Learning & Achieving Together

Art

As a visual arts college Brentside is expected to achieve an exceptional standard in the field of visual arts and design. Our results in public examinations last year were excellent with some students achieving amongst the highest overall scores nationally. 

Students regularly complete workshops and study days at the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, the Tate Britain, the Tate Modern, the Hayward Gallery, the National Film Theatre and many other venues.

Each year a number of art and design students from Brentside go on to take up places at prestigious universities and art colleges.  Many then go on to work in the world of visual arts and design at such places as film studios, advertising agencies and the BBC or are professional fine artists in their own right.

Key Stage 3

Year 7

Students have the opportunity to develop skills and understanding in a range of media areas including; drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and digital media. Students learn about artists, styles and movements including traditional European art and post modern work.

Year 8

Students learn how to develop their observational skills in drawing and painting including still life and perspective. Students further their understanding of a range of media including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and digital. A broad range of artists from diverse cultures are introduced as students learn how to appreciate and talk about art.

Year 9

Students investigate ‘man made’ as a theme. They develop visual and contextual responses to this theme throughout the media areas. This theme builds on the mark making and conceptual studies undertaken in Years 7 and 8.

Key Stage 4

GCSE Art and Design

This course leads to a GCSE in art & design. The main focus of the course is to develop students' practical skills using a wide range of materials and techniques in drawing, painting, mixed media and 3D construction.

In Year 10, students work thematically on a variety of different ideas and media, while in Year 11, students have the opportunity to work independently on their own project. This will be planned with the support of specialist art and design teachers which allows students to sustain, experiment with and further their own creative interests, whether they are in photography, painting, textiles, graphics or 3D sculpture.

Assessment and Examinations (Edexcel)

The GCSE course runs over a two year period. During Year 10 students will carry out a coursework project set by their teacher. Students will be supported in the building of skills in art and design materials and techniques.
 
During Year 11 students will be expected to complete an internally set mock examination and an externally set assignment, (examination project). The examination project consists of a ten hour practical examination which is completed over two days and is supported by preliminary studies. There are no written examinations and the final grades for the course are awarded by an external moderator. Question papers will be distributed eight school weeks (plus April school holiday) before the examination.
 

Key Stage 5

This course leads to an AS or A level in art with a specialism in either fine art, fashion and textiles, graphic design, photography or general art and design.

 

Assessment and Examinations (Edexcel)

The AS course comprises of two units:
 
  • Unit 1: Coursework
  • Unit 2: Externally set assignment (examination project).
 
The A level course comprises of two units:
 
  • Unit 3: Personal Study (essay of 3000 words approximately) + Practical Project
  • Unit 4: Externally set assignment, (examination project).
The externally set assignment (examination project) ends with a timed practical test (A level - 8 hours and A2- 12 hours). The timed examination is to the practical completion of the final outcome. There are no written examinations and the final grade for each course is awarded by an external moderator.

Each unit of work is marked by the teacher and assessed by an external moderator at the end of the year. The course is composed of practical and written work and there are no written examinations. Students who wish to gain an A level qualification in art and design can continue to study into the second year with A2 where they will also choose to study in one particular area of practical work.
 
BTEC Extended Diploma Equivalent to 3 x A levels
 

The course consists of the following units of study, all of which are 100% coursework based and do not require a written examination:

  • 6 core units which combine drawing, painting, photography and 3D construction with artist research and vocational briefs.
  • 7 specialist units where students can choose to specialise and follow paths of study in the field of art and design they are most interested in.

Assessment and Examinations (Edexcel)

Each unit of work is marked by the teacher and assessed by an external moderator at the end of the year. The course is composed of practical and written work and there are timed tests and controlled assessments in some units.

Extra Curricular Opportunities

There are a range of extracurricular opportunities for students of all ages. We offer a number of exciting opportunities for students to visit art galleries and museums, including visits abroad. At key stage 5 students are encouraged to attend external sessions and programmes held at our partnership galleries and art schools in London. At AS and A2 level, students work on a number of live briefs with practising artists. Students are encouraged to attend life drawing sessions held at our partnership galleries and are motivated to make their own contacts within the Visual Arts industry taking up work experience placements.