Art and Design

Exam Board - AQA

Course Content

This course takes an adventurous and an enquiring approach to art and design.  Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of past and contemporary art and design practice and be able to produce artwork that embraces a range of ideas.  The course is structured on two units for the full A-level certificate. The first term of Year 12 will act as a period to develop skill base and be challenged with media and briefs that may fall outside of the students comfort zone, ultimately encouraging progress, confidence and higher level thinking. The final two terms of Year 12 see students begin their personal investigations (Component 1). This supports students in developing their individual style and beneficially provides a slightly longer time period to decide on a personal focus. Sketchbook, mount boards and final pieces are completed over the year that will be submitted for the A-Level coursework unit.

Year 12	First year of A-level course			ART, CRAFT & DESIGN	GRAPHICS
		Component 1 (Most of the work completed will be submitted towards the 60% of A- level)	Coursework	1 (or more) sketch book A1/A2 Mount boards Studies experimenting with  different materials and techniques such as painterly, photographic, sculptural and print. 3 or more resolved pieces across a range of media.	1 (or more) sketch book A1/A2 Mount boards Studies experimenting with different materials and techniques such as Photoshop, Illustrator, gouache paint, Ink work, photographic and print. 3 or more resolved pieces across a range of media.
		Component 1	Teacher set examination  period	Pupils responding to centre set theme 10 hour test piece 2 resolved  pieces, 1 in test time	Year 12 Component 1 (Teacher set exam period) - Pupils respond to chosen personal theme. 10 hour test piece 2 resolved pieces, 1 in test time
Year 13	A-level	Component 1 60% of A-level	Coursework - Critical  Investigation	Study of a chosen area with practical outcomes. 1 written response in either book, folder or typed in essay format that supports a personal project documented in 1 or 2 sketchbooks – minimum of 1000 words. 3 or more resolved pieces.	Study of a chosen area with practical outcomes. 1 written response in either book, folder or typed in essay format that supports a personal project documented in 1 or 2 sketchbooks – minimum of 1000 words. 3 or more resolved pieces.
		Component 2 40% of A-level	Examination/Work	Externally set theme 15 hour test piece 3 resolved pieces, 1 in test time	Externally set theme 15 hour test piece 3 resolved pieces, 1 in test  Time all presented on A1 boards

 

Methods of Assessment

Year 12 Component 1 will be internally set and marked, with staff assessing outcomes against national standards for the examination board; this will result in a department awarded grade.  Year 13 Component 1 will be internally set and marked, then externally moderated.  Year 13 Component 2 is externally set, internally marked and externally moderated.

In May/early June of each course year, students will need to present units for internal (Yr12) or external (Yr13) moderation.  This will take the form of an exhibition.  Each student will be allocated one or two panels of display screen and a table.

Both components must be submitted for Year 12 and both components for the A-level.  (The exam piece and supporting work and the complete coursework units).

Assessment is based on the ability to:

• Develop ideas through sustained investigations and exploration

• Analyse and evaluate critically, showing understanding of purpose meanings and contexts

• Record in an appropriate manner

• Present a resolved response which realises intentions

The four assessment objectives above are the same for both years.  The written investigation element assesses pupil’s written communication, use of specialist terminology and ability to express ideas fluently.

Other Information

Students need to visit galleries, museums and art centres regularly to inform their research and knowledge.  A wealth of knowledge can be acquired from the media.  A constant awareness of, and an interest in visual Information, will be helpful and stimulating to the development of coursework.  A gradual collection of art equipment is essential to create breadth to the range of work undertaken.

Entry Requirements

GCSE 6 Art, 6 Graphic Communication, 6 Photography