KS4
The Art and Photography GCSE results are consistently high and many students continue with their studies at Post 16 level. Students following these courses are encouraged to develop their own style and are introduced to a wide range of skills and processes to enable them to achieve their potential.
Students taking Art and/or Photography GCSE complete a portfolio of course work which makes up 60% of the total mark. The final coursework deadline is just after February half-term. The final exam usually takes place early in the Summer Term and involves a period of extended preparation and research followed by 10 hours over two days in the Art rooms to complete the final outcomes.
GCSE Art & Design
It is important to consider GCSE Art & Design as an option if you are interested in pursuing a career in the arts, for example architecture, interior design, graphics, illustration and digital media and computer game design. This is a broad course which gives students the opportunity to explore a range of practical skills through a range of two and three dimensional processes and new media and technologies. Students can use a wide range of materials and processes in the development of their ideas, including painting, drawing, sculpture, textiles, printmaking and photography and study the work of other artists, both historical and contemporary. There is also the opportunity for students to focus on certain media, for example they could specialise in Textiles or Fine Art.
The work produced will be marked using the following Assessment Objectives:
Developing ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.
Refining work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.
Recording ideas, observations and insights relevant to your intentions as work progresses.
Presenting a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.
The course consists of: Unit 1: Portfolio of Work (60%) This work is internally set and assessed. Students explore a range of media and processes on a theme and record ideas and all preparatory work in sketchbooks.
This work starts at the beginning of Year 10 and the final deadline is February half-term of Year 11. This portfolio of work will show explicit coverage of the four assessment objectives. It will include a sustained project evidencing the journey from initial engagement to the realisation of intentions and a selection of further work undertaken during the student’s course of study.
Students would need to supply a sketchbook and would benefit from purchasing some basic art materials to use outside school as well as an A1 folder, however this is optional. Unit 2: Externally-Set Task (40%) Students respond to their chosen starting point to produce a personal response. They will have preparation time followed by 10 hours under examination conditions.
Students respond to their chosen starting point from an externally set assignment paper relating to their subject title, evidencing coverage of all four assessment objectives. 16 Many of our students progress to A Level and BTEC Art courses and continue to study at degree level, securing employment in creative industries such as fashion and set design, interior and landscape design.
we follow the AQA Art and Design specification. To find out more click here.