The AQA Advanced Level two-year Fine Art course enables students to produce practical and contextual work in one or more area including painting, drawing, mixed media, sculpture installation, printmaking, film, animation and photography. Students will have the opportunity to build upon previous experiences and interests explored at GCSE and are encouraged to be independent in their learning, choosing their own direction. For the first term from September to December, students will further develop their recording and creative skills through a number of workshops, experimenting with a range of media, techniques and approaches, preparing them for Component 1. This component will involve developing a personal investigation and may be related to an area of art that they have a passion for or could be inspired by a visit to an exhibition. Having selected a starting point for their investigation, students will initiate their own development and progress, supporting their ideas with sustained research. Students must be willing to experiment with a wide variety of media, take risks and open their minds to a range of possibilities and influences. They will also be required to critically analyse the work of other Artists, relevant to the direction of their work. The stages of self-initiated work provide the basis for students to realise their intentions within a final outcome. Students are expected to be ambitious and approach their subject with great enthusiasm. Students have a considerable amount of time to ensure this component is an extensive body of work which will needed to be submitted for deadline in February of the second year of sixth form.