Students are encouraged to approach their work with an emphasis on visual enquiry rather than merely ‘rendering skills’. An approach based upon research, investigation and discovery underpins all work. It is strongly advised that all students taking Art at A Level put in a lot of extra hours in their study periods and after school workshops. As a practical subject the making of work does take time and persistence, especially to achieve higher marks. Students are encouraged to develop their intellectual understanding of art through discrete lessons on contextual studies looking at art from different times, places and cultures ‐ historical and contemporary. The course is split into two components: A “Personal Investigation” and an “Externally Set Assignment”.