ART AND DESIGN GCSE

"To draw you must close your eyes and sing."  Pablo Picasso

Art and Design at A Level offers a path towards many careers. It is designed to meet the needs of those who wish to undertake further studies in art and design; those who wish to take up a career in which an art and design qualification is either desirable or necessary and those for who art is simply a way of obtaining a qualification through self expression and the acquisition of basic artistic techniques in ceramics, sculpture, painting, fashion and textiles or photography. The course emphasises the view that art is the expression of a wordless language and of colour, form and sensitivity.

Ashbourne’s Art & Design Department

Ashbourne’s Art department is headed by Gina Fiori, who is one of the most passionate, energetic and enthusiastic teachers students new to Ashbourne will have ever encountered. Gina has a very interesting and broad CV having obtained art degrees in Santiago, Chile and Bruxelles. Every year Gina works tirelessly with her colleagues in the Art, Media and Drama departments to coordinate and put together the annual Christmas college revue, which is now in its ninth year. Sheila Cosgrove has studied Art and Design in New York and Cincinnati and is a graduate of Chelsea College of Art. She also attended Ruskin College, Oxford studying Fine Art. Also making a valuable contribution to photography and graphic design are Jack Sritaipop and Tim Dean, a graduate of the prestigious St. Martin’s College. Tim also holds a PGCE. Jack Sritaipop graduated in Thailand and heads the Photography department.

Specification content (full course)

The unendorsed route will enable students to explore a range of two- or three-dimensional
approaches to their studies either as free-standing or related experiences. Work produced for this specification will demonstrate the use of formal elements and creative skills, and give visual form to individual thoughts, feelings, observations and ideas. Students will show evidence of trying to extend their own and othersí ways of seeing the world. They will use the visual language of the discipline sensitively and thoughtfully to support their  intentions. Students must work in two or more disciplines in Coursework.

For all disciplines, students should:
- undertake visual research using primary and secondary sources and record observations, experiences and ideas in appropriate ways. Primary sources must include first-hand experience of original work.
-  develop and realise ideas and outcomes, exploring and reviewing possible solutions and modifying work appropriately.
-  understand and use appropriately and safely a range of materials, equipment, processes and techniques in two and/or three dimensions, using information and communication technology where appropriate.
-  know and understand a range of work, from contemporary practice, past practice and different cultures, so that they are able to demonstrate an understanding of continuity and change in art, craft and design. The disciplines associated with the unendorsed Art & Design GCSE are painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramic design, interior, product or environmental design, jewellery, constructed textiles, dyed textiles, printed textiles, woven textiles, knitted textiles, fashion, photography, film and video, advertising, illustration, packaging and typography.