Art, Craft & Design (AQA

Entry Requirements

Pupils will be required to have gained a 6 or above in GCSE Art & Design or to produce a portfolio of work to provide evidence of sufficient aptitude for the subject. The Head of Art will make a decision on a student’s suitability for the course based on this portfolio. The A Level course is designed in the first year to develop those skills and practices learnt at GCSE. The second year builds upon the creative thinking and technical skills acquired in Y12, allowing for greater maturity and depth of study. This is a very broad specification which will allow students to explore visual language in a full range of disciplines including textiles, graphics and photography.

Course Content

Y12

Coursework Portfolio Pupils are required to submit a portfolio of visual research, comprising evidence of recording, experimentation (with a range of media and processes), the development of ideas linked to contextual study and the resolution of personal responses within studio outcomes.

Internal Examination Following a research period in which idea development and documentation skills already acquired are further demonstrated, candidates must display the ability to create a fully realised piece of work during a 12-hour controlled test.

Y13

Coursework – Personal Investigation Candidates are required to develop a visual and academic investigation based on a personally chosen artist, issue, concept or theme, supported by 1500 - 3000 words.

This, combined with selected work from Y12, constitutes 60% of total marks.

Examination Following a three-month research period in which idea development and documentation skills already acquired are further demonstrated, candidates must display the ability to create a fully realised piece of work during a 15hour controlled test.

This constitutes 40% of total marks.

Art, Craft & Design at Berkhamsted

Art is an expressive and visual form of communication. At Berkhamsted School we work with each student to help them explore and develop their own voice. At the centre of our teaching is drawing, since this is always the artist’s first point of inquiry and so it an expectation that our Sixth Form Art students draw throughout all stages of the course. The department runs regular life drawing sessions for the Y12 and Y13 students to help develop this skill, and we strongly recommend regular attendance at these and after school Open Studio sessions. Gallery visits to London, both organised and independent, are also an essential part of the program

Student Comments Future Prospects

Art Foundation courses are a crucial stage between A Level and degree level study in the visual arts, and most institutions will require a Foundation Diploma prior to entry onto their visual arts BA courses. All post-18 visual arts applicants are given considerable support by staff in the department preparing their application personal statements and portfolios. Visual careers are wide-ranging from advertising, graphics, illustration, fashion and interior design to computer animation, film and web design. Art is also an A Level required by many Architecture degree courses.