A Level Art

Name of course

A Level Art, Craft and Design

Examining board

Edexcel (9AD0)

Course Entry Requirements

To study Art, Craft and Design you must have studied Art or Textiles at GCSE and obtained a Grade 6 [or photography for external applicants]

Why Art, Craft and Design?

If you are creative and enjoy problem solving, are interested in art, architecture, fashion, craft, culture, or design, then this is the subject for you. If you have not studied Art or Design at GCSE or equivalent you will need to provide a portfolio of work to demonstrate your current level of technical skill before you are accepted onto the course

Art, Craft and Design is an inspiring course that gives you the opportunity to develop skills in the field of Fine Art, Craft and Design. Exploring a wide range of practical techniques, learning about different artists and cultures, using your imagination and creating a personalised body of art works using various mediums are some of the skills you’ll experience and become accomplished in. The new syllabus has given us the opportunity to offer you a wider range of disciplines. Students will visit galleries and historic sites both in London and Europe including: Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam and Copenhagen to help broaden their understanding and knowledge of Art, Craft and Design. We also provide two Saturday life drawing and painting classes to ensure that the students get the formal form tuition required when applying for universities.

Course Content

GCE Art, Craft and Design (9AD0)

Component 1 (personal investigation + Practical and personal Study) : 60%

Personal investigation Coursework unit: 48%

• Skills based project (part 1): Term one comprises of 3 short projects which allow you to explore a wide range of materials and media  

• Personal investigation (part 2): Practical and Personal Study. This time is split into multiple elements of a large personal study and will include mock assessments                                     

Written element 12%:

• Practical and Personal Study (1000 - 3000 words) to be completed alongside your personal investigation

Component 2: 40%

• Externally set assessment will be released between 1st February – May

• Final exhibitions will go up in May/June curated by the students  

Assessment

Students are required to produce sufficient amounts of work in each element of the course to meet each of the 4 assessment objectives. The mark scheme for this will be shared, explained and referred to throughout the course.

• AO1 – Develop                     25%

• AO2 – Experiment                25%

• AO3 – Record                       25%

• AO4 – Present                      25%

Each component is marked out of 72 and then 18 marks are awarded for quality of written communication.

Where could this course lead to?

On average, around 80% of our Art Students have applied to study Art, Craft and Design -related courses and university degrees, with 100% of the students applying for Foundation and/or Degree places.

A common route is an application to the Art Foundation course (most students apply to Chelsea, Camber well or Central St Martins, University of the Arts London). They then go on to study degrees such as Architecture, Fine art, Textiles, Illustration, Art Therapist, game design, visual effects, set design, animation, fashion, interior design and Product design.

For further information on careers and possible routes in Art and Design students can visit the Art inspiration wall in room 11/ the art corridor or ask any of the members of the Art Team, useful web links for future careers can be found below.

http://www.insidejobs.com/articles/7-artistic-jobs-that-pay-well

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/arts-crafts-and-design

There are many websites which list hundreds of careers you can peruse, some may surprise you.

Suggested Reading and resources

Summer project:

If starting on the Art, Craft and Design course please complete the following in preparation for September;

During your summer break we would like you to complete the following and be prepared to present all that you observe/ fined during your first lesson in September.

1. Visit a minimum of two galleries; this can be done on the same day, in London or somewhere you are visiting over the holiday. Research anything that catches your eye and start to consider materials you would like to explore, movements, places, textures.  Think about the way that work has been curated in the spaces visited.
2. Collect post cards and photographs to support your gallery research. 
3. Write up practically or as part of a blog
4. Take photographs of anywhere you go, people you see, etc as these will help form the basis to your work in September.
5. Draw where you can

Good Luck and have fun exploring some of the new exhibitions in London and across the globe!

What our students say about studying Art

‘The strong and supportive community feeling within the art Department.’

‘You are given creative freedom to explore personal ideas and interests within the personal project.’

‘It has given me a greater sense of direction in terms of future prospects and careers, which suit my passions and I am provided with the support at SKS to discover what’s right for me.’

‘I am able to create and be creative both inside and outside lessons.’

‘I have been exposed to mediums I had not explored before arriving at SKS.’

‘it allows a seed of an idea to grow into a tree which allows you to see the world in a different light.’