Available Courses

A level Art

Studying Art and Design gives students the ability to express themselves visually through a variety of creative techniques and processes. Learning how to understand, interpret, appreciate and create works of art is essential in order for us to enjoy our surroundings and enhance them for future generations.

AS/A2 Art and Design gives students the opportunity to practice, develop and refine their skills in Art and Design in both 2 and 3 dimensions. Each year of the course is made up of 2 units. For AS level, Unit 1 is the development of a portfolio of work showing in depth investigation. This is covered through an experimental project where students are introduced to a wide range of traditional and non-traditional media and techniques and a more focussed project based on a visit to the annual Great North Art Show in Ripon. Unit 2 is an externally set exam where students are given a theme to investigate, producing research, critical work and development in a six week period leading up to a 5 hour exam in which a final work in progress is to be produced.

For A2, Unit 3 is the development of a more personalised and in-depth theme of study which must include an accompanying 1000 word s focussing on explaining your thought processes and developments as your work progresses. This year students have begun by investigating the urban environment which they have then developed individually leading onto, for example, in depth explorations of “sculpture, installations, pavements and litter”, “the draw of gang culture”, “split personalities” and “the universe”. Unit 4 is another externally set exam, exactly like Unit 2 but this time the exam last 15 hours.

AS / A2 Art and Design is a demanding course requiring perseverance to not only develop new skills and techniques but to also refine them, become confident and use them to create new, individual and exciting or thought provoking art works. Students need to have an open mind, be creative, experimental and have a flair for and love of art with a view to developing these skills further in order to access and be successful in their art studies in higher education.

To achieve the full A-level it is a two year course assessed through coursework and exams.

Entry requirements

Level 2 qualifications (5 + A* - C at GCSE) including a good pass in English and Maths and ideally students need to achieve at least a C grade in GCSE Art and Design or Product Design .

Careers / Destinations

Completion of the A level will give you access to higher education to study for careers in the following fields - :

Architect, Art Historian, Curator, Fashion Designer, Textiles Designer, Photographer, Ceramicist, Teacher, Media Industry, Artist, Games Designer, Product Designer.