Art and Design

Art and Design

End of course exhibition
The year culminates in an end of course exhibition where you are given the opportunity to present a body of work that represents the creative journey that you have been on over the last two years. The exhibition is a chance for you to show your work to friends and family and allows us to celebrate how proud we are of our students' achievements.

'This was an outstanding celebratory exhibition of A2 work Clearly everyone involved in the production of this most sophisticated and highly imaginative exhibition and in it's presentation, is to be given the highest praise. ' Moderator's report 2008

'A fantastic exhibition ! A high proportion of outstanding work'

'An inspirational and quite stunning exhibition'

'A very thorough course giving an excellent experience
in a range of media and approaches to image making.
Work journals are particularly well used and excellent
in many cases.'

• summer 2008
• summer 2007
• summer 2006
• summer 2005

What can I do with Art A level?
Studying art equips you with a whole set of transferable skills both for life and for a wide range of vocational areas. These include lateral thinking, creative problem solving, analytical and critical thinking, verbal reasoning, communication, risk taking, the ability to use your own initiative, time-management and organisation.

The course is essential for those students wishing to undertake further studies in art, craft and design related subjects. In 2007, 59% of our students progressed onto art related courses with many choosing the traditional route of studying Foundation Art and Design. This is a one year full-time course that allows you to explore a range of disciplines before deciding which specialist area you want to study at degree level.

Students from Greenhead progress to foundation courses such as; Leeds College of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, Dewsbury and Batley College of Art, Chelesa College of Art and St Martin's College of Art (London). In recent years more and more students have decided to progress from A Level directly onto degree courses in a wide range of disciplines. (please see the destinations section of this website for further details)

Subject choices vary but have included; architecture, graphic design, fine art, textiles, fashion and photography. With institutions varying from Glasgow College of Art, Edinburgh College of Art, Ruskin School of Art, Goldsmiths and The Slade Schools of Art both at the University of Central London, Cardiff, Winchester, Northumbria, Buckinghamshire Chilterns.

Trips and enrichment
As a department we are passionate about going out, seeing art first hand, and finding out what is current in the world of art and design. We try to organise as many trips to galleries and exhibitions as we can. As well as visiting the Tate Gallery in Liverpool we run a 3 day trip to London. The galleries we visit will vary according to exhibitions showing at the time but the emphasis is usually on contemporary and 20th century art. In past years, we have visited Tate Modern and Tate Britain, the Whitechapel Gallery, the Serpentine Gallery, White Cube, the Royal Academy, the Hayward Gallery and the Saatchi Gallery.

We feel that the trips offer invaluable experience in terms of the support and development of individual ideas for practical work. The trips are particularly important for those students who wish to continue their studies into the A2 year but those who are studying art at AS level only are also encouraged to participate, particularly if they are considering a creative career.

Each member of staff in the art team offers enrichment courses which are open to all art and non-art students. In the past few years we have offered life drawing, experimental drawing, experimental painting, bookbinding and advanced bookbinding, photoshop and digital imaging, creative textiles and creative fashion as well as costume design and making and poster and programme design for the annual theatrical production.

What our students think
'I am eternally grateful for everything the course and its staff have given me and would therefore recommend the course to any student with an honest passion for art and can't think of a better creative environment for them to grow in.'

'I've had a wonderful learning experience and a hugely enjoyable two years. You've set me up for uni brilliantly.'

'I really felt the best was brought out of me and that is mostly down to my teacher; but also because I felt I could talk to anyone about anything I was unsure of.'

'The department is such a pleasant and friendly place to work in.'

'I feel that this course really promotes independent working and really allows you to apply your own ideas and working style'.

'If I could give 11s and 12s out of 10 I would! The course staff and general ethos of the department has been truly inspirational'.

'A very enjoyable and positively challenging course, allows real personal development and incredible maturity within the two years'.

Quotes from end of course questionnaires