GCSE Art & Design

This is a broad course exploring practical, critical and contextual work through a range of 2D and/or 3D processes and new media and technologies.  This course is made up of two separate units across years 9, 10 and 11.

Unit 1 Portfolio of Work

Supporting Unit

• Completed throughout Year 9

• Students are given the opportunity to experiment and develop their skills in a wide variety of techniques, media and materials through a series of workshops and tasks

• Will develop drawing skills, critical understanding, use of materials and experimental techniques

• Materials and techniques are inspired and supported by research of a range of contemporary and historial artists and makers

Portfolio Unit – ‘Identity’

• To demonstrate that students can sustain work from an initial starting point to the realisation of intentions

• Includes evidence of research, the development of ideas and meaningful links with critical and contextual sources.  

• The theme of Identity is very wide ranging and allows all students to be able to find a relevant starting point to take their work forward.

• The use of a sketchbook throughout the ‘Portfolio of Work’ unit allows students to experiment with ideas and materials, using their book for recording changes to their ideas, composition ideas, artists references and experiments with techniques.

Unit 2 Externally Set Task (Exam)

• This unit is externally set by the exam board

• Students will further develop the skills they have acquired through Unit 1 choosing another theme from the exam paper to create a body of work.

Throughout both units, students are encouraged to evidence the relationship between process and outcome, reflect on and evaluate their experimentation process and research and visit galleries and museum to inform their own work. Students can explore any number of methods and materials such as photography, video/film, animation, installation, ceramic forms, sculptures, mixed media, printing, textiles, drawing and painting.