What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?
The St Christopher’s Art Department follows the EDEXCEL endorsed Fine Art syllabus. The best foundation for success in AS and A level Art is to have attained a good grade at Art GCSE. However, students who do not meet this criterion will be considered on individual merit. Aptitude for the subject, creativity, and good skills are essential. Any students who do not have Art GCSE will be asked to submit a portfolio and consult the Head of Art. AS and A Level Art are highly rewarding and students should be prepared to invest the time and energy required to develop their abilities.

You should have an understanding of the formal elements of art such as colour, tone and composition. You must also be receptive to forming a deeper understanding of the place of art, craft and design in the world, its history and purpose. Above all, you should have an impulse to create and a want to express your ideas visually.

What will I learn on this A level course?
The main purpose of any course in art, craft and design is to develop your ability to appreciate the visual world, respond in a personal and creative way and perhaps even contribute for the benefit of everyone.

The skills you will develop will be varied. Among them, you will develop a working knowledge of materials, practices and technology within art. You will develop the skills to interpret and convey your ideas and experience using the language of art. You will develop your imaginative and creative powers and your experimental, analytical and documenting skills. You will also develop a specialist vocabulary and the knowledge and understanding of the place of art, craft and design in history and in contemporary society; you will demonstrate throughout all units as well as more thoroughly in the 3000 word unit 3 personal study in Year 13.

The skills you acquire will be determined to some extent by the area of study you choose. However, art skills are possibly the most transferable currency you can develop.

• Students who wish to undertake further studies in art, craft and design, usually at Art College or further education.
• Students who are looking to take up careers for which an art background is relevant. These might include advertising, publishing, architecture, museums, theatre or art gallery work.
• Students who have an interest in and aptitude for the subject, but who do not intend to take the subject beyond the AS or A level.

Advanced Subsidiary (AS)
This is the first half of the A level course. If you and your teacher agree that it’s best for you, you can take the AS Level on its own. Or you can decide at the end of the AS course to continue to take the full A level qualification.

The AS Level is made up of two units.

The Advanced Subsidiary GCE assessment components
The Advanced Subsidiary GCE consists of Units 1 and 2. It may be awarded as a discrete qualification or count as 50 per cent of the Advanced GCE. There is no obligation for students to take the AS units before entering the A2, but it is anticipated that many will choose to do so.

Advanced GCE
The full Advanced GCE is made up of the two AS units as above, plus three more units studied at a higher level.

The Advanced GCE assessment components
The full Advanced GCE award consists of the two AS units (1 and 2), plus two A2 units (Units 3 and 4). Students wishing to take the full Advanced GCE must, therefore, complete all four units. The AS counts as 50 per cent of the Advanced GCE.

The linear or unit-based structure
The structure of this specification allows teachers to construct a course of study which can be taught and assessed through either:

• Distinct modules of teaching and learning, related to units of assessment taken at appropriate stages during the course, or
• As a linear course which is assessed in its entirety at the end.

How can I develop my full range of skills by doing this course?
As well as covering the advanced level study of Art, this course will enable you to develop some skills which will be essential to you whatever you go on to do afterwards. The skills you can develop during this course are:

Communication
The skill of communication is integral to the study of AS/A level Art and will be assessed as specified in the mark scheme. This involves, amongst other skills, the ability to:

• summarise the information found in many different types of sources – e.g. books, paintings, museums, galleries, the Internet;
• use accurate and relevant information in the best format for the piece of work you are doing;
• make sure that written work is legible and that its meaning is clear;
• choose suitable images to illustrate your ideas clearly.

• Information Technology
• Improving own learning and performance
• Working with others
• Problem solving

What could I go on to do at the end of my course?
There are many careers in art, craft and design. Most of these require further study at an art school, further education college or university. If you are unsure about whether to make a career of the subject, the best thing to do is to speak to your art teacher who will know about the courses on offer in your area or elsewhere.

At present most students wishing to take art, craft or design further will go on to do a one year ‘Foundation’ course at an art college or college of further education before applying to degree courses in more specialist areas of art and design.

You may wish to do an art AS or A level for its own sake, perhaps to form the basis of a future interest or as part of a range of other subjects. Or you might wish to go into a job where it is useful to have had experience of art, craft and design, or where you will need to use some of the skills developed during this course. These might include careers in such fields as advertising, marketing, design, architecture, publishing and the media. The study of Art can also help you develop transferable skills you can take into any career or job. Success in AS/A level Art requires determination and dedication. However, whichever future path you choose, it can be a very rewarding beginning.

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