A-level Art and Design at Kings

Overview

Art and Design is an exploration of practical and critical/contextual work through a range of 2D and/or 3D processes and mediums. It provides a platform for further study of the arts, a background for other fields of study and develops creative thinking skills.

This subject is also referred to as Art, Craft and Design to distinguish it from the subject umbrella of Art and Design which also includes Fine Art, Photography, Graphic Communication, Textile Design and Three-dimensional Design.

Key Facts

Start Dates:

9 September 2024
6 January 2025

Colleges:

Bournemouth
Brighton
London
Oxford

Entry level:

Academic: Completed 10 years of schooling (GCSE or equivalent)
English: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent

Minimum age:

Length:

2 Academic Years (3 terms)
We also offer entry from Year 12

Lessons:

Average 7 hours per week for each A-level subject (plus homework and private study)

Learning outcomes

Gain UK national university entrance qualification
Raise English to university level
Develop study skills required at degree level
Develop specialist subject expertise

Course content and structure

The following syllabus outline is based on AQA exam board content. Please note that exam boards may vary from college to college.

Course structure

AS Component 1: The Portfolio

Students choose ONE of the following 6 skills and techniques and work on that throughout the course.
Art, craft and design
Fine art
Graphic communication
Textile design
3D design
Photography
Students develop work based on an idea, issue, concept or theme, leading to a final outcome or a series of related outcomes.

AS Component 2: Assignment

At the start of February students will be given question papers according to the skills and techniques they have chosen. The paper will have 5 questions, from which they choose one as a starting point for their work.
Towards the end of the course students will have 10 hours of supervised time to produce a finished outcome or a series of related outcomes.

A-level Component 1: Personal Investigation

Students choose one of the same 6 skills and techniques (it may be the same as the one they did for AS) and work on that throughout their course.
They develop work based on an idea, issue, concept or a series of related outcomes, supported by written work (1,000 – 3,000 words).

A-level Component 2: Assignment

At the beginning of February students receive a question paper with a choice of 8 questions from which they choose one as a starting point for their work. Towards the end of the course they will have 15 hours of supervised time in which they produce a finished outcome or a series of related outcomes.
Within each component, students must demonstrate evidence that they have explored critical and contextual work through a range of two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional processes and media.

Typical A-level subject combinations with Art and Design

Art, Physics, Maths
Art, Government and Politics, History

Sample enrichment activities

A-Level students visit museums and galleries both locally and nationally to research areas of interest relevant to the development of their ideas.
Students are invited to attend regular life drawing classes at Oxford.

Students will present their work through regular critiques to refine and hone their skills as well as showcase their work in an annual exhibition, which is moderated by an AQA examiner.

Sample academic calendar (2023-2024 and 2024-25)

Year 1

Sept

11th: term starts
Student induction

Oct

23rd – 27th: half term
Progress tests

Nov

University fairs and talks

Dec

15th: term ends
End of term exams

Jan

8th: term starts

Feb

15th – 16th: half term
Progress tests
University fairs

Mar

End of term exams
22nd: term ends

Apr

8th: term starts

May

Progress tests

June

Exams
14th: term ends

Year 2

Sept

9th Sept: term starts

Oct

21st Oct – 1st Nov: half term
15th October: UCAS deadline (Medicine)
Progress tests

Nov

University fairs and talks

Dec

13th: term ends
End of term exams

Jan

6th: term starts
15th January: UCAS deadline (other subjects)

Feb

13th – 14th: half term
Progress tests

Mar

21st: term ends
Mock exams

Apr

7th: term starts
Progress tests

May

Final exams

June

13th June: term ends

Degree progression

Studying Art and Design at A-level equips students with a whole set of transferable skills both for life and for a wide range of vocational areas. A-level Art and Design is perfect for those students wishing to undertake further studies in art, craft and design related subjects. Many students progress onto art related courses, which sometimes involves studying an Art foundation course such as the Kings Art Foundation. This is a one year full-time course that allows students to explore a range of disciplines before deciding which specialist area they want to study at degree level.

Example degree courses which often require Art and Design A-level include:

Fine Art
Textile Design
Fashion Design
Graphics and Advertising
Photography

Multimedia
Architecture
Product Design
Illustration

Sample alumni progression

Yeqian Gao

Art/Physics/Maths
Newcastle University (Architecture)

Fatima Hashemi

Art/Physics/Maths/Further Maths
University of California (Architecture)

Jung Eun Kim

Art/Physics/Maths/Further Maths
University of Sheffield (Architecture)

Mira Merali

Art/Politics/Russian/History
University of Art, Norwich (Art and the History of Art)

Heilun Pang

Art/Physics/Maths
University of the Arts Bournemouth (Animation Production)

Thank you for your enquiry.
We'll be in touch soon.
The Kings Admissions Team

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A-level Art and Design

Overview

Key Facts

Learning outcomes

Course content and structure

Course structure

Typical A-level subject combinations with Art and Design

Sample enrichment activities

Sample academic calendar (2023-2024 and 2024-25)

Year 1

Year 2

Degree progression

Sample alumni progression

University Progression

Elite Preparation

Other programmes

Core Pre-university Programmes

Elite University Pathways

Specialist University Pathways

Summer Academy

Other programmes

Progression to the UK's Top Universities

Hear from our students

Progression agreements

Subject/Career Guides

Step inside Kings.Read our blog

The Kings Difference

Learning at Kings

Life at Kings

Support at Kings

A-level Art and Design

Overview

Key Facts

Learning outcomes

Course content and structure

Course structure

Typical A-level subject combinations with Art and Design

Sample enrichment activities

Sample academic calendar (2023-2024 and 2024-25)

Year 1

Year 2

Degree progression

Sample alumni progression

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