Academic Subjects Art & Design (BTEC)
Art & Design (BTEC)
Art & Design (BTEC)
The course provides an in-depth experience of a broad range of Art and Design materials, processes and skills, with an underlying emphasis on educating the creative and imaginative instincts and capabilities of 16-18 year old students, preparing them for further study and potential careers in this field.
It is a two year course offered in the Sixth Form, consisting of approximately 14 contact hours per week over 32 weeks per year. The course is challenging and requires a clear commitment from students to its varied, assignment-based nature.
In the first year of the course, students are introduced to the processes involved in researching, developing and producing their assignments. They are encouraged to develop their use of visual language to communicate and document ideas, feelings and information.
In the second year of the course, students build on their skills and understanding to pursue more personal concerns, and to extend their expertise in the areas where their strengths lie. A final assignment proposal, written by the individual student and approved by the examination board, provides an opportunity for the student to respond to a brief in a very personal way. Students are also given guidance on preparing themselves and their portfolios for interviews for Higher Education courses.
Historical and contextual studies form an important element of every assignment, and sketchbooks are considered to be vital personal documents for visual research and development. During the first year, students will visit galleries, art collections, museums and sites of architectural and cultural interest in the UK and Europe.