Art and Design (Fine Art), A Level

Students should ensure that they meet the entry requirements for the courses they are applying for (available on subject pages) as well as the overall entry requirements (5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, including Grade 4 Maths, plus Grade 5 English Language. A Grade 5 in English Literature can be accepted instead where a Grade 4 has been achieved in English Language.)

Students need to choose a minimum of three subjects to study, with a maximum of one subject per option block. Please note that all of our BTEC courses are single BTEC's and equivalent to one A Level, you will need to choose two further subjects if choosing a BTEC course.

Please ensure you have put contact details for yourself and a parent should we need to contact you.

Our department offers an exciting and wide-ranging A-Level Art experience, designed to inspire creativity while maintaining a strong academic foundation. Students work across a variety of media, including painting, printmaking, mixed media, photography and film, as well as textiles, ceramics and digital processes using iPads. Opportunities to create ambitious large-scale sculptures and installations further enrich the course.

This breadth of experience helps students develop strong technical skills alongside creative confidence. Our experienced staff bring expertise across a wide range of disciplines, including painting, ceramics, sculpture, textiles, jewellery design and photography. With backgrounds in the creative industries and a strong understanding of conceptual art and art history, they guide students in developing both practical work and critical thinking to achieve excellent outcomes.

Throughout the course, students benefit from opportunities to work directly with visiting artists across a range of disciplines, including oil painting and free machine sewing, enriching their practical skills and creative perspectives.

In addition, art trips ranging from sketch crawls to life drawing sessions provide valuable opportunities to explore new approaches and environments. There are also exciting opportunities for international visits in both Year 12 and Year 13, with trips alternating between Paris and Brussels.

The first half of the course is structured around two complementary strands: a workshop-based project and a more personal, independent project, culminating in either a concertina or canvas outcome. During this time, students develop essential skills, experiment with a wide range of materials and begin to understand what it means to work as an artist or designer.

Students will:

• Explore a broad range of techniques, materials and processes
• Develop their ability to generate, refine and communicate ideas
• Take part in a mix of trips and workshops to support and inform their work
• Learn to take personal direction and develop agency over their creative practice
• Participate in 1–2–1 coaching tutorials with teachers to support progress
• Develop an understanding of the AQA Assessment Objectives and how to apply them effectively
• Begin to understand and use a process-based approach to making work
• Learn how to work like an artist, including planning, managing time and working both within and beyond lessons

In the latter part of Year 12 and into Year 13, students begin their Personal Investigation project. This is an independently led project that enables students to explore a theme of personal interest in depth, resulting in a substantial portfolio supported by a written element of 1,000–3,000 words.

The second project in Y13 is the Externally Set Assignment, introduced in February of Year 13. Students respond to a starting point set by AQA and develop a final outcome under exam conditions.

There are two components to the course. Component 1 consists of one project, a Personal Investigation, which makes up 60% of your mark and Component 2, which is an externally set assignment worth 40% of the final mark and starts in February of Y13, taking you to the end of the course.

All work is assessed against the four AQA Assessment Objectives. For full details, please refer to the official AQA specification: AQA A-Level Art & Design Specification [aqa.org.uk]

Homework is set regularly and is an essential part of the course. These tasks are designed to build research, develop ideas and contribute directly to project work, ensuring that all assessment objectives are covered thoroughly.

Feedback is provided regularly, both verbally and in writing, to support ongoing reflection and development. Our approach focuses on coaching students to take ownership of their work, encouraging independence, critical thinking and personal direction. Alongside this, structured group critiques allow students to discuss ideas, receive peer feedback and further refine their practice.

The course is assessed through two components:

• Component 1: Personal Investigation (60%)
• Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (40%), beginning in February of Year 13

• Grade 4 or above in GCSE Art and Design

You need to be predicted and achieve all the grades listed above in order to undertake this subject.

Studying A-Level Art equips students with a highly valuable and transferable skill set. Many of our students progress to leading creative universities, while others successfully pursue a wide range of academic and professional pathways and competitive fields.

By the end of the course, students will have developed:

• Creativity, originality and confidence in their work
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• The ability to think critically, independently and conceptually
• Excellent research and investigative skills
• Time management and the ability to plan and meet deadlines
• Resilience and the confidence to take creative risks
• Visual communication and presentation skills
• The ability to reflect, evaluate and refine their work
• A comprehensive and highly personal portfolio

These skills are increasingly valued by universities and employers, supporting progression into both creative industries and a wide range of other professional careers.

Possible progression routes following A-Level Art are wide-ranging and flexible, supporting both specialist creative study and broader academic pathways. These include:

• Art Foundation courses, providing a strong platform for progression to university-level study
• Degrees in fine art, fashion, textiles, architecture, graphic design, game design, 3D design and ceramics
• Creative and industry-related courses such as illustration, animation, digital media and photography
• Related degrees in marketing, PR, business and other fields where creativity, problem-solving and visual communication are highly valued

This course opens doors to both creative and non-creative pathways, equipping students with a versatile skill set that supports success across a wide range of higher education options and careers.

Career pathways following A-Level Art are diverse and can lead into a wide range of creative and professional industries, including:

• Fashion and textile design
• Marketing, branding, advertising, visual merchandising
• Gallery and museum curator or educator, arts conservation and restoration
• Film, television, animation and media production
• Architecture, interior design, spatial design and set/theatre design
• Illustration, graphic design, digital media and publishing
• Professional artist and the wider creative industries
• Game Artist / Developer, VR/AR Design, Motion Graphics & VFX Artist and Web & Digital Content Design
• Teaching and lecturing
• Art therapy and community arts work

This course not only provides a strong academic qualification but also supports students in developing their individual creative identity. Within a supportive and ambitious environment, students build confidence, independence and a professional approach to their work, preparing them for both higher education and future careers across a wide range of fields.