Art and Design
Exam Board: AQA
Course name: AS and A2 Fine Art (ARTB)
General Information
You will have opportunities to develop personal responses to ideas, observations, experiences, environments and cultures in practical, critical and contextual forms. You will explore painting, printing, photography, sculpture and craft. The subject encourages an independent response to a subject area of your choice. Visiting galleries and exhibitions independently form a critical part of the course to broaden your understanding of the subject.
Course Outline
The aims of the course are to encourage candidates to develop:
- intellectual, imaginative, creative and intuitive powers
- investigative, analytical, experimental, practical, technical and expressive skills, aesthetic understanding and critical judgement
- independence of mind in relation to developing their own ideas, refining their own intentions and personal outcomes
- an interest in, enthusiasm for and enjoyment of art, craft and design
- the experience of working with a broad range of media, including traditional and new media and technologies
- an understanding of the interrelationships between art, craft and design processes and an awareness of the contexts in which they operate
- experience of working within relevant and real frameworks and, where appropriate, to make links to the creative industries
- knowledge, understanding and application of art, craft, design and media and technologies in contemporary and past societies and cultures
- an awareness of different roles, functions, audiences and consumers of art, craft and design practice.
Assessment: Year 12
1 coursework portfolio
1 externally set assignment (10 hour exam)
Assessment: Year 13
1 x coursework portfolio – Personal project with written element 1000-3000
1 x externally set assignment (15 hour exam)
Careers and Higher Education Opportunities
The course can lead onto a degree in an art discipline and commercial apprenticeship schemes with art/creative organisations. This A Level is suitable for anyone considering a career in the varied world of art and design. Progress to A2, Foundation Art course, degree.
Areas for further study = textiles, fashion, media, photography, Illustration, Painting (Fine Art), Animation, Computer designing.
Career examples = Teacher, gallery coordinator, Graphic designer, Advertising, multimedia design, Editorial design.
Extra-curricular enrichment opportunities
Weekly after school drop in sessions run within the Art department ensure all Art students are fully supported throughout the course. Visits to Art galleries and exhibitions to learn about the arts have also been used to support learning in class and sixth form students have the opportunity to get involved in an exhibition of their own work held at Margaret Street in Birmingham in June. They will gain experience in how to display their work for exhibition purposes and family and friends will have an opportunity to attend the exhibition.
Product Design
Exam Board: AQA
Course name: A Level Product Design
General Information
Look at the world around you; everything you come into contact with has been designed and developed by Product Designers and Design Engineers. From the clothes you choose to wear, the cars you use for transport, the buildings you live and work in, to the products that make your life easier and more enjoyable.
Product Design is an extremely diverse and rewarding career, which is essential in an ever changing world. Product Design could take you into a number of exciting career paths. You could find yourself working in Industrial Design, Automotive Design, Fashion Design or Architecture. Product Design is also an excellent A Level to be taken in conjunction with Physics and Mathematics, particularly for those students wishing to pursue degrees in engineering related disciplines.
Who is the course aimed at?
Studying Product Design at A Level will develop some of the skills most valued by employers and universities, including research, independence, use of technology, communication, leadership, team work and problem solving. British designers have a global reputation and include Jonathan Ive (Apple), James Dyson and Vivienne Westwood.
Aims of the course
This course is designed to encourage candidates to:
Develop and sustain innovation, creativity and design and technology capability.
Develop a critical understanding of the influences of the processes and products of design and technological activity.
Apply essential knowledge understanding and skills of design production processes to a range of technological activities
Use ICT to enhance design and technological capability.
Develop as discerning consumers able to make informed choices.
Develop positive attitudes of co-operation and citizenship and work collaboratively.
Programme of Study
During the course, you will develop your knowledge and understanding of a wide range of materials and manufacturing processes. You will apply this knowledge in two written examinations and a range of practical projects.
Course Outline
AS Level
Students develop an understanding of a broad range of materials, with emphasis on the life cycle of products, manufacture and final disposal. This specification also considers the broader issues for the designer including the environmental sustainability of products and consumer safety:
Unit 1: (PROD1) Materials, Components and Application
Unit 2: (PROD2) Learning Through Designing and Making
A2 Level
A2 the specification offers candidates the opportunity to further develop the knowledge and practical skills from AS. Candidates will continue to develop a body of coursework alongside an understanding of the processes and procedures of commercial production and manufacture:
Unit 3: (PROD3) Design and Manufacture
Unit 4: (PROD4) Design and Making Practice
Extra-curricular enrichment opportunities
Regular support sessions will be available at lunchtimes, after school and break times throughout the course to help students with homework, projects and exam preparation.
Engineering
Exam Board: OCR
Course name: Cambridge Technicals Level 3 Engineering
General Information
Welcome aspiring Engineers! This will be an exciting and challenging course giving you real breadth and depth of knowledge in Engineering to act as a springboard for the rest of your academic and professional careers. Look at the world around you; everything you come into contact with has been designed and developed by Product Designers and Design Engineers. From the clothes you choose to wear, the cars you use for transport, the buildings you live and work in, to the products that make your life easier and more enjoyable.
Who is the course aimed at?
Engineering at A Level will develop some of the skills most valued by employers and universities. Level 3 in Engineering will allow you to enter the world of work or University. Many engineers who gain this qualification go on to University and read for a BSc in Engineering.
Aims of the course
This course is designed to encourage candidates to:
- Students explore the various engineering sectors, and the role of design in engineering
- Students develop knowledge and understanding of the processes of engineering a product
- Students pull together all they have learned and apply their knowledge by creating their own product
- Apply essential knowledge understanding and skills of design production processes to a range of technological activities
- Use ICT to enhance design and technological capability
- Develop positive attitudes of co-operation and citizenship and work collaboratively.
Programme of Study
During the course, you will develop your knowledge and understanding of a wide range of materials and manufacturing processes. You will apply this knowledge to internally and externally assessed units of work and a range of practical projects.
Course Outline
There are a total of 23 units to select from of which 4 units are mandatory, these are (these units are externally assessed):
- Mathematics For Engineering
- Science for Engineering
- Principals of Mechanical Engineering
- Principals of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
The optional units we will be studying are (these units are internally assessed):
- Computer Aided Design (CAD)
- Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM)
Extra-curricular enrichment opportunities
Regular support sessions will be available at lunchtimes, after school and break times throughout the course to help students with homework, projects and exam preparation.