Exam Board: EdExcel

Overview

This is a two-year course leading to an unendorsed GCSE in Art & Design. Students will gain experience of working broadly across a range of disciplines within the design fields, covering work in the following areas:
� Drawing and photography
� Painting and printmaking
� Textile and fashion design
� Ceramics and sculpture
� Graphic design
� Contextual studies
The Art and Design GCSE comprises four projects spread across the two years. Each one is themed and students will be expected to produce a sketchbook of research and ideas, as well as a body of classwork for each. The themes are very much open to interpretation. All work is assessed at the end of the course when an exhibition of each student’s work is mounted. We aim to promote and encourage imaginative thinking, creativity and individuality, encouraging students to use their sketchbooks as both a resource of inspiring ideas and as a place to document their thinking. The sketchbooks often become works of art in themselves. Students will learn how to research, develop and experiment with ideas and materials. They will be taught to think about the expressive possibilities of the materials they choose to work with, and to develop their visual language through experiments and problemsolving tasks. Looking at and articulating thoughts about art and design work are important parts of the course. Students will be assessed on their ability to make connections with the work of artists and designers. We will make visits to exhibitions and galleries in London and give them experience of working with an artist at the end of Year 10. Finally, we want our students to be self-reflective and independent. They will be encouraged to think about and evaluate their own work throughout the course, and to develop confidence to think critically about the world and for themselves.

Assessment of work

Coursework: 60% (first 3 projects). Final Project: 40% Students are assessed on four main criteria: ability to research; ability to develop design ideas; ability to analyse and evaluate their own work and that of others; and realisation of ideas – use of materials and reference to context. Grades are sent out by the Board the following August. All work is marked internally and externally moderated at the end of the course when an exhibition is mounted of every candidate’s work.

Further study

A-level