Art & Design (Vocational)

Outline

The course is highly practical and project-based, allowing you to experiment with different creative disciplines before developing your own individual interests and specialist skills.

Year 1

You will explore, experiment and develop creative ideas through a range of practical workshops and project-based activities.

You will investigate how artists and designers generate ideas and communicate meaning while building your skills across 2D, 3D and 4D creative practices, including:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Printmaking
• Illustration
• Mixed Media
• Fine Art Textiles
• Sculpture
• Ceramics
• Installation
• Constructed Forms
• Photography
• Sound
• Performance
• Time-Based Media

Year 2

You will develop greater independence and confidence in one or more chosen creative disciplines.

Building on your previous learning, you will undertake more ambitious projects, explore specialist techniques and refine your personal creative interests.

Through research, experimentation and problem-solving, you will strengthen your technical skills and professional practice while responding to challenging creative live briefs and working collaboratively with the local community.

Enrichment opportunities

You will take part in drawing and research visits to galleries, museums and cultural venues.

Previous destinations have included:

• Manchester
• Liverpool
• Yorkshire Sculpture Park
• London
• Barcelona

These experiences provide opportunities to encounter art and creative practice first-hand while gathering research and inspiration for your own work.

Progression

Vocational Art provides a strong foundation for progression into higher education, apprenticeships and employment within the UK's creative industries.

Fine Art and Contemporary Practice

You could progress towards careers including:

• Artist
• Fine Art Practitioner
• Arts Facilitator
• Community Artist
• Gallery Assistant
• Curator (with further study)
• Exhibition Coordinator
• Arts Administrator

Beyond Fine Art

The course can also lead to opportunities beyond traditional Fine Art routes.

For example, you could progress towards Interior Design, where creativity, visual communication, research and project development skills are used to transform spaces.

Further progression

After completing the course, you could progress into:

• Higher Education
• Apprenticeships
• Employment within the creative industries

Assessment

The course is assessed through 100% coursework, which is internally marked and externally moderated.

Practical Creative Projects and Coursework Portfolio

You will complete practical creative projects and develop a coursework portfolio that demonstrates your ideas, experimentation and creative development.

Your assessment will include:

• Practical creative projects
• Coursework portfolio
• Research
• Presentations
• Sketchbooks
• Externally moderated Final Major Project

This approach allows you to demonstrate your practical abilities, creative development, research skills and professional presentation through the work you produce throughout the course.

Entry Requirements

Level 2 Vocational Course: For Level 2 Vocational Courses, students are required to have a minimum of four grade 3s at GCSE.

Level 3 Vocational Course: For Level 3 Vocational Courses, students are required to have achieved a minimum of five grade 4s at GCSE, which must include a grade 4 in English and a creative qualification. Applicants who do not have a creative qualification will need to demonstrate that they have the necessary knowledge, skills and interest to succeed on the course, usually via a portfolio of creative work produced outside of the school environment.

Additional Information: For Level 2 Vocational Courses, we will consider 2 Vocationals, ideally one to be in a related subject. For Level 3 Vocational Courses, we will consider 1 Vocational qualification in place of a GCSE as long as a grade 4 is achieved in English.

* Fees

Don’t let the cost of studying put you off – most of our students study for FREE, and those who don’t qualify for funding are very often eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Eligibility depends on both the course you have chosen to study and your individual circumstances.

Apply

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