Art and Design

Course summary

A level Art explores the idea of ‘Environments’ as a broad overarching theme over three units of work and as a portfolio of work. The first unit explores ‘light and dark’ and how artists explore a sense of drama using light as a vehicle to communicate themes, messages or narratives. Within this first unit of work students again cover the four objectives previously covered, however in greater depth and of a higher expected quality. The unit comes to a conclusion as a final outcome as a displayable concluding piece of work. We then move to the ‘textures of the environment, exploring the spaces in a variety of interior and exterior environments. This again extends the objectives expected as a whole portfolio and introduces new and challenging approaches to creating art. As ideas develop from prescribed tasks, students begin to personalise their work, which becomes their own exploration of what they consider to be a ‘sense of place’. This personal portfolio includes both practical and written research and exploration of the work of artists throughout art history and their own work. This personal portfolio of work concludes before the February of Year 13, when the students will begin their ESA (externally set assignment). This unit's theme will be externally set by the exam board but internally marked. Students have to cover all four objectives set out by EDEXCEL as a new portfolio of work with a period of controlled assessment towards the end of a specific allocated period of study.