Why study A level art?
Whether you aspire to be a professional artist or designer, or you simply enjoy being creative, this course will enable you to develop the skills to interpret and convey your ideas and feelings using visual imagery. It will develop your imaginative and creative powers alongside your experimental, analytical and documenting skills.
Your knowledge and understanding of artistic styles will inspire and inform the progression of your own work. You will be given opportunities to explore a diverse range of materials and techniques such as painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed media, printmaking, textiles, photography, digital work, animation and video installation.
Course type: A level
Board: AQA
Head of department: Mrs H O’Hara
Entry requirement: Grade 6 GCSE in art. Five grade 5s at GCSE including English and
maths
Course structure
| Component | Content | Assessment |
| Year 12: Portfolio development | Develop work from a variety of themes and starting points. Gain experience in media including painting, drawing, 3D/clay, mixed media, digital, and textiles. Includes a gallery visit for research and inspiration. | Formative assessment – portfolio building |
| Year 13: Personal investigation | A sustained project on a theme of your choice, building on skills from the first year. In-depth development and final outcomes required. | Practical work and a written element (60%) |
| Year 13: Externally set assignment | Theme chosen from exam board paper at start of February in Year 13. 10-week research and development period followed by a 15-hour practical exam. | Final piece completed under exam conditions (40%) |
Mediums covered
- Photography
- Painting
- Mixed media
- Printing
- Collage
- Pyrography
- Digital art
- Batik
- Fabric manipulation
- Clay work sculpture
- Casting
