Art, Craft and Design

Why study Art, Craft and Design?

A wide range of career paths can be pursued through studying Art and Design including architecture, stage and set design, book illustration, industrial design, fashion design, jewellery design and interior design. Art is the oldest form of communication, dating back to cave paintings. It offers us the opportunity to express ourselves and the world around us visually through a variety of media. We see the world differently when shown alternative viewpoints and, in turn, a flexible approach to expressive communication and creative problem-solving can be adapted in your own writing.

This is a practical Art and Design course, giving you the opportunity to develop an appreciation of the visual world and to respond to it in a personal, imaginative and creative way. Our emphasis is placed on developing visual language skills through drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking and much of the work is based directly on observation. You will have the opportunity to visit museums and galleries to support your coursework and gain a wider understanding of contemporary and modern art. Girls who study GCSE Art often continue to study this subject in the Sixth Form.

How is the course examined?

Non-examined Assessment

Non-examined Assessment is worth 60% of the overall mark.

Examination

The final examination is worth 40% of the overall mark.

What does the course cover?

The course covers the following disciplines: drawing, painting, printmaking, digital imaging, sculpture and textile design. It is structured during the first year to guide you through a series of focused workshops within a more sustained project. These will then culminate in a final piece of textile or artwork using a 2D and/ or 3D approach, experimenting with a range of materials and surfaces.

The second year requires students to work more independently and confidently with their ideas. You will initially be working in a sketchbook developing your skills and ideas through drawings and designs. You will be taught how to research and respond to the work of artists, sculptors, textile designers, photographers, architects and other expert practitioners. This is very important as written work forms an integral part of the course. Art and Design is ‘unendorsed’. This means that you can develop preferred skills in either 2D, 3D or both. All materials, including sketchbooks, are provided by the school and after school clubs give you further opportunities to complete work and extend your projects.