Art and Design A Level

Please make sure you have checked the entry requirements before submitting your application. Please also be aware that we use an Attainment 8 requirement for students choosing to do Science and Maths subjects. This is explained further on our website: https://www.taptonschool.co.uk/page/?title=Subjects&pid=69

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Students are able to grow as artists and designers, achieving excellent results which have been sustained over time. We work hard to ensure you get the best result you are capable of, and ensure you have a rigorous learning experience. “Come and join us and see what you can do!” Students regularly progress onto Architecture, Art, Fashion and Design etc. at the best universities and colleges; including Russell Group Universities.

5 periods per week in Y12, 5 periods in Y13, 3 teachers offering a range of art and design specialisms.

Main Syllabus Area

Skills Workshops:

Fine Art: Drawing and painting using a range of techniques and styles. You will use a range of mediums, including oil, chalk pastel, charcoal, pencil, acrylics, mono-printing, etching, water colours.

Textiles: Batik, screen-printing, felt-making, silk painting, weaving, free machine embroidery.

Sculpture: Clay, card, wire construction, plaster.

ICT: use of Adobe Photoshop, digital camera.

Design: Aspects of design e.g. architecture, graphics, text, posters, packaging, related ICT.

Research: As part of the programme of study, students must research and learn from investigations into the work of other artists, crafts persons and designers.

COMPONENT 1: Personal Investigation: 60% of marks: This is a practical investigation supported by written material. Students are required to produce in depth investigations into an idea, issue, theme or concept of their choosing. This will be supported by a written response of 3000 words max of continuous prose.

COMPONENT 2: Externally set Examination: 40% of marks: Set by the board, a series of starting points distributed 1 February. A lead-in or preparation time, followed by a supervised exam of 15 hours where students work unaided to produce a finished outcome. Preparation work must stop at the beginning of the first session and be stored securely with the exam officer between exam sessions.

Students at Tapton invariably follow a very individual course of study, using the initial workshops to extend, develop skills and techniques, and support the development of idea. Contextual studies are at the core of our teaching in a very practical way.

We encourage all students to visit galleries, and offer trips to Derbyshire, London or Liverpool to visit Tate Britain and Tate Modern or Tate Liverpool; and a residential trip to Paris in Y12 where we visit 5 major galleries including the Louvre, the Pompidou Centre, the Musee D’Orsay, L’Orangerie; and also Monet’s legendary garden at Giverny. Students are able to develop work from this trip to support Component 1 as well as build wider contextual and cultural understanding.

Qualities Required

You are enthusiastic, open-minded and willing to learn new skills and techniques. You are inquisitive and enjoy looking at Art work from all periods and styles. You enjoy working as part of a group, but can work independently. You are determined and will work to ensure you succeed. You understand the need for resilience and want to learn.

Links with other subjects

Art involves many transferable skills, not least problem solving, communicating ideas and concepts, developing creative ideas, refining and testing ideas and realising those ideas.

Extension and Enrichment Opportunities

The Art department is open to students every evening after school, free classrooms are also available for Sixth Form students during the day.

Support learning in Lower School Art Classes, produce costume/ props/ sets for school productions, help at Art Club. There may also be other Enrichment Opportunities, producing costumes and sets, working with visiting artists, community days, visiting Art Galleries in Paris and London. There’s always something going on - come and join in!

Throughout the course students will take part in peer-group and self assessment in order to familiarise themselves with the Assessment Objectives, and become more objective in their skills of critique.

Staff review work with students on a one-to-one basis regularly, giving support, feedback, and set targets for improvement and progression.

Both units are internally assessed at the end of the course, and marks are moderated by a visiting assessor from AQA.

5 in Art and Design or a visual portfolio demonstrating art work of a GCSE grade 5 standard

Tapton School's minimum entry requirements for all students: Grade 5 in English Language; Grade 4 in Mathematics and three other GCSEs at grade 4 and above.

Consider the world you live in. So much has been through the hands of someone trained in one of the numerous areas of Art & Design. It offers many areas of employment and is growing, from Architecture to Fashion, Product Design or Interior Design, Textile Design, Theatre and Stage Design, Makeup, Advertising, Film, the list is long and growing.