Students must meet the minimum entry requirements for the Vocational or Combination study pathway. In addition, students must have GCSE Grade 4 in Art, Product Design or Textiles (or equivalent at BTEC Level 2).

This is a highly practical course and will give you a wide variety of specialist experience in a range of disciplines. Examples of these are painting, drawing, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture, set design, graphic design.

You will work in a vocational context following real life briefs. You will also study the work of relevant artists and designers and use this to develop and inspire your own work.

In addition to the practical aspects of the course, you will be required to write about your work and the work of others in your sketch books, as well as in a written exam (see unit 1 and unit 2 details below).

YEAR ONE

Unit 12 – Fine Art Materials, Techniques and Processes

• Fine art is a diverse sector of art and design encompassing painting, printmaking, installation, video and photography. You can create both conceptual or more traditional pieces.

Unit 3 – The Creative Process

• You explore and experiment with the stages of the creative process to develop ideas and produce outcomes.

YEAR TWO

Unit 1 – Visual Recording and Communication

• You investigate, experiment and explore a range of visual recording materials and methods to express and communicate ideas. Working to a given theme, you will develop a practical body of work and a final piece in lesson time and then complete a written evaluation of your work in exam conditions.

Unit 2 – Critical and Contextual studies in Art & Design

• You develop skills in contextual research and visual analysis in order to critically analyse the work of others. You are given five weeks to prepare working with a given source, you must then produce a written response in a period of three supervised hours.

Throughout the course you will be given extra opportunities in Art, including trips to see the work of other artists, visits to access primary source material and opportunities for you to work alongside other visiting practicing professionals.

Students will work to a brief and be given clear assessment criteria so they can be confident on what is expected to achieve a Distinction* / Distinction / Merit / Pass. Your final grade will be calculated from a culmination of the points collected across all units. Throughout the course, students will be well supported by teachers who will give feedback on progress against the key assessment criteria.

Across the course students will complete units that are assessed in a variety of ways. There are three different types of assessment: coursework (internally assessed), tasks and written examination (both externally assessed).

YEAR ONE

Unit 12 – Fine Art Materials, Techniques and Processes

• Assessed through assignments and tasks in coursework

Unit 3 – The Creative Process

• Assessed through assignments and tasks in coursework

YEAR TWO

Unit 1 – Visual Recording and Communication

• Externally assessed task (students submit photographs of their practical work for assessment)

Unit 2 – Critical and Contextual studies in Art & Design

• Externally assessed written examination

The BTEC National Extended Certificate is a Level 3 qualification which is the equivalent to one A-level and widely recognised by universities and employers.

This course is ideal for students who have a strong commitment to Art & Design and may wish to move towards a career in some aspect of the industry.

Future careers include fashion designer, textiles designer, animator, graphic designer, fine artist, illustrator, interior designer, jewellery designer, product designer, set designer or photographer.