GCSE Art
A two-year course in which students learn to conduct a complete creative project, from first ideas and artist research through sketchbook development to a resolved final piece, building a personal portfolio before responding to an externally set assignment.
The course is built around two components: a Portfolio of coursework (60% of the final grade) and an Externally Set Assignment (40%). Students move from a guided first project to an independent, personal one, developing skills in observational drawing, photography, experimentation with media, and critical understanding of artists, with all work evidencing the journey from initial idea to realised intention.
Year 10
| Term & Topic | unit knowledge & skills |
|---|---|
| Autumn & SpringSeascapes |
Component 1: Portfolio, GUIDED A guided unit introducing the essentials of sketchbook practice and how to conduct a creative project from start to finish. Working to the theme of Seascapes (or a related title of their choosing), students mindmap and moodboard their ideas, photograph their subject, develop tonal observational drawing, experiment with media, study the artists who inspire them, and refine their ideas towards a final piece that realises their intentions. |
| SummerIdentity |
Component 1: Personal Portfolio The second portfolio unit begins, and this time the direction is the student’s own. Each pupil sets a personal title based loosely on Identity, initiates their own artistic project with tutorial guidance throughout, researches contextual sources and artists, and creates their first images in response to the theme. |
Year 11
| Term & Topic | unit knowledge & skills |
|---|---|
| AutumnIdentity |
Component 1: Personal Portfolio The personal portfolio deepens and concludes. Students explore their ideas further by experimenting with media and techniques, respond to their theme and contextual references, and present a personal and meaningful final response that realises their intentions, completing the unit with a written evaluation. |
| Spring & Summer |
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment Everything comes together in the exam component. Each pupil chooses one starting point from the options on the exam paper, then conducts preparatory sketchbook work: interpreting the question visually, sourcing and arranging images, studying relevant artists and refining ideas in their style, before presenting a personal and meaningful response to the title in the ten-hour supervised exam. |
There is no written exam in GCSE Art & Design: both components are practical, and each is marked as a whole against the four assessment objectives, with evidence of drawing activity and written annotation required throughout.
Component 1: Portfolio
A sustained project evidencing the journey from initial idea to realised intentions, plus a selection of further work such as experiments, workshops and gallery responses. No restriction on scale, media or materials. Presented as sketchbooks, mounted studies, journals, models, photography or digital work.
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment
Exam papers are released from 2 January, and each student responds to one starting point from their chosen title. A preparatory period of sketchbook development is followed by ten hours of supervised, unaided work in which students realise their intentions. Preparatory work may be consulted but not added to during the supervised time.