Entry Requirements
- Six GCSEs 9-4 (or A*-C)
- Two from English, Maths OR Science
- Two at least grade 6
Course specific requirements: GCSE Art grade 9-4 Please send any enquiries to the subject email: [email protected]
A Level Art (Fine Art)
- Are you passionate about expressing yourself through visual arts and exploring your creativity in unique and exciting ways?
- Do you want to immerse yourself in a world of artistic exploration, experimenting with different techniques and materials, and expanding your artistic vision?
- Are you excited about being part of a creative community, collaborating with fellow artists, and receiving guidance from experienced art professionals?
As an art student, you will study the work of artists practicing in a variety of contexts. This will inform your practical work but will also be investigated at a deeper level in the Related Study.
Learners are required to choose one or more area(s) of study, such as; Portraiture, Landscape, Still life, Human form, Abstraction, Experimental imagery, Narrative, Working in a genre, Installation.
Exam board: OCR
Course details
Component 1: Personal Investigation (60% of A Level)
You will produce two elements:
- A portfolio of practical work showing their personal response to either a starting point, brief, scenario or stimulus, devised and provided by the learner or centre.
- A related study: an extended response of a guided minimum of 1000 words.
Component 2: Externally Set Task (40% of A Level)
You will respond to an externally set task which will provide a number of starting points. A response will be based on one of these options.
Skills
Fine Art gives you a range of transferable skills which will support you in Higher Education and the work place. An art education creates creative and independent learners who have appreciation and respect for others. Fine Art is an exciting route in which pupils can gain strong skills in research, analysis and social development. You will acquire new skills, techniques and understanding in a range of Fine Art mediums. Pupils will work towards particular themes, ideas or issues and are encouraged to be experimental, innovative and enquiring in their approach.
Careers / destinations
This subject can lead into many jobs in the creative industries, such as Fine Art, architecture, advertising, illustrator, designer, printmaker, curator, teacher, lecturer, photographer, art therapist, interior designer, multimedia artist, stylist, art valuer, art, historian, film and tv, set designer, fashion to name a few.
Creative Arts Exhibition Highlights 2023
Art and Design Exhibition Highlights 2022
Art Exhibition Highlights 2021
Fine art
What GCSE subjects do I need to study Fine Art?
To undertake a Fine Art A Level you must have studied Art and Design at GCSE level and achieved a grade 5 or above. This is because we build upon the skills taught at GCSE level.
If I study the Fine Art what could I then go on to study at University?
After studying Fine Art at Loreto, students go on to study the
following courses:
Fine Art, Textiles, Illustration, Art History, Applied Art, Animation,
3D Design, Architecture, Photography, Interior Design, Community
and Public Arts, Journalism, Theatre and Stage Design, Wardrobe
and Makeup and many more exciting courses. The UCAS points you
get can be used to gain entry to the majority of degree courses (but
you should always check). We have had students from the department who have progressed onto a variety of degree courses at prestigious universities. These include Glasgow School of Art, Oxford and Cambridge.
If I study Fine Art what future careers could I go into?
You can progress on to a range of art-based careers such as Fine
Artist, Conservator, Designer, Architect, Interior Designer, Fashion
Designer, Adverting, Art Therapist, Teacher, Curator, Illustrator, and many more.
Is the course an A Level?
Yes, the course is studied over two years alongside two other A
Level courses. It is 100% course work. You will have to sit a 15-hour exam at the end of your second year, but this is a practical exam.
What do you do on the course?
In Lower sixth, you will spend the first 14 weeks working with a
wide range of materials and techniques such as drawing, printmaking, watercolour, acrylics and bookmaking, these will be delivered in a series of practical workshops. You will use these skills to assess your strengths which you will continue into your Personal Investigation, which is worth 60% of your total A Level mark. The final stage of the course is your Externally Set Assignment, this is worth 40% of your total A Level mark and requires you to sit a practical exam over a 15-hour period.
Personal Investigation 60%
This project is personal to you as you can choose exactly what
theme you want to explore and which medium you wish to specialise in. You will then carry out an investigation starting with research and analyse the work of numerous artists, then experiment with a wide range of materials and techniques gathering primary and secondary research to aid you. You will then develop your ideas in to a direction for a possible final idea. Finally, you will produce either one or a range of final outcomes linking the whole project together. You will also be required to complete a related study which can be in the form of a document or a blog consisting of 1000-3000 words.
Externally Set Assignment 40%
You will be given a choice of seven questions and will need to undertake and complete one of these. This is exactly the same as the Personal Investigation but studied over a shorter period of time. You are not required to write a related study for this assignment but will sit a 15-hour exam at the end of the course where you will be make a final outcome.
How many students are in a class?
Class sizes range from 16 – 20 students, this means that students
have enough space in the classroom to carry out all set tasks.
Does the course have an exam?
Yes, a practical exam, please refer to Externally Set Assignment.
What transferable skills can I gain from Fine Art?
There are many transferable skills Fine Art students develop. Students will develop the ability to create individual ideas and collaborate with others as part of a team, strong research, analytical and observational skills, creative problem solving, good communication skills.
Do you go on trips?
Yes! We frequently go out on galleries visits. There is a departmental trip abroad every year. We have been to Paris, New York, Berlin and Poland in the past. There are lots of extracurricular events within the department you can get involved with.