• DavidGameHeaders17

Art

Why study Art?

Studying Art at A Level develops your ability to appreciate the visual world and respond to images in a creative and expressive way.  Students work in a variety of media, including painting, drawing, collage, printmaking and photography.  Successful students have gone on to study Architecture, Fashion, Textile Design, Computer Animation and Foundation Courses in Art and Design.

Course Outline - AQA

Unit 1: 50% of AS, 25% of A Level

Portfolio Unit

Students will produce a body of work which will include at least one extended collection of work, or project, based on an idea or theme.  The unit is marked by the teacher and moderated by AQA through a visit to the College.

Unit 2: 50% of AS, 25% of A Level

Externally Set Assignment

The emphasis of this unit is the development of ideas.  The students choose a question from a selection set by AQA and then develop this into a finished piece of work.  There is a five hour supervised and unaided period when the students will develop their own ideas.  This unit is marked by the teacher and moderated by AQA through a visit to the College.

Unit 3: 25% of A Level

Personal Investigation

This is a practical unit with written elements which should be no less than 1000 words and no more than 3000.  The students develop a personal investigation based on an idea, issue, concept or theme of their choice.  This will then lead to a finished piece or pieces.  This unit is marked by the teacher and moderated by AQA through a visit to the College.

Unit 4: 25% of the A Level

Externally Set Assignment

A choice of questions set by AQA is used as a starting point for the students to develop a project – students select ONE.  Towards the end of the project students will complete 15 hours of unaided and unsupervised time, by the end of which they will have resolved their work with a finished piece.  The unit is marked by the teacher and  moderated by AQA by visit to the college.

Classes are small and students are encouraged at both levels to think independently and develop their work in a personal manner.  Trips are made to museums and galleries and good use is made of neighbouring Holland Park and Kensington Gardens for sketching.