Key Stage 4 new specification (current Y10)

This is a broad course exploring practical and critical/ contextual work through a range of 2D and/ or 3D processes and new media and technologies. It is an unendorsed course where candidates can work in appropriate art, craft and design materials and processes.

Component 1: Portfolio. No time limit. 96 marks – 60% of GCSE.

The content of the portfolio will be determined by the particular requirements and nature of the course of study undertaken. Each student must select and present a portfolio representative of their course of study that in total shows explicit coverage of the four assessment objectives.

The portfolio must include both:

1. A sustained project developed in response to a subject, theme, task or brief evidencing the journey from initial engagement with an idea(s) to the realisation of intentions. This will give students the opportunity to demonstrate, through an extended creative response, their ability of draw together different areas of knowledge, skills, and/ or understanding from across their course of study.
2. A selection of further work resulting from activities such as trials and experiments; skills-based workshop; mini and/ or foundation projects; responses to gallery, museum or site visits; work placements; independent study and evidence of the student’s specific role in any group work undertaken. The work submitted for this component will be marked as a whole. Students should carefully select, organise and present their portfolio and must ensure that it provides evidence of meeting all four assessment objectives. They must indentify and acknowledge sources which are not their own and provide evidence of drawing activity and written annotation.

Work selected for the portfolio should be presented in an appropriate format and could include: mounted studies, sketchbooks, visual diaries, journals, design sheets, design proposals, models, maquettes, prototypes, storyboards, video, photographic or digital presentations, records of transient and site-specific installations.

Component 2: Externally set assignment. Preparatory period followed by 10 hours of supervised time. 96 marks – 40% of GCSE.

AQA will provide a separate externally set assignment for each title, each with seven different starting points. Students must select and respond to one starting point from their chosen title. The externally set assignment provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate, through an extended creative response, their ability to draw together different areas of knowledge, skills and/ or understanding in response to their selected starting point.

The extended creative response must explicitly evidence students’ ability to draw together different areas of knowledge, skill and/ or understanding from initial engagement with their selected starting point through to their realisation of intentions in the 10 hours of supervised time. Students must ensure that the total submission for Component 2 evidences coverage of all four assessment objectives and evidence of drawing activity and written annotation.

A preparation period is followed by 10 hours of supervised unaided work in which students are required to realise their intentions. Students must not undertake any further preparatory studies once the first period of supervised time starts.

Homework

Homework is set as and when each individual project requires, but the table below shows an approximate guide.