Art

Students who want to develop skills in Art and Design, expand their creativity and imagination, and learn about Art past and present, will enjoy GCSE Art.

They have the opportunity to get involved in and work with a wide range of media and techniques. After the initial guided projects, they will begin to work independently, explore their ideas, and be supported through regular individual and group tutorials. Lingfield Art Department aims to foster creativity and imagination to give students the confidence to take risks and experiment to create innovative and exciting work! This qualification can lead to Art and Design related employment or courses such as A Level Art & Photography, progressing to Higher Education courses in a multitude of visual design fields.

Students planning to study this course will need to be well-motivated, open to new ideas and willing to work hard. Studying Art should not be considered as an easy option but a fascinating and enjoyable one.

What will I learn?

There are four assessment objectives, students will undertake preparatory studies, observation work, contextual studies, development and outcomes for each.

1. Creative and imaginative concepts and the practical skills for communicating and expressing ideas, feelings and meanings in Art and Design
2. Investigative, analytical, experimental and interpretative capabilities, as well as, aesthetic understanding and critical thinking
3. Understanding of codes and conventions in Art and Design and awareness of contexts in which they operate
4. Knowledge and understanding of Art and Design in contemporary societies and across other periods and cultures.

Studying Art at A Level  

Studying Fine Art at A Level is very rewarding. Students will have the opportunity to explore their own ideas and develop exciting outcomes. It is both an academic and creative subject. Students will need to be able to carry out extensive research, experiment, develop ideas, and present well-informed concepts and outcomes. A Grade 6/7 or above in Art GCSE is required.

Our A Level in Fine Art has been designed to ensure that students develop practical artistic skills and abilities and study Art and Design and its various contexts. So, in addition to making artefacts, students will be encouraged to reflect on their work and the work of others to develop aesthetic understanding and critical judgment.

Lessons are divided between whole-class workshops, personal tutorials, group critiques and independent study. Students receive personal weekly feedback and targets, which allow them to develop concepts that are individual to them.

Four Assessment Objectives include:

1. Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
2. Experiment with and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
3. Record in visual and other forms ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, demonstrating an ability to reflect on work and progress.
4. Present a personal, informed, and meaningful response that demonstrates critical understanding, realises intentions, and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual, oral, or other elements.

Our A Level Art and Photography Summer Exhibition is the most exciting event in the Art Department's calendar. It showcases the incredible body of work created by students during their two years of study. 

Every year, we celebrate the achievements of our students, many of whom choose Art Foundation courses and competitive Art and design-based university degrees. 

A Level Photography is both an academic and creative subject. In addition to students undertaking extensive research into the visual world they live in, they also learn various methods of traditional and digital photographic techniques. Our darkroom is used extensively by students as they experiment, develop ideas and present well-informed concepts and outcomes. 

Our Edexcel A Level in Photography has been designed to ensure that students not only develop practical skills and abilities but also study its various contexts. So, in addition to creating photographic artefacts, students will be encouraged to reflect on their own work and on the work of others and will develop aesthetic understanding and critical judgement.  

Students will also develop intellectual, imaginative, creative and intuitive powers, as well as investigative, analytical, experimental, practical, technical and expressive skills.  Students receive personal weekly feedback and targets and this allows them to develop concepts that are individual to them. In Year 13, students complete a personal investigation and, as part of this project, they produce a written essay that explores their concept. This research essay supports students’ practical work and allows them to demonstrate a deeper understanding of their themes and influences. 

The Externally Set Assignment is released on 1st February and contains a theme and suggested starting points. Students have from 1st February until the commencement of the final 15-hour period of sustained focus to develop preparatory studies. The 15-hour period of sustained focus under examination conditions may take place over multiple sessions (usually held at the beginning of May).