GCSE Art and Design
Contact: Mrs. Monteiro, Faculty Leader for Art, Design & Technology
Subject: Art, Craft & Design
Interest, determination and commitment to the subject are the most important qualities needed to study Art at GCSE. To succeed with the course, students must have been positive about their artwork and shown enthusiasm and ability during Key Stage 3. It is not an easy option, but you do not have to be another Leonardo Da Vinci to achieve success!
Why study Art, Craft & Design? We live in an increasingly visual world and this course is designed to inspire students and enhance their visual literacy and creativity. They examine many contemporary and issue-based artists in order to engage with our current world. Students develop critical and contextual understanding of artists, craftspeople, designers and art movements that inform their own work. Ideas are creatively explored, and through experimentation students build independence and confidence to create quality artworks.
What content is studied? Students will experiment with a variety of media, some of which they may not have handled before. As well as the traditional media of drawing and painting students will explore a variety of processes and techniques, such as ceramics, 3D wire, textiles, graphics and mixed-media. They will be shown how to manipulate ideas in new and innovative ways. Students will also be introduced to the work of a range of artists, designers and craftspeople.
Towards the end of Year 11, students are entered for the GCSE examination unit. The completion of detailed preparatory work forms the majority of the marks and leads to the 10 hour exam, usually spread over three days.
How are the students assessed? The new AQA course is split into two coursework units (‘Minor’ in term 1 of Year 10 and the ‘Major’ which runs January to December from Year 10 into 11). This coursework portfolio will count for 60% of the final grade. From January to April of Year 11 there is one 40% examination unit. Marks are awarded in 4 areas, each of equal importance: Links to artists, media development and skills, observations through drawing, photography and annotation, and the final outcome.
