Art

For some students the AS/A2 course is a step on the way to a degree and career in Art and Design, for others it provides an opportunity to study a subject that gives scope for personal expression and creativity. As a qualification, AS and A level Art are widely respected by universities.

The Department aims to be student-centred, encouraging diversity and individual creativity. Drawing, painting, ceramics and photography are central activities; fashion, textiles, film-making and stone carving have all been provided in recent years. Students are encouraged to look at their art in the wider context of past and present art and design. We constantly visit Oxford’s museums and galleries and regularly visit exhibitions in London.

Whom does it suit?

It is recommended that students taking the Art & Design A level should have studied Art at GCSE or an equivalent such as the IB. Exam success in both AS and A2 depends on considerable motivation and consistent hard work!

The AS

The AS exam is a demanding course and students must be prepared to work hard in order to cover all 3 units in their lower sixth year. The course has a clear structure with regular ‘reviews’ and ‘assessment days’, life drawing classes and gallery visits, but within the constraints of the course students are allowed a great deal of freedom to determine their own project themes and choice of media.

¨ Unit 1: comprises two Research Projects on themes of your own choice

¨ Unit 2: is a study into some aspect of Art and Design, e.g. an investigation into the work of a particular artist

¨ Unit 3: is an end of year exam

The A2

The A2 course comprises one Specialist Project on a theme of the student’s own choice; a Personal Study into an aspect of Art and Design; and a final end of year exam.

Exam strategy

¨ First year: All units sat in June

¨ Second year: January – retake of any AS units June – all A2 units

The Department

Art is taught by a team of highly experienced artists and designers who work at d’Overbroeck’s on a part-time basis. This encourages a professional approach to work and the expectation of high standards. We always maintain an ethos of care, encouragement and constructive criticism. The Department is headed by Nick Reeves, who teaches painting and art history. The rest of the team are: Sharon Wyper (painting and graphic design); Marie Darkins (ceramics); Jane Neal (painting and art history); Robin Stewart (life drawing and sculpture);Victoria Goddard (photography) and Lawrence Waters (photography).

Results

Recent exam results have been excellent and the department is currently one of the highest performing Arts department in the College in terms of AS/A2 results and also ‘value-added’.

Higher Education

We have a very good record of getting students into some of the best Art Foundation courses in the country. In recent years for example students have gained places at Central St Martins, Chelsea, Camberwell, London College of Printing, London College of Fashion, Bournemouth and Oxford Brookes.