The Edinburgh Academy

AS-Level: Sixth or Seventh Year

The AS-Level Course is principally about the development of ideas. AS-Level students will build on their experiences at GCSE (or possibly Standard Grade if joining the school this year), to document and record their responses to visual stimulation while exploring the range of media on offer.

They will then develop their individual ideas towards a final piece, although the emphasis is more focused on the journey rather than the destination at this stage. The satisfaction of a completed final piece however is encouraged and recommended.

Life-drawing and attendance at Art Society lectures is viewed as compulsory. Described below is a summary of the course and how the department chooses to interpret the OCR criteria.

A-Level (A2): Seventh Year

The A-Level Course continues on from where the AS-Level left off, with greater emphasis on depth and the development of a personal language which is articulated in the final piece. Pupils are given their own area to work in and should be more independently responsible for their learning. In addition to the timetabled classes they should make good use of their spaces during free periods and after school.

They are expected to attend a weekend in the Highlands and Islands as a starting point to the course and will continue to attend life-drawing classes in order to develop their skills while also attending Art Society lectures. A variety of different tutorials punctuate the year to ensure that pupils maintain pace and are assisted with ideas. The level of work to be achieved during this year is described by OCR as open blue water in comparison to AS, while between AS and GCSE it is generally muddier!

Coursework

(60% of marks are for this component, or 30% of the full A-Level) The coursework is made up of two Units of work. Pupils produce one body of work derived from their lifedrawing classes and one main studio-based project. The departmental theme for the year is used as a starting point but the emphasis should be on personal and individual projects.

The critical, contextual study of some aspect of Art and Design is included in the two Units of work. Pupils are given plenty of stimuli at the start of the year with gallery visits playing an important role.

Coursework

(30% of marks of the full A-Level) Coursework consists of a major assignment: pupils create individual solutions from a variety of starting points which could be their discoveries at AS-Level, life drawing, art society lectures, gallery visits, workshops, Art trips, or purely from a personally discovered interest. The fi nal piece of work will usually be ambitious either in scale or conception. At this level sketchbooks are important as supporting studies along with their coursework portfolio.

The critical, contextual study of some aspect of Art and Design, either in sketchbook, portfolio or illustrated essay format continues to play an important part, with a Personal Study of 3000 words forming part of the coursework. It must contain primary research or study, based on a submitted outline of intentions and a full bibliography.

Controlled Assignment

(40% of marks, or 20% of the full A-Level)

This is a five hour exam based on three weeks of preparation and development derived from one of the examination board's set themes. Teachers will suggest areas for investigation and support pupils in the development of ideas, although for this element of the course, pupils should be taking responsibility for the overall direction of the project.

The staff will mark all the work as a team with an external moderator visiting the school to ensure standardisation.

Controlled Test

(20% of the full A-Level)

This is a demanding fifteen hour conclusion to development of ideas based on one of the examination board's set themes during a designated preparation period.

All A2 pupils have to mount an exhibition of their work for internal and external assessment at the end of the year.

The staff will mark all the work as a team with an external moderator visiting the school to ensure standardisation.