Art & Design

It is our goal, within the Art & Design Department, to provide a stimulating and creative environment so our students can develop their intellectual, imaginative, creative and intuitive powers.

The scheme allows student to follow their own creative interests. It stimulates and challenges our students to realise their potential in a broad and relevant context.

Specification

This specification is made up of two units:

• Unit 1: The Core Portfolio (Controlled Assessment); and

• Unit 2: Working to a Stimulus. 

Students must complete both Unit 1 and Unit 2.

In Unit 1, which is worth 60 percent of the final award, students present a portfolio of work. In the portfolio they should explore a wide range of the core skills of visual language, media, materials, techniques and new technology. Work in the portfolio should:

• be edited to show the breadth, depth and quality of experience in art and design that students have gained over the two year course;

• show that students have experience of at least two different creative media;

• address each of the four Assessment Objectives; and

• include one task that has been developed to a final outcome.

The portfolio presented for assessment should not exceed 20 A2 sheets (or equivalent).

Unit 2 is worth 40 percent of the final award. It is assessed through an externally set exam called Working to a Stimulus. The exam gives students an opportunity to investigate and develop their ideas creatively in response to a stimulus paper. Each of the four Assessment Objectives should be addressed in the work presented for Unit 2.

The Unit 2 work presented for assessment should not exceed 10 A2 sheets (or equivalent) plus a final outcome.

In this revised specification for GCSE Art and Design, students are assessed against four assessment objectives. Students must:

AO1: develop their ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and cultural understanding;

AO2: refine their ideas through experimenting and selecting appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes;

AO3: record ideas, observations and insights relevant to their intentions in visual and/or other forms; and

AO4: present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating analytical and critical understanding, realising intentions and, where appropriate, making connections between visual, written, oral or other elements.

AS & A2 Art & Design

At AS level students will create a Coursework Portfolio (60%) followed by an Externally Set Assignment (40%).

Coursework Portfolio:

Investigation & First Hand

Students select their own Theme. Then they create first hand studies, working directly from chosen objects or from their own photographs, which are printed out.

Research & Experimentation:

Students research the work of Artists/Designers/Craft Workers who have inspired them. They show how they have been influenced by their chosen artist and use a range of materials and processes to experiment with. This allows them to develop their ideas, supported by the work of others. They will evaluate their decisions as they go along.

Development:

Students are given the opportunity to develop their ideas. These ideas are worked out on paper and/or as 3D pieces. Again students are encouraged to work independently, following their own creativity.

The revised GCE Art and Design specification is available at two levels: AS and A2. Students can take the AS course as a final qualification or as the first half of the A Level qualification. Students who wish to obtain a full A level qualification must also complete the second half of the course, which is referred to as A2.

The course is comprised of four units: two at AS level and two at A2 level. These are listed below:

AS 1: Coursework Portfolio              60%
AS 2: Externally Set Assignment       40%
A2 1: Personal Investigation             60%
A2 2: Externally Set Assignment       40%

Students are assessed against the four assessment objectives listed below:

Students must:

AO1: develop their ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding;

AO2: experiment with and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes reviewing and refining their ideas as their work develops;

AO3: record in visual and/or other forms, ideas, observations and insights relevant to their intentions, demonstrating an ability to reflect on their work and progress; and

AO4: present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating critical understanding, realising intentions and, where appropriate, making connections between visual, written, oral or other elements.