Art

The Art and Design Fine Art and Photography A Level course is designed to:

• Introduce students to a variety of experiences that employ a range of traditional and new media, processes, and techniques appropriate to the chosen areas of study. Knowledge of art, craft and design should be developed through research, the development of ideas and making, working from first-hand experience and, where appropriate, secondary source materials.
• Encourage students to participate actively in their course of study, recognising and developing their own strengths in the subject and identifying and sustaining their own lines of enquiry.

The Fine Art and Photography course is designed to develop students’ skills in practical and theoretical knowledge and understanding of:

• Relevant materials, processes, technologies, and resources
• How ideas, feelings and meanings can be conveyed and interpreted in images and artefacts
• How images and artefacts relate to the time and place in which they were made and to their social and cultural contexts
• Continuity and change in different genres, styles, and traditions
• A working vocabulary and specialist terminology.
• Record experiences and observations, in a variety of ways using drawing or other appropriate visual forms; undertake research; and gather, select, and organise visual and other appropriate information
• Explore relevant resources; analyse, discuss, and evaluate images, objects and artefacts; and make and record independent judgements
• Use knowledge and understanding of the work of others to develop and extend thinking and inform own work
• Generate and explore potential lines of enquiry using appropriate media and techniques
• Apply knowledge and understanding in making images and artefacts; review and modify work; and plan and develop ideas in the light of their own and others’ evaluations
• Organise, select and communicate ideas, solutions and responses, and present them in a range of visual, tactile and/or sensory forms.
• Students can work entirely in digital media or entirely in non-digital media, or in a mixture of both, provided the aims and assessment objectives are met.

A Level Art and Design is assessed from 2 components.

Component 1 is a practical investigation supported by written material.

Students are required to conduct a practical investigation, into an idea, issue, concept or theme, supported by written material. The focus of the investigation must be identified independently by the student and must lead to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes.

Component 2 is the externally set assignment, exam project. Concluding with a 15-hour exam, final piece.

The assessment objectives cover 4 areas:

AO1: Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.

AO2: Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.

AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.

AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.

Fine Art

• Students will produce practical and critical/contextual work in one or more areas of study, for example, drawing, painting, mixed media, including collage and assemblage, sculpture, ceramics, installation, printmaking, moving image (video, film, animation) and photography.
• Students will demonstrate skills, knowledge and understanding through Fine art. In addition, students will demonstrate skills in all the following:
• Appreciation of different approaches to recording images, such as observation, analysis, expression and imagination
• Understanding of the conventions of figurative/representational and abstract/non-representational imagery or genres
• Understanding of pictorial space, composition, rhythm, scale and structure

Students will show knowledge and understanding of:

• How ideas, feelings and meanings can be conveyed and interpreted in images and artefacts in fine art
• Historical and contemporary developments and different styles and genres
• How images and artefacts relate to social, environmental, cultural and/or ethical contexts, and to the time and place in which they were created
• A working vocabulary and specialist terminology of fine art.

Photography

Students will produce practical and critical/contextual work in one or more areas of study, for example, portraiture, landscape photography, still life photography, documentary photography, photojournalism, fashion photography, experimental imagery, multimedia, photographic installation and moving image (video, film, animation).

Students will demonstrate skills, knowledge, understanding though photography. Students will be required to demonstrate skills in all the following:

• The ability to explore elements of visual language, line, form, colour, pattern and texture in the context of photography
• Awareness of intended audience or purpose for photography
• The ability to respond to an issue, theme, concept or idea, or work to a brief or answer a need in photography
• Appreciation of viewpoint, composition, aperture, depth of field, shutter speed and movement

Students will show knowledge and understanding of:

• Relevant materials, processes, technologies and resources
• How ideas, feelings and meanings can be conveyed and interpreted in images and artefacts created in photography
• Continuity and change in different styles, genres and traditions relevant to photography
• A working vocabulary and specialist terminology of photography.

By the end of Key Stage 5 

Students will have a complete portfolio of personal and meaningful artwork showing a range of highly technical skills and processes. Students will be able to reflect critically on their own work, and the work of other artists, craftspeople, and designers. Students will be able to work on a project or a piece for a sustained amount of time, understanding their own ability to produce work to a schedule on a larger scale. Students will have excellent understanding of composition and presentational skills working in sketchbooks, journals or digitally on Photoshop and PowerPoint.   

Students will be able to progress on to degree choosing an Art and Design course, creative course, or STEAM. They will have an expansive portfolio of work to support them confidently at interview.