A Level Art, Craft and Design

A Level Art, Craft and Design

Exam Board AQA

Art is a unique subject and way of studying that can lead to a broad range of careers in the creative industries. It also helps to develop skills and competencies that employers look for, such as innovation, independence, open mindedness and resilience.

This is a broad course that enables students to work in a variety of art disciplines and mix them together in their work. You have to study and produce work in at least 2 areas of Art, Craft and Design. These could be Fine Art (drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media and experimental forms of art), Graphic Communication (illustration, digital techniques, photography, typography and animation) and Three Dimensional Design (ceramics, sculpture and other forms of 3D creative work.)

Students will be introduced to a variety of experiences employing a range of media, processes and techniques. Year 12 is based on experimentation with new media, improving your practical, research and analytical skills, exploring themes and developing exciting and original responses. You will build a portfolio of work and find out what you enjoy, and what you’d like to explore through your Personal Investigation (Component 1)

In the summer term, you will begin the Personal Investigation, a creative journey of your own choice. You will identify a theme, issue, concept or idea to fully explore through practical experimentation, eventually focussing to produce your own original outcome/s and artistic responses. There will be a 1000-3000 word essay to support your practical studies.

The Personal Investigation continues into Y13.

Component 2 is an externally set assignment that will take place from February until May in Y13, giving you a choice of interesting starting points.

:Each component is internally marked. AQA moderators will then visit to check the marks are in line with national standards. Throughout the course you will receive individual tutorials, group tutorials and teacher reviews.

• Component 1: Personal Investigation (60% of A Level)

Portfolio of Art, Craft & Design work, practically investigating a chosen theme or idea, supported by essay

• Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (40% of A Level)

Preparatory period plus 15 hours supervised time

Students undertaking this course will be expected to have gained normal entry requirements plus at least a GCSE grade 5 or a BTEC L2 Merit in an Art and Design subject.

Art helps develop skills that all employers look for, such as creativity and problem solving, but there is a wide range of careers that studying Art can lead to. Examples include working within any design field (eg graphic design, fashion design, games design, architecture, urban design), film and television, advertising, theatre and events, animation, illustration, working with people (eg therapy or teaching) or being an art or craft practitioner.

This course is an ideal choice for students wishing to progress to Art related courses in further/higher education.