Art & Design

Course overview
A-level Art and Design provides students with opportunities to develop personal responses to ideas, observations, experiences, environments and cultures in practical, critical and contextual forms. This four-unit specification, two at AS level and two at A2, requires students to develop their ability to show a range of skills. We offer six endorsements for this qualification: Art, Craft and Design; Fine Art; Graphic Communication; Textile Design; Three-Dimensional Design; Photography (lens and light based media). There are two externally set tasks which account for 50 per cent of the qualification. The tasks are set by AQA, marked by the school or college and moderated by AQA. Students choose one of the titles below for study. They can choose the same or different titles for AS and A-level. The contents of your portfolio will be determined by the nature of the course of study:Art, Craft and Design - Students should produce practical and critical/contextual work associated with two or more of the endorsements below.Fine Art - Students should produce practical and critical/contextual work in one or more areas including painting, drawing, mixed-media, sculpture, land art, installation, printmaking, film, animation, television, video and photography: lens-based and/or light-based media.Graphic Communication - Students should produce practical and critical/contextual work in one or more areas including illustration, advertising, packaging design, design for print, communication graphics, computer graphics, multimedia, animation, web design, film, television and/or video.Textile Design - Students should produce practical and critical/contextual work in one or more areas including fashion, printed and/or dyed fabrics and materials, domestic textiles, wallpaper, interior design, constructed textiles and installed textiles.Three-Dimensional Design - Students should produce practical and critical/contextual work in one or more areas including ceramics, sculpture, jewellery, body ornament, exhibition design, design for theatre, television and film, interior design, product design, environmental design and architectural design.Photography: lens-based and light-based media - Students should produce practical and critical/contextual work in one or more areas including portraiture, landscape photography, still-life photography, documentary photography, photo-journalism, experimental imagery, photographic installation, video, television and filmHow to develop ideas from workbook to finished art work; improve drawing and painting skills with some opportunities to work in other media. You will also be asked to develop problem solving skills and a portfolio of your own work
Methods of assessment
AS - There is synoptic assessment in both components of the AS that provide stretch and challenge opportunities for students. In Component 1, students produce an extended collection of work that exemplifies aspects of their developing knowledge, skills and understanding. It should provide evidence of research, the development of ideas, making skills and critical/contextual understanding. It should demonstrate the student’s ability to sustain work from an initial starting point to a realization. In Component 2, students respond to a stimulus, provided by AQA, to produce work which provides evidence of their ability to research and develop ideas and to make clear the link between their own and others’ work within specified time constraints.
A-level - There is synoptic assessment in both components of the A-level that provide stretch and challenge opportunities for students. In Component 1, students develop work based on an idea, issue, concept or theme leading to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes. Practical elements should make connections with some aspect of contemporary or past practice of artist(s), designer(s), photographers or craftspeople and include written work of no less than 1000 and no more than 3000 words which supports the practical work. In Component 2, students respond to a stimulus, provided by AQA, to produce work which provides evidence of their ability to work independently within specified time constraints, developing a personal and meaningful response which addresses all the assessment objectives and leads to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes.
Who is this course for?
Ideally you will be achieving at least 25 points/ 5 x 5 points or above/A*-C grades at GCSE including maths and English and at least a C but preferably better in Art. You must also have an ability for work hard and a desire to develop skills and ideas. Over the duration of the course you must have the ability to work independently to a formal structure with tutor guidance and support.
What other experience will I gain?
Being part of Chesterfield College Sixth Form is so much more than A Levels. We want you to leave us with as many skills as possible to help you with you next step (as well as making your time here fun). That's why you'll also get the opportunity to take part in competitions, maths club, debate society, science club, Duke of Edinburgh, Young Enterprise and yoga classes - as well as all the other college wide teams and activities. All year 1 students take AS General Studies, it is valuable because you pick up skills and knowledge that can be used in ALL your other subjects. For students who wish to then the full A-Level is available in year 2. You will discuss (not study): Culture and Society; including discussions on beliefs, values, ideologies and how these shape cultures AND Science and Society; including discussions on how science and society interact. AS-Level Further Maths is available in year 2 for students who wish to pursue a career where mathematical excellence is required. At the time of going to press the following additions to the A-Level offer is being considered, this would be a creative pathway which may include the following A-levels - Art & Design /Film Studies/Drama &Theatre/Textiles - contact us for updates.