Art & Design AS A2

Exam Board Edexcel

Course Content

Teaching and learning is based in our Art rooms, with a dedicated Sixth Form Studio for use in some lessons, also available for use in students’ own time.
The GCE in Art and Design encourages an adventurous and enquiring approach to art and design. Students are given opportunities to demonstrate an understanding of past and contemporary art and design practice and be able to produce artwork that embraces a wide range of ideas. We visit London galleries and take part in local gallery workshops to support students’ investigations.
Students are expected to build on and develop their recording skills and demonstrate increasingly skilful use of the formal elements, including line, tone, colour, shape, pattern, texture, form and structure.

Students experiment with a wide range of media and methods so that they can successfully develop and communicate their ideas.

AS

Unit 1 — Art and Design Coursework
At AS we develop students’ ideas and approaches through themes such as the idea of “SELF” and offer all students the opportunity to do life drawing classes.
(Unit 1 is 30% of Advanced GCE, 60% of AS — internally set and marked, externally
moderated.)
Unit 2 — Art and Design Externally Set Assignment
A theme based title is set such as “Sanctuary”
(Unit 2 is 20% of Advanced GCE, 40% of AS — externally set, including eight hours’
unaided work, internally marked, externally moderated)

A2

Unit 3 — Art and Design Coursework
At A2 we develop a personal study and create practical responses to the artwork studied.
(Unit 3 is 30% of Advanced GCE, 60% of A2 — internally set and marked, externally
moderated.)
Unit 4 — Art and Design Externally Set Assignment
A theme based title is set such as “Transition”
(Unit 4 is 20% of Advanced GCE, 40% of A2 — externally set, including twelve hours’
unaided work, internally marked, externally moderated)
Our AS/A2 courses have been very successful with impressive final exhibitions in June of each year. Many students go on to study at Foundation Courses locally and then progress to a specialist degree in Art and Design.

Assessment

AS and A2- 2 external assessment units, 1 within AS and 1 within A2. This is delivered as a period of preparatory research and development and a timed exam.
Both coursework and exam work are assessed and are weighted at 60% and 40% respectively.
All students work is exhibited within an end of year exhibition.

Possible Careers

Our course opens doors to other further and higher education courses within the Arts.
Many choose to follow the “foundation studies” route after A2, a requirement for entry for most degree courses in Art and Design. This is available in Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne and Worthing. We have developed strong links with City College in Brighton who run a popular and oversubscribed course.

Art and design at AS and A2 level will establish a strong portfolio of work ideal for entry to many Art specialisms, including; Fine Art, Sculpture, Textiles, Fashion design, Jewellery design, Graphic design, Animation and many more.