1. AQA Specification 4201 – Art and Design

2.  Art and Design course is run here at Gillotts as it follows a broader range of work.  Students should include work from at least two of the following, rather than specialising in one of the following areas:  Fine Art  Graphic Communication  Textile Design  Three-Dimensional Design  Photography

3.  It fosters a culture of independent study and creativity – at Key Stage 3, pupils have been told what to do. At Key Stage 4, we encourage them to design their own projects  Provides an opportunity to excel – everyone can achieve a minimum of a grade C if they are prepared to follow the process as outlined by exam board  Art provides a opportunity to gain valuable experience of many practical processes and techniques

4.  100% Practical Course  60% Portfolio  40% Externally Set Task

5.  Pupils are given EST paper in first lesson after Christmas break of Year 11  They are given 7 initial questions and have to pick 1 to work from  The EST takes the form of a unit of coursework  They will be given tasks to undertake whilst continuing with coursework in lessons  Will commence working solely on exam work in mid January ready to take exam in mid April

6.  Exam is 10 hours long and takes place over 2 full school days  Pupils do not work for 5 hours straight – they get their breaks and lunch!  Out of the way before Easter break so pupils can focus on their final academic exams  All work for the EST must be submitted at the end of the second full day – anything not submitted will not be assessed

7.  2 separate units of coursework which should be selected from the following:  Fine Art  3D Design  Graphic Communication  Textile Design  Photography*

8.  Completed in Year 10 – Christmas of Year 11 through one experimental project, one project set by pupil (and guided by Department staff)  One project undertaken in the form of a Mock Exam which is a timed unit and a 5 hour exam completes the unit  All units will be marked and given back with areas to develop to ensure that full, coherent units that adhere to the assessment objectives are submitted at the end of the course.

9.  All projects must cover all four assessment objectives  Marked out of 20 for each  Portfolio is marked as a whole so if one project is lacking one objective, it can be covered in the other and EST is marked separately  All work is moderated internally by department staff and externally moderated by AQA Assessors

10.  http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and- design/gcse/art-and-design-4200 http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and- design/gcse/art-and-design-4200  This contains links to specification and past papers and has the new specification for examinations from 2014.  My email address is hannah.driver@gillotts.oxon.sch.uk – please feel free to email me if you have any queries. hannah.driver@gillotts.oxon.sch.uk