The creative industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK making it worth £100 billion generating around £10 million per hour. More and more companies are looking for creative employees to reinvent or change their image to a constantly demanding consumer market. The Art and Design A-level course gives students an opportunity to explore and refine their creative skills and create a professional portfolio of work in the process. Unlike other subjects areas, art students have the luxury of compiling a portfolio of their best work that can be used for university interviews or job interviews within the creative sector. We are specifically looking for students who are creative, independent, ambitious, dedicated and passionate about creating exciting artwork.
Subject content
In your first year you will commence working on your personal investigation that closely examines the work of other artists, but shows a clear development in your own personal style. The primary focus is to discover your skills and strengths through a variety of workshops and by studying the work of other practitioners. Your body of work will include in-depth development and exploration of ideas, through different medias and techniques before realising your intentions in a final piece. The personal investigation will be brought to a conclusion by January of your second year, with a supporting essay explaining the ideas concepts and artists behind your project.
From February, of your second year onwards, you will begin your exam. This will be an external set of questions set by the exam board, similar to GCSE, you will choose one question as a starting point and develop a body of work accordingly before starting your final piece. You will be given 15 hours to complete your final piece in exam conditions.
Learning methods
You will develop your art skills through specialist workshops, independent research and practical work in class or at home.
Assessment is 50% coursework and 50% exam.
Art is a versatile A-level choice and can support other options depending on your future career plans. Higher Education courses include fine art, graphic design, illustration, fashion design, textiles, computer games design, animation, architecture, landscape architecture, product design, ceramics, photography, creative writing, jewellery and metal work, film and media, art and design teaching, set design, performing arts and art history.