Shelley College: A-Level Art

Head of Department: Mrs R Hesmondhalgh

At Shelley College we offer a wide range of Art, Craft and Design practices at all levels to allow all students the opportunity to gain and develop skills and experiences in many areas. We have four specialist teaching rooms, two Sixth Form Art areas and an Art Shop; alongside specialist areas and equipment including Kilns, Print-making, sewing and computer facilities and a photographic dark room.

All staff encourage students to enhance their own personal skills, knowledge and understanding of Art & Design; and to achieve their own potential at all levels. Drawing and Painting is the starting point for all work produced within the department, but for many individual students ideas will progress and develop using a wide ranging media such as Ceramics and Sculpture, Print-making, Fashion and Creative Textiles and Visual Communication. Students develop their contextual knowledge of art and design including aspects of art history, current and contemporary practice and vocational related aspects at some levels.

We offer many exciting opportunities to our students including art workshops by practicing artists and practitioners, and gallery and museum visits. The department is very proud of its student achievements and this is clearly evident by the wide ranging high quality art work that is always on display within the department and around the college. We aim to be a friendly and inspiring department that achieves excellent results and encourages potential at all levels.

KS5: AS Art, Craft & Design (GCE)
This broad Advanced Level Art, Craft and Design Course includes the production and development of both practical and contextual work in the form of sketchbooks and as portfolio work. It allows those students with a foundation in Art & Design at GCSE or BTEC level to progress and develop their skills and ideas further; and to gain additional skills and experiences.

Students will work in many different areas including Sculpture and Ceramics, Fashion and Creative Textiles, Drawing, Painting and Mixed Media, Print-making and Design; and may focus towards the end of each project in a more specialist area.

Each unit will begin with an initial concept or idea; and through research, reflection and evidence will reach a final outcome(s). This can be a one year AS course or be developed through into year two, to A2 level to achieve a full Advanced Level qualification.

At Shelley College we have individual work stations in our Sixth Form Art rooms for each of our A level students, giving them a base in which to work and develop their ideas in a more independent and focused environment. Life Drawing is offered outside of lesson times allowing students to gain supportive and structured drawing and painting skills that enhance every aspect of the advanced courses.

AS Art, Craft & Design Course Structure
Coursework Portfolio: (Unit 1) 50% (marked out of 80). No time limit.
Externally Set Assignment: (Unit 2)50% (marked out of 80). Supervised 5 Hours.
AS Total = Final AS Grade or as 50% of the full A Level at A2
Number of Timetabled lessons per 2 weeks: 9
Additional Activities: Art Clubs / Workshops, London Gallery Visit, Life Drawing Classes.
Levels/ Pass Grades: A* - E
Examination Board: AQA

A2 Art & Design (GCE)
The A2 Art, Craft and Design course is again broad based using a full range of materials and media. It starts with a practical unit (Unit 3) that also includes written elements (1,000 to 3,000 words) in an essay, workbook, log or journal format. Unit 3 begins with an initial concept / issue chosen by each student and directed with the support of teaching staff, and via investigation and development leads to a finished piece(s).

Unit 4 is the Externally Set Assignment; a choice of question is selected by the student as a starting point and is then developed and extended until it reaches the 15 Hours Supervised time in which a finished piece(s) is produced.

This is an exciting and focused course in which students will actively develop and communicate their own ideas through sustained investigation. Successful completion of the A2 course can lead a Degree level course; and to the further study of Art, Craft and Design at Foundation Level or at Degree Level.

A2 Art, Craft & Design Course Structure
Personal Investigation: (Unit 3) 25% of A Level (marked out of 80). No time limit.
Externally Set Assignment: (Unit 4) 25% of A Level (marked out of 80). Supervised 15 Hours.
A2 Total = 50% from AS = 25% from Unit 3 + 25% from Unit 4
Number of Timetabled lessons per 2 weeks: 9
Additional Activities: Art Clubs / Workshops, London Gallery Visit, Life Drawing Classes, A Level Art Work stations.
Levels/ Pass Grades: A* - E
Examination Board: AQA

Double Award GCE Applied Art & Design
This is vocational related course that allows students to experience and understand a broad range of Art and Design techniques and practices in connection to, and possibilities within the work place. It will give students practical skills and technical knowledge along side ways in which to communicate with clients and audiences both as individuals and as part of a team.

It allows students to experiment, develop and communicate ideas from aninitial starting point or brief through to a final outcome of piece(s). At Shelley we offer a wide range of Art and Design practices including Drawing and painting, Graphic Design and Communication, Fashion and Creative Textiles, and Ceramics and Sculpture.

Successful completion of the Double Award GCE course can lead to employment, Degree level course(s); and to the further study of Art, Craft and Design at Foundation Level or at Degree Level.

Double Award GCE Applied Art & Design Course Structure
12 x equally weighted units: AS = first year of course (50% = 6 Units) + A2 = Second year of course (50%= 6 Units)
A2 Total = 50% from AS = 25% from Unit 3 + 25% from Unit 4
Number of Timetabled lessons per 2 weeks: 18
Additional Activities: Art Clubs / Workshops, London Gallery Visit, Yorkshire Sculpture Park Visit, Life Drawing Classes, A Level Art Work stations.
Levels/ Pass Grades: A* - E
Examination Board: Edexcel