A Level Fine Art

In the Art department we offer 2 A Level courses:

• Art & Design: Fine Art
• Photography

A-Level Art & Design: Fine Art 

The full A level in Art & Design: Fine Art is a 2-year course with 1 Externally Set Assignment (exam) at the end of the second year.

This course is for students who want to study Art to a higher level and is ideal for those who want to go on to study an Art related course at University.

The A level course is made up of two components that stretch across the 2 years:

Component 1 – Personal investigation (60%)

1. Practical work

The Personal Investigation is an extended practical project based on a personal response to a theme or starting point. Students will generate ideas and experiment how to express them through a variety of materials and processes. They will develop and refine their ideas through experimentation and research into different techniques, styles of art and the work of other artists.

2. Personal study

This is a separate piece of critical and analytical writing (1000 words) making links to the student’s own Personal Investigation, and supported by artists research and references. Through the personal study, students will demonstrate understanding of relevant social, cultural and historical sources. Students will also express personal interpretations or conclusions and use technical and specialist vocabulary.

Component 2 – Externally Set Assignment (40%)

This is an externally set assignment from the exam board. Students will produce another practical project in the same manner as their Personal Investigation, developing their skills to a higher level in response to a starting point set out in the exam paper.

Students will be expected to submit all their preparatory studies (sketchbook work) and an outcome that will be completed in a Controlled Assessment (15 hours).