GCSE Fine Art

Examination board
OCR

Assessment
60% Coursework portfolio
40% Set task (no written paper)

Fine Art at Beauchamp is a busy and vibrant course in which students get the opportunity to explore the use of a wide variety of materials, techniques and styles of drawing painting and using mixed media before finding their own specialist area. It feeds directly into the A level Fine Art course.

GCSE Fine Art is a popular option at Beauchamp and leads perfectly onto the A Level course. Art students are encouraged to develop their skills in a wide range of materials, techniques and processes. Lessons are designed to stimulate and encourage imaginative and sensitive responses and are largely practical sessions with occasional focus on historical and contemporary artist research and critical appreciation skills.

Course Breakdown
The Portfolio (60% of grade) is based on learning a range of skills, which will allow students to develop as artists, while focusing on the development and refinement of ideas in response to given project themes. Students will have the opportunity to develop personal ideas, using primary source imagery they have gathered, from which detailed observational studies will be made using a variety of materials and techniques. Critical appreciation of the relevant work of other artists (both in written and visual form) is an important part of the course in that it helps to inform students’ practical responses. Students receive individual tutorials and written feedback on a regular basis to encourage and inspire progress and attainment, leading to the successful completion of the GCSE coursework. A similar process of research, exploration, and development is involved with the Externally Set Task (40% of grade) towards the latter half of the 2 year course.

Unit Content and Assessment
Unit 1: The course work Portfolio is designed to encourage individual personal responses in relation to given themes (for example, Self-Portraiture) and will include the exploration and refinement of technical skills relating to observational drawing, painting techniques, the use of mixed media, printmaking, oil and chalk pastel, ceramics and the use of ICT/Photography. Students will undertake a range of project tasks that are set to develop their confidence, skills and abilities in Art. Unit 2: The Unit 2: Externally Set Task (Examination project). This unit involves students developing a personal response based on their interpretation of one theme selected from several as provided by the OCR examination board in January of Year 11. Students will have at least 2 months to prepare a range of studies from which a Final Piece of work is produced within a 10 hour controlled session in the Art department over a two day period.

Career Progression
Many students go on to study A’ level Art and gain further places onto Art and Design related degree courses, which can lead onto career opportunities within fields such as Fine Art practice, Illustration, Arts Marketing, Art criticism and journalism, Interior Design, Architecture, Fashion Design, Gallery management and Teaching.

Extra curricular opportunities
Twilight (afterschool) and lunchtime (Art Club) sessions are offered on a weekly basis throughout the year to allow students to work on their coursework, any personal projects and to gain additional teacher support and guidance.