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Art (Fine Art) Course Most pupils will have studied Art at GCSE level but this is not an essential requirement. More importantly, pupils should have genuine passion and a high degree of commitment to the subject. The A level course at St Peter’s is designed to appeal and to be of benefit to those pupils who wish to apply for Art School and university courses in any of the art disciplines and architecture, as well as for those who wish to take the subject simply because they enjoy it but may not wish to take their art further than A level. The OCR A Level Art and Design specifications are designed to encourage learners to develop skills, creativity, imagination and independence based on personal experience, taught skills and critical understanding. Learners show this through their responses to a range of stimuli. The aims and learning outcomes for these qualifications are to enable learners to develop: • Intellectual, imaginative, creative and intuitive capabilities • Investigative, analytical, experimental, practical, technical and expressive skills, aesthetic understanding and critical judgement • Independence of mind in developing, refining and communicating their own ideas, their own intentions and their own personal outcomes • The experience of working with a broad range of media • An understanding of the interrelationships between art, craft and design processes and an awareness of the contexts in which they operate. Sixth Form level pupils at St Peter’s share their own studio space and will be expected to spend some of their ‘sit outs’ (free periods) in the Art School. Life Drawing Classes are held in the Christmas Term, and there are a number of day trips to galleries, and residential field trips in the L6th and to Paris in the U6th. Component1: Portfolio (Lower Sixth) There are two distinct elements: • A practical portfolio with supporting contextual research in response to a set theme. The portfolio may be presented in a format appropriate to the specialism and area of study chosen. • A related study using words and illustrations demonstrating the context in which their portfolio exists, exploring the relevant genre, subject matter, movement or historical framework of the selected theme.
