AQA A Level Art
What’s it about?
At The Canterbury Academy 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. Students have the opportunity to express their passions and thoughts about society, their environment and surroundings; also to show what influences and drives them as an artist.
This two-unit specification requires students to develop their ability to show a range of skills. These include independence of mind in developing their own ideas, an interest and enthusiasm for art and design and the experience of working with a range of media, including traditional and new media and technologies.
Students will also have the opportunity to develop their knowledge further, by going out on school trips and activities, life drawing and attending workshops at our local university to gain experience in further education.
Entry Requirements:
We recommend that students looking to further and extend their knowledge and skills associated with Art and Design should have a GCSE grade 5/6 or BTEC merit and above and portfolio of work prior to starting the course.
An English GCSE grade of 6 or above would be very beneficial. This is due to the nature of the amount of written work required on the course, which includes a 3000-word essay in the second year.
Contacts:
Director of Teaching and Learning – Practical Pillar
The Canterbury Academy Sixth Form
Course Content:
Units will include aspects of fine art. You will be given a range of projects in your first year that you will use as a starting point to demonstrate your artistic abilities in a range of media. This will be followed by a Personal Investigation project instigated by you and your passions. You will work using 2D and 3D media and use the work of other artists as sources of inspiration, analysing their work and their use of composition and media. You will develop your own skills as an artist and explore new techniques and processes that may be unfamiliar to you.
Assessment:
You will complete a coursework unit and an exam over the 2 years: the coursework will be very self-driven and you will work independently, showing your artistic skill and drawing abilities. You will be assessed on your research skills, observational drawing and paintings, use of media and ability to create a personal, meaningful response. The Externally Set Assignment will be a theme set by the exam board which you will investigate in all art areas to produce a final, timed personal response.
Progression:
Vocation
This course will help you to extend your knowledge and skills in a variety of areas within art and design and will provide you with a good range of work to ensure that you can either get onto a course at university or begin your creative career and employment in other areas in art and design. You could find employment in a design studio, a gallery or begin your own freelance practice.
Academic
This course could lead to the study of BA (Hons) in Fine Art, Photography or Graphic Design, Web Design, Advertising, Textiles or a Printmaking degree.