Course information
History of Art
The Godolphin and Latymer School - Hammersmith and Fulham
02087411936
Iffley Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 0PG
Course summary

History of Art is intellectually challenging, rewarding, enjoyable and available only in the Sixth Form. Visual media dominate contemporary culture and History of Art gives students the means to make sense of our world by studying the history of global visual culture. The key focus is the investigation of the meaning and significance of works of art within a given historical context, and their significance to us today. This involves the study of historical, political, social, economic, philosophical and literary material through primary and secondary sources and promotes cross-curricular links. History of Art develops a wide range of skills and uses a range of methodologies. Through observation, description and critical analysis of images, you will learn to discuss the materials, techniques and formal qualities of painting, sculpture, architecture and mixed media work using specialist vocabulary, as well as recognise the features of individual and historical styles. There are no specific GCSE requirements for the course. Students will be required to research independently, contribute to class discussions and debates, give presentations and submit regular essays. Section A: Visual Analysis of Art from c.500 BC to present – a skills-based course focusing on the formal qualities of painting, sculpture and architecture, such as colour, light, composition, space, and pattern. You will acquire an in-depth understanding of materials and techniques and a new specialist vocabulary that will allow you to describe and interpret art and buildings with fluency and authority. Section B: Thematic Study of World Art and Architecture: ‘Art and Nature’ and ‘Art and War’. Through these units, you’ll learn how the themes of nature and war, both universal concerns of human experience, have been represented and interpreted differently by artists and architects from across the globe, dating from antiquity to the present day. Section C: Period Studies of Art and Architecture: ‘Invention and Illusion’: The Renaissance in Italy 1420-1520’, and ‘Brave New World: Modernism in Europe 1900-1939’. These units look at two of the most revolutionary periods in the history of Western culture, in which the appearance and wider role of art changed forever. Through in-depth visual and contextual analysis, you will learn the nature, causes and significance of these revolutions. Each year there is typically an annual overseas visit to either Italy or Paris, alongside regular visits to London museums and galleries and opportunities to attend lectures and conferences. History of Art has many applications in terms of careers including any profession requiring skills of research, analysis and communication such as media and communications, publishing, museums and galleries, conservation and restoration, education, public relations and architecture. Most importantly, History of Art will teach students to understand our contemporary highly visual culture and prompt enthusiasms that last a lifetime.

Entry requirements

For popular courses such as Economics, English Literature, History, Medicine, or Psychology, all of the competitive universities require at least grade AAA at A Level or, usually, a score of 37-39 IB points; the most competitive require A*AA (or even occasionally A*A*A) or 7 points in one or more HL subject. Universities such as Bath, Bristol, Durham, Imperial, Manchester, UCL and Warwick may also require A*AA or 7 points in an HL subject for courses in Sciences, Engineering or Mathematics; a few of these courses will require IB students to have 7 points in a specific HL Science or Mathematics and A Level students to have A* in a specific Science or Mathematics. Cambridge currently requires a minimum of A Level grades of A*AA for all Arts courses and for Psychological and Behavioural Sciences, and A*A*A for all Science courses, Computer Science and Economics. Irrespective of course, the standard IB requirement is 40-42 points, including 776 in the three Higher Level subjects. In practice, however, higher (or lower) offers are sometimes made to both A Level and IB students; these are decided on an individual basis. Oxford currently requires A Level grades of AAA for all Arts courses and for Human Sciences, A*AA for most Science courses, Economics and Management, Geography, and Psychology, Philosophy & Linguistics, and A*A*A for Chemistry, Engineering and Mathematics courses. Irrespective of course, the standard IB requirement is 38-40 points with 666-776 in the three Higher Level subjects. Unlike at Cambridge, these entry requirements are standardised across the university and are rarely raised or lowered.

How you'll be assessed

School Info

About Education Provider

RegionLondon
Local AuthorityHammersmith and Fulham
Ofsted Rating
Gender TypeGirls
ISI ReportView Report
Boarding FeeUnknown
Sixth Form Fee£26,831
AddressIffley Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 0PG