At A Level we offer the Unendorsed Edexcel course in Art, Craft & Design. As with GCSE, the reason we have chosen the Unendorsed specification is to enable students to access and explore a diverse range of art practices and ultimately choose a direction that suits each student's interest and skill set. The Unendorsed specification requires that for coursework, students access two or more of the disciplines listed in their specification. These are: Fine Art, 3D Design, Photography, Textile Design, Graphic Communication and Critical & Contextual Studies. However, for the exam, students must choose a discipline to focus on.
This is a two year course comprising of coursework, 60% of students' overall A Level mark, and an externally set timed examination, 40% of students' overall A Level mark. The majority of the two-year course is dedicated to the production of a personal portfolio of work that is submitted as the coursework unit in each year. This portfolio must contain evidence that meets four assessment criteria. The latter half of each year is dedicated to the production of a body of work in response to the Edexcel-set exam brief. This is usually given to students prior to the February half-term break and culminates in a timed examination where students produce an outcome to their preparatory work. The time-frame for this preparatory work is around 10-12 weeks including holidays, therefore it is very important that students plan their time effectively so that they can meet all four assessment criteria fully. The assessment criteria is the same for both the coursework and the exam for both AS and A2 level although the expectation in higher at A2 (see grid below). You can find detailed assessment grids along with past papers and other resources in the student area of this website.
This is a two year course comprising of coursework, 60% of students' overall A Level mark, and an externally set timed examination, 40% of students' overall A Level mark. The majority of the two-year course is dedicated to the production of a personal portfolio of work that is submitted as the coursework unit in each year. This portfolio must contain evidence that meets four assessment criteria. The latter half of each year is dedicated to the production of a body of work in response to the Edexcel-set exam brief. This is usually given to students prior to the February half-term break and culminates in a timed examination where students produce an outcome to their preparatory work. The time-frame for this preparatory work is around 10-12 weeks including holidays, therefore it is very important that students plan their time effectively so that they can meet all four assessment criteria fully. The assessment criteria is the same for both the coursework and the exam for both AS and A2 level although the expectation in higher at A2 (see grid below). You can find detailed assessment grids along with past papers and other resources in the student area of this website.
A2
Unit 3: Student Initiated Project
Students explore a theme of their choice, exploring concepts and processes in a creative, innovative and personal manner. Their journey involves enhanced independence and maturity of thought, as well as in-depth and focused experimentation with continual refinement of work. Students are given the on-going support from teaching staff and peer dialogue, not dissimilar to the co-constructed learning that takes place in undergraduate art courses. Artistic journey culminates in the production of highly sophisticated and ambitious outcome/s.
Unit 4: Exam theme introduced in February 2016
Edexcel provide the starting point from which students further explore both conceptually and aesthetically, demonstrating practical making skills and critical thinking with a focus on one chosen discipline. The preparatory period is concluded with a 12 hour timed examination in which work is resolved and presented appropriately.
Students explore a theme of their choice, exploring concepts and processes in a creative, innovative and personal manner. Their journey involves enhanced independence and maturity of thought, as well as in-depth and focused experimentation with continual refinement of work. Students are given the on-going support from teaching staff and peer dialogue, not dissimilar to the co-constructed learning that takes place in undergraduate art courses. Artistic journey culminates in the production of highly sophisticated and ambitious outcome/s.
Unit 4: Exam theme introduced in February 2016
Edexcel provide the starting point from which students further explore both conceptually and aesthetically, demonstrating practical making skills and critical thinking with a focus on one chosen discipline. The preparatory period is concluded with a 12 hour timed examination in which work is resolved and presented appropriately.