Award Received

Higher (Grades A-D)

Entry Level

The preferred level of entry to Higher Art & Design is an N5 pass at A or B level. Students with an N5 pass at C level may be allocated a place at the discretion of the school.

It is also important that students have a genuine interest and enthusiasm for Art and artists and what inspires them.

Course Content

Expressive Activity e.g. still life/portraiture. This area develops skills in direct observation using a variety of media, for example, painting, printmaking, drawing, oil pastel, pen and ink, on a chosen theme.

Design Activity e.g. graphic design/body adornment. Students work from a design brief where they outline requirements and identify and solve design problems relevant to their particular area of design.

Art & Design Studies – this involves the study of artists and designers and particular work.

Extended Reading & Viewing

Students are expected to make good use of critical booklets, websites, and visual resources to develop their coursework.

Assessment

To achieve the Course award, students must meet internal deadlines and complete critical tasks so as to be prepared for the practical folio submission date in April written paper in May. All parts of the course are assessed externally, however teachers will indicate working grades and target grades in regular school reports throughout the year.

Art and Design: Expressive Activity (Higher)

This Higher Course helps learners to develop their personal thoughts and ideas in visual form. Students will develop critical understanding of artists’ working practices and the social and cultural influences impacting their work. They will select stimuli and produce investigative drawings and studies. They will develop and refine their expressive ideas and art work, experimenting with and using a range of materials, techniques and/or technology in 2D and/or 3D formats in response to the stimuli.

Art and Design: Design Activity (Higher)

The Higher course will plan, research and develop creative design work in response to a design brief. They will develop their creativity, problem solving and critical thinking skills as they consider complex design opportunities, and work to resolve design issues and constraints. In the Unit, learners will develop critical understanding of designers’ working practices and the social and cultural influences impacting their work. They will develop and refine their design ideas by experimenting with and using a range of materials techniques and/or technology in 2D and/or 3D formats.

Students practical folios will be presented in x3 A2 sheets called: Investigation, Development and Final Outcome.

 

Course Assessment

The course assessment consists of two components: a portfolio of creative work and a question paper.

The folio is separated into two sections:

Section 1, titled ‘Expressive’, will have 100 marks.

Section 2, titled ‘Design’, will have 100 marks.

This assesses the following skills, knowledge and understanding:

• the ability to identify a coherent theme in their work.
• the ability to confidently use selected art and design materials, techniques and/or technology expressively and creatively when responding to an expressive theme/stimuli and design brief.
• the ability to produce and critically reflect on your final piece of expressive art and the final design solution
• the ability to present your work for assessment

 

Question Paper

The question paper is separated into two sections:

Section 1, titled ‘Expressive Art Studies’, will have 30 marks.

Section 2, titled ‘Design Studies’, will have 30 marks.

This will be carried out as a final exam where pupils have 2 hours to complete the paper.

The question paper requires students to describe and analyse art and design work and show knowledge of one artist and one designer’s work and influences. In preparing for the critical paper, students learn new art vocabulary, learn analysing skills, acquire knowledge and understanding of art and design and can interpret and respond to previously unseen images.

Homework

Homework assignments focus on helping the student consolidate knowledge and skills and will normally develop any ongoing classwork. Art & Design Studies will be carried out as homework assignments.

Progression

After Higher, students can progress to Advanced Higher Art and Design or the Portfolio course in preparation for application to a variety of further education courses.

Costs

£4 for A2 plastic folder and contribution to materials.