Art and Design A Level provides students with an excellent grounding in drawing, lino printing, mono printing, etching, painting, photography, 3D work, screen-printing, mixed media and more. Why take the course? Art and Design features in every aspect of our daily lives from the cereal box we grab every morning, the apps we use, the buildings we pass to the trainers we walk in – they’ve all been through an artistic process. To thrive in a competitive creative industry, artists and designers need to be versatile, multi-skilled and able to promote their ideas and work. Studying Art and Design not only involves technical skill but requires understanding of how to carry out research, explore ideas and take projects further. A strong art training can also develop highly valuable transferable skills, including creative ideas development, problem-solving and visual communication, as well as organisational, presentation, and team-working skills. Summary of what is studied (specification) During the first two terms you undertake a mini-foundation course so you can explore a variety of techniques and skills. This helps to develop skills and take risks, and enables you to start building an impressive portfolio. Year 13 students complete their portfolio based on their own choice of theme, using work from Year 12 if relevant. An ‘Externally Set Assignment’ constitutes a 10-week investigation which culminates in a final piece. Where could this qualification take you? Successful A Level Art students can go on to study a range of Art and Design foundation and degree courses, nationally and internationally, and train in their area of specialisation. There is such a wide range of specialist areas, including graphic design, product design, architecture, film editing, photography, digital design, designing games, apps, software and online content, film and theatre set design, special effects, fashion design, illustration – the list is vast!