Art & Design - Fine Art

Course type: A level & Applied • Awarding/exam body: WJEC/Eduqas

Explore the world of art and design, experiment and learn through the creative visual process. We support learners to become highly independent, creative and self-motivated individuals. You can expect to work with a broad range of media; traditional techniques such as drawing, painting and printmaking, and new media technologies, including digital photography and film. In year one, the focus will be exploring ideas, developing skills through the creative process, learning from creative exploration to become visually literate and articulate. As well as developing mastery of practical skills, creative and visual learning, Fine Art A Level fosters creative problem solving, independence, innovation and risk taking as well as engagement with cultural, social and political issues. You will have the opportunity visually to explore, challenge and develop your own ideas and opinions on significant themes and issues. You will also make contextual links between your own work and that of other artists and designers.

Course Units

Component 01: Personal Investigation (60%)
Component 02: Externally Set Assignment (40%)

Course Assessment

Assessment is at the end of the second year and is comprised of internal marking and external moderation. The External Assignment is set early in the Spring Term of the second year.

This Course Can Lead To…

Students who wish to specialise in Art & Design typically progress on to a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design at UAL institutions or Ravensbourne College of Design. Students wishing to progress to architecture may make direct applications to degree courses from this A level. Progression to university from A Level Fine Art is high. Career opportunities include Architecture, Interior Design, Product Design, Illustration, Textile Design, Set Design, Fashion Design, Vehicle Design and many others.

Entry Requirements

To qualify to study 3 A level/ Applied subjects, you will need to achieve 6 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, preferably including English Language or Maths at grade 4 or above. 

In addition/ within those 6 GCSEs, for this subject you will need to achieve Grade 4 in Art, Textiles or Graphic Design if taken.
Applicants who have not taken an Art-related GCSE course may be admitted to the course subject to satisfactory completion of a practical assessment task OR Merit in BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Art.

Course Highlights

We visit a range of exhibitions and workshops throughout the course.