Year 12 Art and Design students follow the Fine Art title of the A level AQA course, completing two extensive portfolio units which form the first part of the Personal Investigation.   

Students chose from a selection of project titles for unit 1 and apply this overarching theme to still life and the figure during an intensive first term.  The figure is introduced through a day of life drawing from a professional model. Workshop sessions and independently set tasks contribute to an extensive portfolio of work which concludes with a series of two outcomes.   

Students identify their own focus from the mock Externally Set Assignment paper and develop ideas for the second unit from observation drawings. They are encouraged to take responsibility for the direction of their work and gain independence as the course progresses. This unit culminates in a timed assessment. 

Sustained investigations show sequential thinking and evidence of self-review through experimental and design work. The artist research element is supported by gallery visits and requires students to be critical in their analysis of Artwork showing an understanding of context.