The aim of the Art and Design Department here in Foyle College is to guide pupils to achieve their full potential in an enjoyable and stimulating environment.  Through exploring a wide variety of media and techniques, pupils are encouraged to develop and broaden their skills and confidence.

Key stage 3

All pupils in Years 8, 9 and 10 study Art and Design. Pupils can develop their own personal and creative responses by researching, gathering, and interpreting information from direct experiences, observations, memory, imagination, and a range of traditional and digital sources. They will develop an appreciation of the work of artists, designers, and craft workers from their own cultures, past and present. They will develop creative and thinking skills along with their personal and creative outcomes through investigating, realising, designing, and making.

·        Drawing

·        Printmaking

·        Textiles

·        Sculpture

·        Ceramics

·        3- dimensional construction and prototyping

·        Lens based media

·        Information and Communication Technology

Pupils are made aware of the range of career opportunities available within the creative industries in Northern Ireland and further afield.

                                                                      

 GCSE Art and Design

In Foyle College we offer CCEA’s Art and Design course.  This is a two-year course.

The units are as follows:

Component 1 Part A: Exploratory Portfolio
Component 1 is worth 60% of the overall marks for the course and has two parts (A and B).

The focus of Part A is to encourage pupils to develop their ability to experiment in the disciplines listed previously. Pupils learn through practical exploration of practitioners, the contexts they work in, and the processes they use. Pupils develop their ideas by responding creatively to others’ work. They must explore at least two different disciplines from those listed but they can explore and combine as many different disciplines as they wish.

Component 1 Part B: Investigating the Creative and Cultural Industries
Pupils complete one of the following practical tasks as described in the Component 1 Part B controlled assessment booklet.

1.      An investigation into an artist, designer, movement or other aspect of art and design leading to a personal response.

2.      A response to a design brief or visual arts commission

3.      Participation in a collaborative project with a clearly defined role leading to an outcome that can be presented for individual assessment.

Pupils build on the knowledge, skills and confidence gained in Component 1 Part A. They engage with and demonstrate understanding of different roles and opportunities in the creative and cultural industries.

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment
Component 2 is the externally set assignment and makes up 40% of the overall marks for the course. CCEA release the stimulus paper at the beginning of January of the examination year and pupils must complete a minimum of 20 hours of preparatory work in response to the theme.

Pupils must produce and complete a final outcome based on this preparatory work within a set period of 10 hours. They carry this out under controlled examination conditions and complete it by the date that CCEA specify.    

Pupils develop ideas in response to the stimulus paper. They investigate the work of artists, craft practitioners and designers and other sources to inspire and inform their creative process.

 

A Level Art and Design

In Foyle we offer CCEAA Level course for Art and Design which helps pupils develop key transferable skills and qualities which are highly sought after by employers. These include creativity, problem-solving, resilience, imagination, empathy and innovation.

Higher order thinking skills such as researching, analysing and reflecting are fundamental to this qualification. It provides students with opportunities to develop key skills needed for the world of work, Further and Higher Education and provides a pathway to a future career in a creative or cultural industries-related field.

Unit AS 1 and Unit AS 2

In Unit AS 1, pupils explore through visual enquiry a broad range of contextual sources, skills, techniques and disciplines. This builds their confidence in working independently. In Unit AS 2, they should bring their exploratory work to a completed personal outcome based on their response to a broad theme that CCEA sets.

Unit A2 1 and Unit A2 2

Pupils who continue to A2 pursue extended development of particular themes, ideas or issues. In Unit A2 1, they undertake further theoretical research. There is an increased requirement at A2 to demonstrate understanding through integrated practical and written pieces of work, and other means of communication. In unit two they will undertake more rigorous exploration of an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approach or greater specialisation in a particular medium or process. This is in response to a broad theme set by CCEA.

Apart from the written element in Unit A2 1, all work is assessed internally and moderated externally. The written element is sent to CCEA for assessment.

 

Extra-curricular

Pupils in all key stages can avail themselves of the Art Club every Wednesday at lunchtime. Key Stage 4 and 5 also have afterschool and lunchtime support.

Pupils also have opportunities to enter Art competitions.  The Credit Union sets a topic for the Art Competiton with many of our pupils being successful.

 

Where to next?

The Creative Industries are the fastest growing area of the economy and are vital to economic success. Studying Art, Craft and Design creates a pathway to a career in a creative industries-related field, and encourages students to value materials, aesthetics and craftsmanship.

An A level in Art and Design provides a solid foundation for further study of art, craft, and design at higher level and for degree courses in other fields.

Qualifications in Art and Design can lead to employment in many areas such as architecture, graphic design, interior design, product design media, museum curatorship, gallery curator and fashion etc.