AS & A2 Art & Design New specification

Welcome to the evolution… …not the revolution!

The evolution? Keep status quo Maintain strengths Address weaknesses Work within QCA & OCR guidelines

Spec structure Leaner qualification - 4 units Same endorsements on offer Endorsements are separate qualifications Candidates can still take more than 1 endorsement AS = 1 coursework unit & 1 exam unit Same structure mirrored at A2

Spec structure - 2 All work internally assessed and externally moderated Moderation by visit – face to face de-brief June assessment session only First assessment session = June 2009

Specification – update 1 Specification and Sample Assessment Materials now been accredited by QCA Hard (bound) copy & CD ROM of these gone to all OCR registered centres (to Heads of Art) Will be able to purchase loose leaf version of spec from Publications Hodder support book being written (flyer in pack)

Specification – update 1 Schemes of Work and Lesson plans will be available soon Teacher’s Guide is being produced – includes guidance on units and endorsements Exemplar work being produced – for all units with guidance on applying assessment criteria Get Started course in Spring 2008 – full day course covering AS units

Spec structure – unit names AS Unit 1 (F410-F416) Coursework Portfolio Unit 2 (F421-F426) Controlled Assignment A2 Unit 3 (F431-F436) Personal Investigation Unit 4 (F441-F446) Controlled Assignment

Spec structure – endorsements Unendorsed route Fine Art Graphic Communication Photography – lens & light based media Textile Design 3D Design Critical & Contextual

Spec structure - specialisms Fine Art: painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, lens- based imagery, alternative media Graphic Comm: illustration, web design, advertising, packaging, multi-media, design for print Photography: lens-based imagery, digital imaging, the moving image Textile Des: fashion, printed and/or dyed, constructed, fabrics, expressive textiles 3D Design: ceramics, set design, product design, environmental/architectural design, jewellery Crit & Con: the human form, landscape & natural forms, still life & designed objects, the built environment, machine age & abstract art, contemporary media in art

Spec structure - weightings UnitASA2 Coursework Portfolio 60%30% Controlled Assignment 40%20% Personal Investigation 30% Controlled Assignment 20%

AS Unit 1: Coursework Portfolio Work derived from centre determined starting points/topics/themes Focus on exploration, research, acquisition of techniques and skills Can fit candidates needs – single project or several smaller projects Flexible presentation options Issue of selection – quality not quantity

AS Unit 1: Coursework Portfolio Focus on: Recording from primary sources Developing ideas & techniques Producing work that is personal, informed & meaningful Learning to analyse own work & work of others in contemporary, historical & cultural contexts

AS Unit 2:Controlled Assignment Works from early release question paper Same paper for all endorsements Candidates select 1 starting point Must be handed out to candidates from 1 February Planning & prep time: 3-6 school weeks Then work within 5 hour controlled period to develop ideas into realisation/outcome

A2 Unit 2: Controlled Assignment Focus on: independent working sustained & focussed investigations working from direct observation document & record from secondary sources experiment with range of media & materials be informed by contextual and other sources relating planning and prep to realisation/outcome

AS Unit 2:Controlled Assignment Question paper has 5 sections: –Stimuli - typically 1 word starting points –Observational - brief descriptive items –Design brief - product based tasks –Art in context – artist/movement directed tasks –Visual starting points – tasks derived from 3 or 4 images

A2 Unit 3:Personal Investigation Work determined by candidate Need to produce 1 major project – but can be split into defined series/set of work Must included related personal study between words Focus on personal response and need to show working through range of experiences

A2 Unit 4:Controlled Assignment Works from early release question paper Same paper for all endorsements Candidates select 1 starting point Must be handed out to candidates from 1 February Planning & prep time: 3-6 school weeks Then work within 15 hour controlled period to develop ideas into final piece

A2 Unit 4:Controlled Assignment Question paper layout same as AS But now have different paper Focus on: –independent working –working from direct observation from primary sources –document & record from secondary sources –producing explanatory prep –using range of techniques & processes –develop work into successful conclusion

Assessment – the tools All units marked out of 100 A2 units are synoptic AS A2 AO1 Develop AO2 Experiment AO3 Record AO4 Present 20 30

Assessment – the tools Common mark grid for AS units & A2 units Grids have 6 bands Band 1partial Band 4coherent Band 2basic Band 5confident Band 3competent Band 6mature

Admin processes Unit & aggregation codes – numbers at end relate to endorsements - 3D & photo swapped to match GCSE Examined units – provisional entries need to be made Paperwork will be reviewed

The A* Grade This will be determined statistically by UMS points Candidates have to achieve at least 320 UMS marks at GCE level (i.e. an A grade) and also achieve at least 180 UMS in two of their A2 units If this is the case then they receive an A* grade

Support Exemplar materials –CD ROM to include photographs of work with marking commentary –Aiming for 6 examples per unit & cover all endorsements –C&C will be presented separately Teacher’s guide –General advice/guidance –Endorsement specific information Student guide Training sessions –Get Started – full paid course –Assessment course – full paid course (will incl. marking of new work)

Why do OCR AS/A2 Art & Design? Key advantages: Builds on current spec strengths Flexibility & broad approaches Simple assessment criteria Open & honest moderation process Opportunity to communicate with visiting moderator

Further Questions Please contact the Subject Officer - Sam Prince Tel: