Key Stage 4
Subject: Art Exam Board: AQA
Full course title
GCSE Art, Craft & Design
Course code (if known)
8201
Exam board website
www.aqa.org.uk
Course outline
GCSE Art, Craft and Design sets out to celebrate and explore the many different facets that this subject can cover. It allows the student to express themselves in areas such as colour, imagery and pattern and encourages students to develop the independence to do so.
Students must explore and create work associated with areas of study from at least two or more of the disciplines within the subject. Students can develop links to either fine art, graphic design, textiles, 3d art and / or photography. Skills in objective drawing are developed using a wide range of Media. Students will be asked to support their research by studying the work of other Artists and Crafts People, allowing this to influence the development of their own ideas, leading to a final conclusion. Skills such as reviewing and refining ideas are taught, encouraging students to explore and experiment with ideas and Materials, building the confidence to try out new ideas.
Assessment details
Portfolio (60%) and an externally set assignment (40%)
Additional Information (e.g. equipment required, possible career paths)
GCSE Art and Design provides a strong foundation for further study at AS and A-level as well as vocational pathways. To support this progression, the assessment objectives, structure and titles are very similar to those detailed in the AS and A-level Art and Design specification.
Subject: Art Exam Board:
Full course title
BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Art and Design Practice
Course code (if known)
Qualification number: 603/7056/7
Exam board website
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/home.html
Course outline
The Tech Award gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific applied knowledge and skills through realistic vocational contexts. Learners will have the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in the following areas:
● knowledge that underpins effective use of skills, process and attitudes in the creative sector such as roles, responsibilities, creative process, art and design disciplines and approaches, materials, techniques and processes.
● development of key skills that prove aptitude in art and design practice, such as generating and visually communicating creative responses to art and design briefs.
● process that underpins effective ways of working in the creative industries such as generating ideas, prototyping, development, review and refinement.
● attitudes that are considered most important in art and design practice, including planning, organisation and communication.
Assessment details
The two components in the qualification give learners the opportunity to develop broad knowledge and understanding of the art and design sector, and relevant skills such as research, problem solving, communication and practical skills at Levels 1 and 2.
Component 1 is assessed through non-exam internal assessment. The non-exam internal assessment for this component has been designed to demonstrate application of the conceptual knowledge underpinning the sector through realistic tasks and activities. This style of assessment promotes deep learning through ensuring the connection between knowledge and practice.
There is one external assessment, Component 2, which provides the synoptic assessment for the qualification. Component 2 builds directly on Component 1 and enables learning to be brought together and related to a real-life scenario.
Component 2: Responding to a Brief requires learners to select and integrate learning from across the qualification, including generating ideas and developing art and design skills and techniques in response to a brief and stimulus, and developing a portfolio and final response for a specified audience.
The design of this external assessment ensures that there is sufficient stretch and challenge, enabling the assessment of knowledge and understanding at the end of the learning period.
Additional Information (e.g. equipment required, possible career paths)
Study of the qualification as part of Key Stage 4 learning will help learners to make more informed choices for further learning, either generally or in this sector. The choices that learners can make post-16 will depend on their overall level of attainment and their performance in the qualification. Learners who generally achieve at Level 2 across their Key Stage 4 learning might consider progression to:
● A Levels as preparation for entry to higher education in a range of subjects
● study of a vocational qualification at Level 3, such as a BTEC National in Art and Design, which prepares learners to enter employment or apprenticeships, or to move on to higher education by studying a degree in art and design areas.