A LEVEL
Art & Design
In Art & Design, you’ll have the space to explore, experiment and discover what matters to you as an artist. It’s a chance to find your own voice and develop the skills to express it.
Experiment, make mistakes, and discover what it means to communicate through your own visual language. Every sketch, mark and concept becomes part of your journey as an artist.
You arrive as you are, and you’re celebrated for it. You leave ready to take on the world.
— Sixth Form student
Art is my passion. The teachers at St Paul’s are always interested in your work and push you to do the absolute best
Why Choose Art at St Paul’s?
At St Paul’s, our Art & Design department is a welcoming and creative community. It’s a place where individuality is valued and every student is encouraged to grow in confidence and skill.
Small classes mean plenty of time to explore ideas and receive personal feedback that helps your work develop.
Specialist teachers guide you through new materials and techniques, encouraging you to take creative risks and find your own direction.
A supportive studio environment where students share ideas, learn from one another and celebrate each other’s achievements.
Strong pathways forward into architecture, illustration, design, fashion, media and many other creative fields.
Above all, it’s a place to discover who you are as an artist, to challenge yourself, express your individuality and take pride in your progress.
Where Art Can Take You
Many students decide to carry on their art studies at university or art school, exploring subjects from animation to fashion design. Others find that the creativity and independence they’ve developed here give them confidence in a wide range of careers.
I thought about leaving, but I realised no one else would care about me the way St Paul’s does. Here, I’m not starting over, I’m moving forward.
— Student Name
What You’ll Study
You’ll build both your technical skills and your creative voice, learning to think critically, experiment boldly and express ideas visually. These are qualities that universities, art schools and employers value highly.
You’ll gain a strong foundation in:
- Art, Craft & Design – A broad-based course exploring practical and critical/contextual work through a range of 2D and/or 3D processes and media associated with two or more of the titles below.
- Fine Art – Students produce practical and critical/contextual work in one or more areas of study, for example, drawing, painting, mixed-media, sculpture, ceramics, installation, printmaking, moving image (video, film, animation) and photography.
- Photography – Students produce practical and critical/contextual work in one or more areas of study, for example, portraiture, landscape photography, still life photography, documentary photography, photojournalism, fashion photography, experimental imagery, multimedia, photographic installation and moving image (video, film, animation).
Full details of the course can be found in the exam board’s official AQA specification.
Through your projects, you’ll become more observant, more thoughtful, and more confident in tackling challenges, qualities that will serve you well beyond the art room.
You arrive as you are, and you’re celebrated for it. You leave ready to take on the world.
— Sixth Form student
Our Artwork
Our Sixth Form Art and Design Gallery showcases the creativity, skill, and individuality of our students. From fine art and photography to digital design and sculpture, each piece reflects thoughtful exploration and personal expression. This evolving collection celebrates the imagination and dedication that define our creative community.
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Art & Design Exam Results
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PASS RATE
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achieved
A* to C
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achieved
A* to B
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achieved
A* to A
Entry Requirements
In addition to our standard entry requirements, a number of our courses have specific entry requirements to ensure you are ready to thrive in the subject. For Art & Design, you’ll need:
- Five or more GCSEs at grade 9–4
- Grade 6+ in Art
These requirements are in place to help set you up for success and make sure you have the right foundation to enjoy the challenge of Sixth Form study.
I thought about leaving, but I realised no one else would care about me the way St Paul’s does. Here, I’m not starting over, I’m moving forward.
— Student Name
Hear From Our Students
Art is a great subject simply because it enables you to be as creative as you want
I like hearing about the different kind of artists out there and how there is no right or wrong – It’s all about your own interpretation
Mr W Richards
SUBJECT LEADER FOR ART & PHOTOGRAPHY
Thank you for your interest in studying Art & Design at St Paul’s. We have a wonderful team of passionate, experienced teachers ready to support you as you explore and develop your creative potential.
If you’d like to talk about the course or your next steps after Sixth Form, please do get in touch; we’d be very happy to hear from you.
Send me a message
We’d love to hear from you, whether you want to talk about subject choices, entry requirements, or your future career ideas.
Are you ready to explore your creativity, experiment with ideas, and express yourself through bold and original works of art?
Start your Art journey at St Paul’s.
Whatever course you choose, you’ll be joining a community where every student is known and loved. Our mission is not just to help you succeed academically, but to help you grow as a person, supported and celebrated every step of the way.
Art & DesignCourse Content
This course will allow you to explore art in its many different forms through many years and eras. See how this course is assessed.
Art, Craft and Design
A broad-based course exploring practical and critical/contextual work through a range of 2D and/or 3D processes and media associated with two or more of the titles below.
Fine Art
Students produce practical and critical/contextual work in one or more areas of study, for example, drawing, painting, mixed-media, sculpture, ceramics, installation, printmaking, moving image (video, film, animation) and photography.
Photography
| COMPONENT 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEIGHT |
60% |
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Induction Period
Students are required to work in one or more areas of Fine Art, such as those listed below. To explore techniques, revisit processes and refine skills. They may explore overlapping areas and combinations of areas.
- Drawing and painting
- Mixed-media, including collage and assemblage
- Sculpture
- Installation
- Printmaking (relief, intaglio, screen process
- Digital manipulation, using photography
Personal Investigation
This is a practical investigation supported by written material, with no fixed time limit
| COMPONENT 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEIGHT |
40% |
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Students are required to conduct a practical investigation, into an idea, issue, concept or theme, supported by written materials. The focus of the investigation must be identified by the student and must lead to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes.
| EXTERNALLY SET ASSIGNMENT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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LENGTH |
15 Hours |
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FORMAT |
Supervised Controlled Assessment |
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Students are required to conduct a practical investigation, into an idea, issue, concept or theme, supported by written materials. The focus of the investigation must be identified by the student and must lead to a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes.
