GCSE Art & Design

Art & Design

GCSE Art and Design provides students with a wide range of creative, exciting and stimulating opportunities to explore their interests in ways that are both personally relevant and developmental in nature.

This two-unit specification enables students to develop their ability to actively engage in the processes of Art and Design. They are: to build creative skills through learning and doing, to develop imaginative and intuitive ways of working and develop knowledge and understanding of media, materials and technologies in historical and contemporary contexts, societies and cultures.

Entry Requirements

It is useful to have studied Art before, but is not essential.

Course Content

There are two components, one of which is a controlled assessment:

Component 1: Portfolio
Students are given a choice of several themes. Students work in sketchbooks and are encouraged to explore a variety of media, techniques and processes. A portfolio must include a sustained project evidencing the journey from initial engagement to the realisation of intentions and a selection of further work undertaken during the student’s course of study.

Component 2: Externally set assignment
Students respond to their chosen starting point from an externally set assignment paper relating to their subject title.

Where does it lead?

GCSE Art develops a range of skills, confidence in using a variety of media, the ability to understand processes and an appreciation of the work of others. Many students will go on to study Art at A-level and then at university. Art is important for those hoping to follow degree courses in either Fine or Applied Art.

Art is also valuable for a number of indirectly related careers such as Architecture, Museum Work, Arts Administration, Exhibition Research and Teaching as well as preparing students for vocational practical courses after A-levels.