Art & Design - BTEC National - Diplomas

Art & Design - BTEC National - Diplomas

What are the main features of this course?
The BTEC National Certificate and the BTEC National Diploma prepare students for either employment in the art and design field or for progress to higher education. The BTEC National Diploma is a 2 year course and is equivalent to 3 A Levels. It consists of 18 units, 8 compulsary and 10 optional units.
The compulsory units include:

• Visual recording in Art and Design, which develops drawing and painting skills through direct observation work;
• Contextual references in Art and Design, which explores the work of historical and contemporary artists and designers;
• Experiment with a variety of assignment materials and techniques in 2D and 3D;
• Students learning how to analyse briefs and to solve problems in order to communicate ideas in visual form.

The optional units enable the student to explore particular areas of art and design that they may wish to study at a higher level eg. Printmaking, Painting, Sculpture, Fashion & Textiles, Photography, 3D Design Crafts.
In the second year, students work with negotiated projects which gives them the opportunity to set their own brief and to work in their chosen specialism.

Hours of Lessons per week: Diploma - 17
Indicative Group Size: 15

How is the course assessed?
Each unit is assessed through coursework assignments and work is assessed internally and verified externally by the examination board.

Who should study this course?
Students who have a BTEC First in Art & Design with 3 merits or above, or 5 grade Cs at GCSE level, including one in a creative subject.

Where can I go next?
Into Higher Education to study for a degree in the field of Art and Design, or into employment.

Exam Board:
EDEXCEL