Applied Art & Design (A Level)

GCE A LEVEL

Introduction to Course

Year 12 within the art department is all about experimentation, developing skills, confidence and stretching personal strengths and ideas. Practical Workshops are central to building a strong portfolio and reinforcing strong observational and experimentation skills. Within each of the specialisms, key skills are explored through a range of bespoke workshops which culminate in the presentation of a skilled based project preparing students for year 13 and their Personal Investigation Project.

A2 is about the individual, their strengths, interests and preferences– a totally personal project. A practical portfolio of work, supported by a written investigative essay along with a final response is created by students and submitted as well as the Externally Set Task at A2.

Exam Board/Specification

OCR

GCE Art & Design: Fine Art: H601, Photography: H603 and Textiles: H604

Entry Requirements

  • Grade 6 in any endorsement preferably within your chosen endorsement
  • Meeting with the Head of Department to show and discuss your portfolio of work

Example Project "Photography in Motion!"

The animated gif to the right is a piece by a Year 13 student Simran. The task was about creating narrative without words. The piece was made by creating a triptych frame in Photoshop and creating a series of multiple image layers which were then converted into animation frames.

Modules/Units

Year 12 Projects

  • Practical workshops – Teacher assessment for each workshop
  • Students to create a Practical Portfolio of work to demonstrate advanced understanding of the Formal Elements in preparation for A2.

A2 Modules/Units

  • Personal Investigation – A personal project that includes a Practical portfolio of work and a related written study (01)
  • Externally set task (02)

A2 Assessment

  • Personal Investigation (01) – 120 marks – 60% of total A Level. A personal project that includes a Practical portfolio of work and a related written study

Progression Routes

Foundation course leading to a BA (Hons) degree in anything art-based that links to your chosen endorsement. For example:

  • Fine Art: painting, drawing, sculpture, print-making, ceramics, woods/metals and plastics, illustration etc.
  • Photography: film, animation, games design etc.
  • Textiles: fashion design, illustration, surface pattern etc.