even outside of the Creative Industries.

UNITS: Full A-level Qualification

The new specification is linear and involves 2 units of study for the full A Level award. The ‘Personal Investigation’ unit 1 (60%) reflects a carefully selected portfolio of work produced by the candidate over the 2 years, where consistently high quality of work is presented by the candidate in an externally moderated exhibition. Artwork will have been selected with advice from the teaching staff to address the 4 assessment objectives, to the best of the candidates’ ability.

Candidates will be expected to produce evidence of the following:

• Following the first skills-based foundation stage of the course, the candidate will choose the direction and technical skills that will constitute the content of their forward study. Teacher input will be individual and bespoke from this point.
• Digital art, Film, Painting, Sculpture, Mixed-media drawing, Photography and 3-Dimensional construction are areas of specialism that have been successful previously.
• Good observational skills using a range of materials and processes will form part of this unit portfolio. Candidates may also choose to pursue more ‘issue based’ artwork which may involve using alternative materials, sculpture, installation and more commonly new technologies and media.
• Drawing skills are emphasised, although styles of drawing and interpretations continue to allow for creative individuality
• Focus on the ongoing development of personal ideas, concepts and techniques needs to be evidenced throughout (usually, but not exclusively in the form of sketchbooks). The iterative process of problem solving is encouraged and results in the higher-grade awards.
• A written personal study dealing with the exploration of historical and contemporary references involving first-hand investigation through visits to Art Galleries and Museums (2000 – 3000 words).

The second A Level unit the ‘Externally set task’ has a pre-release paper in February of Year 13 and concludes with a 15-hour examination in April of Year 13. This unit is worth 40% of the final qualification and the candidate will need to evidence work across all 4 assessment objectives.

Future Opportunities

The power of the knowledge economy and the European Union’s assertion that they will be the world leaders in creative thinking by the mid part of the next decade, means that the study of art is becoming more widely recognised as the ideal complementary subject link to core subjects such as Maths and The Sciences. Add to this the UK’s own employment targets around the Creative Industries and there really has never been a better time to study Art as a preparation for developing a wide and varied vocational skill set.

The study of Art is an ideal pathway in to a range of creative industries including Architecture, Education, Graphic Design, Advertising, Fashion and Film & TV, not to mention the Leisure and Tourism industries, National Heritage and of course the broad spectrum of the arts!

Due to the increasing academic rigour of Art A Level, it is now also considered a viable subject to support entry to a range of other courses including Medicine, Engineering and Law.

Is there anything else I should know?

The Art Department have high expectations of its’ A Level students, with a history of excellent results and as such Art should not be seen as the ‘easy option’ for study at A Level. Any past student will assert the fact that they spend more undirected time in the study of the Art A Level than in any subject area. Aside from the very real notion that coursework is demanding and deadlines tight, it is in the world around them that they begin to identify that their Art A Level is a rolling programme that they begin to identify in all areas of their life.

A successful art student is self-motivated and disciplined, able to work on directed tasks unmonitored and at a brisk pace. A successful art student gradually learns to see the world in a different way and increasingly begins to identify the artistry and creativity across all areas of their study. Aside from the regular gallery visits and opportunities to work with visiting professional practitioners, the department offers two residential weekend workshops in Menai during the two years. There is also the opportunity to apply for a Gifted and Talented European Cultural visit during the course (offered by Edsencial and usually visiting Tuscany).

In essence, by undertaking Art A Level you are demonstrating a commitment to the conceptual and visual arts. This may represent a direct career route or as a complementary skill to another subject or in the sheer pleasure of contributing to the ongoing cultural aesthetic of the nation.

Course Entry Guidelines

Candidates would usually need a good outcome at GCSE to indicate suitability for the course, ideally a grade 6 or better.

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