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Art & Design

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Why should I choose Art & Design?

It is really important that you have a passion for the subject and a desire to know more about historical and contemporary art, as well as how to use art materials and processes to develop and express your own ideas. This course will give you the skills to enjoy, engage with and produce visual arts throughout your life.

GCSE Art and Design is a practical subject but you will critically analyse your work and the work of artists through written annotation. This, along with the practical skills you learn will, help you develop critical thinking skills. Art can take you into media and publishing, manufacturing, art, fashion and beauty as well as into recruitment.

How will I be examined?

Component 1 - Personal Portfolio: 60% of your GCSE.
You will produce a portfolio of work based on tasks agreed with your teacher.
Component 2 - Externally Set Assignment (ESA): 40% of your GCSE.

You will produce preparatory studies and personal outcomes based on a theme set by Edexcel. This theme is set in January of Year 11. Students are given one term to complete their preparatory studies. The project culminates with a sustained piece of work, ten hours, produced under exam conditions.

What will I study?

Throughout the course, you will:

develop and explore ideas
select and experiment with appropriate media, materials techniques and processes
record your ideas, observations and insights
present personal and meaningful responses.

The course allows you to develop many transferable skills including problem solving, communication and critical thinking, preparing you for further study or the world of work.

Recommended text books, additional reading and online resources

Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon
The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards
The Art Book published by Phaidon Press
The 20th Century Art Book by Susannah Lawson

Department contact:

Andrew Downie, Head of Art