Art and Design
Why Study This Subject?
Our Art and Design A Level course offers students the opportunity to develop their own creative identity, guided by specialist teachers who encourage students to reach their full potential.
At Greenhead College, we offer a broad-based A Level Art and Design course that gives students the opportunity to experience a range of specialist areas before making informed choices about the areas in which they would like to specialise. The emphasis of the course is on developing your own ideas and creativity, with constant reference to contemporary art practice and culture.
The first year of the course is designed to introduce you to a range of different art processes, techniques and materials, as well as challenging your idea of what art is. You will be given the opportunity to experiment within a range of specialist areas such as painting, printmaking, textiles, graphics, black-and-white photography, moving image, digital imagery and fashion.
All lessons take place in purpose-built specialist studios and workshops. We have facilities for painting, printmaking, black-and-white photography, digital imaging, moving image, graphics, textiles and fashion. The studios are alive with a diversity of ideas and methods of working, and many students gravitate towards the art studios in their own time to continue their work in a supportive, highly creative and positive environment.
You will be given ongoing feedback that will allow you to refine and develop your working practices, helping you to reach your full creative potential. Through a combination of slideshows, discussions and gallery visits, we will introduce you to a wide range of contextual sources, both historical and contemporary, allowing you to make personal and informed responses to the work of current artists, designers and craftspeople.
As a Department, we very much want your art experience to excite and challenge you creatively, as well as develop your social, interpersonal and communication skills.
Between 30% and 40% of our students progress to art and design-related courses, including foundation courses, as well as direct entry onto degree courses such as Fine Art, Architecture, Textile Design, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Film and Product Design.
This course follows the Eduqas Art, Craft and Design specification.
There are two components:
1. Personal Investigation
- Introduction to a wide range of materials, practices and technology within art, craft and design
- Development of creativity, skills to visually interpret and communicate your ideas, and analytical and documenting skills
- Understand your work through artist research and an extended piece of writing.
2. Externally Set Examination
You will work with a creative prompt set by the exam board to develop preparatory work and make a final piece under timed exam conditions.
“The support we receive is great, the teachers are always there to listen and help when it is needed, they are kind and art has helped me become more confident in my own personal development.”
“I have no problem approaching my teacher which makes me feel at ease and less stressed.”
“A Level Art will always stay with me, as I enjoyed the course so much. It was very difficult for me yet also very rewarding.”
“Brilliant, my teacher makes the environment calm and enjoyable.”
“I enjoyed getting to experiment with new processes and materials as well as discovering new things I’m good at. I would recommend to future students if they wanted to go into a creative industry.”
Other than the College’s general entry requirements, there are no additional qualifications required. You do not need to have studied GCSE Art. We welcome applications from creative students with an aptitude for the course.
Examples of Student Work:
