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Entry Requirements

  • Minimum of 5x 9-4 grades in GCSE examinations including 4 in English Language and 4 in maths. A grade 5 in Art is required.

Contact

Rachael Blackledge
Coordinator of Learning Art

rachael.blackledge@sgla.latrust.org.uk

Qualification Aims and Objectives

The course develops students’ understanding of visual arts in diverse cultural and contemporary contexts while fostering creative inquiry, critical thinking, and practical investigation. It encourages students to be knowledgeable, inquiring, open‐minded and to appreciate the impact of visual culture, media and society.

Objectives

  • Develop a deep conceptual understanding of visual arts practices, contexts and processes.
  • Acquire and apply artistic knowledge, methods and creative techniques.
  • Build practical and analytical skills through experimentation, production and collaborative work.
  • Consider the ethical, cultural, social and global implications of art‐making and visual culture.
  • Prepare for further study and careers in visual arts, creative industries, design, media, communications, and education.

Course Outline

Syllabus Themes

  • Visual arts in context: Students explore art‐making within cultural, historical, social and personal contexts, and consider how visual meaning and media evolve.
  • Visual arts methods: Students engage with diverse techniques and media, building technical proficiency and confidence as art‐makers while developing autonomy in creative direction.
  • Communicating visual arts: Students produce resolved works, experiment across media and reflect on their own practice, audience and exhibition; they critically study and compare art in multiple international, intercultural and interdisciplinary contexts.

Assessment (HL)

  • External assessment: Students submit resolved artworks plus exhibition materials demonstrating technical accomplishment, conceptual depth, and effective communication of ideas.
  • Internal assessment: Students complete investigative work (such as a process portfolio or studio diary) that documents research, experimentation, reflection and development of their own practice.

Future courses and possible careers:

Fine Art Practice • Graphic Design • Illustration • Media and Communications • Film and Photography • Exhibition Curating • Art Direction • Animation and Game Design • Art Therapy • Teaching (Visual Arts) • Art & Cultural Management • Advertising and Branding • Digital Content Creation • Creative Consultancy

IBCP: Visual Arts works well in a combination with IB History or IB English Language and Literature with BTEC Creative Media or AAQ Engineering.
IBDP: you could take this as one of your HL subjects, fulfilling the Arts requirement.