Art and Design

Head of Dept: Mrs W Olphert


Staff in department

Mrs B Lowth, Miss S O'Kane, Miss L O'Hara  (Technician)

General Aims

The aim of the Art and Design Department is to guide pupils to achieve their full potential in an enjoyable and stimulating learning environment. Through exploring a wide variety of media and techniques, pupils are encouraged to develop and broaden their skills and confidence.

A Level

  • A level exam board: CCEA
Module% of AS or
A2 grade
How is it assessed?Module Title
AS Module 150% of AS, 20% of A LevelTeacher assessed with external moderationExperimental Portfolio
AS Module 250% of AS, 20% of A LevelTeacher assessed with external moderationPersonal Outcome
A2 Module 120% of A2, 12% of A LevelTeacher assessed with external moderationPersonal Investigation (Essay) 1000-2000 words
A2 Module 240% of A2, 24% of A LevelTeacher assessed with external moderationExternally set assignment
A2 Module 340% of A2, 24% of A LevelTeacher assessed with external moderationPractical element A01, 2, 3 only

GCSE

  • GCSE exam board: CCEA
GCSE% of GCSE gradeHow is it assessed?Unit title
Unit 1Part A 25%
Part B 35%
Teacher assessed with external moderationPart A: Exploratory portfolio
Part B: Investigating the Creative and Cultural Industries
Unit 240%Teacher assessed with external moderationWorking to a stimulus

What can I do with a qualification in Art & Design?

This qualification provides students with opportunities to develop key skills needed for the world of work and further and higher education. It creates a pathway to do a future career in a creative field.

Possible careers include advertising, architecture, art, curation, craft, jewellery, fashion design, car-design, film, costume design, special effects, make-up, photography, graphic design, set design, furniture design, interior design, music, animation, performing arts, publishing, software design, toys and games design, TV, radio and video games design.  A wide range of STEAM careers such as engineering now also require creative, artistic and design skills.

Benefits to Students Studying:

Art and Design helps develop key transferable skills and qualities which are highly sought after by employers. These include creativity, problem-solving, resilience, imagination, empathy and innovation. It also promotes:

  • independent learning;
  • personal development and motivation;
  • the ability to find alternative approaches and take risks in creative pursuits; and
  • aesthetic and intellectual capacities.

KS3: Brief topic overview

Years 8-10
All pupils in Years 8, 9 and 10 study Art and Design. Pupils have the opportunity to develop their own personal and creative responses by researching, gathering and interpreting information from direct experiences, observations, memory, imagination and a range of traditional and digital sources. They will develop an appreciation of the work of artists, designers and craft workers form their own and other cultures, past and present. They will develop their creative and thinking skills along with their personal creative outcomes through investigating, realising, designing and making.

  • Drawing and Painting
  • Printmaking
  • Textiles
  • Sculpture
  • Ceramics
  • 3-dimensional construction and prototyping
  • Lens based media
  • Information and Communication Technology

Key Stage 3 pupils have a provision of 2 periods a week.