Head of Department: Mr Richard Parkin
Exam Board: Eduqas
Through expressive and theoretical studies, A Level Art and Design leads to a fuller understanding of the visual arts. Emphasis is put on the importance of recording the creative process. This is done through creative experimentation with media and processes, as well as keeping a work journal which tracks the development of ideas.
The course encourages experimentation in Year 12 and is full of practical workshops. This enables students to demonstrate an understanding of past and contemporary art and design practice. Year 13 builds on these skills as students specialise and focus on a personal theme.
The art course consists of two units: coursework, which carries 60% of the final mark, and an exam paper worth the remaining 40%. Each unit is assessed using four assessment objectives which evaluate the development of ideas and processes informed by research into other artists, material experimentation, recording (written, drawn and photographed) and a personal and meaningful response that draws together all their learning.
As a school we pride ourselves on not having a ‘house style’. Each student is encouraged to explore their own creative voice and to experiment with a wide range of exciting materials and processes. Students also experience art first-hand by visiting galleries and working with visiting artists.
Fine Art
Year 12 consists of a series of workshops into a wide range of activities, such as printmaking, drawing, portraiture, assemblage, mixed-media and landscape. The variety of outcomes helps students to understand where their skills and interests lie, in readiness for an independent unit in which they pursue a particular line of creative enquiry.
We improve students’ observational skills through imaginative tasks and stimulating processes that spark a passion for drawing. Students also have the opportunity to attend life drawing classes after school – a valuable and memorable experience that helps refine understanding of proportion, shape and form.
During the summer term students are introduced to the Year 13 Personal Portfolio Unit. They are free to choose their own influences through artists research, gallery visits and open studios and to refine and develop their creative outcomes supported by sophisticated critical and contextual understanding.
Photography
Year 12 is a skills-building opportunity, in which students embark on a series of short practical projects to develop their understanding of photography, particularly the creative use of manual camera settings. They also learn about off camera flash lighting using our purpose made photography studio space. Digital creativity using industry standard Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes Photoshop and Lightroom, also forms a large part of the course and helps students explore exciting creative outcomes inspired by contemporary Art Photography practice.
In the Lent Term they begin an independent project in which they have an opportunity to direct their own creative practice through the study of contemporary photographers, which leads to a series of imaginative experiments. This work sits on a solid foundation of strong practical skills and encourages creative risk-taking.
During the summer term students are introduced to the Year 13 Personal Portfolio Unit. They are free to choose their own influences through research, gallery visits and open studios. They go on to develop and refine imaginative and ambitious personal outcomes supported by in-depth critical and contextual understanding.
Textile Design
Year 12 is a skills-building opportunity, in which students will embark on a series of short projects to develop their understanding of textile techniques and processes. Students will learn to create printed fabrics using traditional and digital design processes. They will also design and make fashion garments, using a wide variety of exciting fabric manipulation techniques such as free machine embroidery, embellishment, shabori, applique, weaving and fibre art.
In the Lent Term they will start an independent project in which they will have the opportunity to steer their own creative journey through the analysis of contemporary art and fashion textile practices that will inspire a series of imaginative experiments. This work sits on a solid foundation of strong practical ability and creative risk-taking.
During the summer term students are introduced to the Year 13 Personal Portfolio Unit. They are free to choose their own influences through artists research, gallery visits and open studios. They will refine and develop their creative outcomes supported by in-depth critical and contextual understanding.
Exam Results
The average of the A Level results in Art over the most recent three year period (2023, 2022, 2021) is:
| A* | 44% |
| A* – A | 64% |
| A* – B | 87% |
