ART & DESIGN: FINE ART - GCSE Option

Head of Department:	Mrs C Copeland
Examining Board:	AQA

 

What Will I Study?

Students begin the course studying the topic surreal-identity and learn to record themselves in different ways, using a variety of materials.

Students will investigate a number of artists, techniques and media so that they learn and use these to develop their own ideas. This is then refined to make their work personal.

After Easter students start their main GCSE project from a list of starting points provided by the Department. Students will need to research and explore techniques they are personally interested in by researching and learning from Artists. They will also record from photographs they take or from first-hand observation.

In Year 10 students will continue with their sustained coursework project, exploring and creating ideas and compositions ready for a large scale final outcome on this work or a series of them.

Students are required to work in a folder generating recordings, ideas, and experimenting with materials. Making notes about their work as it develops, explaining the journey of their project so that the exam moderator understands it is essential.

 In Year 11 students work on improving their coursework with a deadline before Christmas. Both Year 9 and the sustained coursework project are marked together and have a 60% waiting.

In January they will start an external set task and will start preparing for the two day exam in April. This is a short project where students receive starting points by the exam board and then produce a small project, until the External Set Task. This takes place over two days. The external set task is waited at 40%.

 

What Skills Will I Develop?

Students will develop creative and analytical skills.

Creative skills include - Painting & drawing, Mixed Media, Sculpture and Printmaking.

Students will not only develop practical skills but also written analytical skills. An appreciation of other artists’ work is an important part of the course and learning about the techniques that artists use and the purpose of their work will help students to improve and make progress. Visiting galleries and museums is advised.

Students will need to independently study at home on their work preparing for lessons. Extra sessions after School to support students and access the materials they may not have at home is available weekly.

 

How Will I Be Assessed?

Art is a Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) subject so both components are assessed internally by Art Staff and then by the Exam board moderators.

60% of the total marks are for coursework and 40% from the external set task.

Students will be given their marks at Christmas in Year 11 for Component 1 and then in May for Component 2.

 

Please view the video for more information: