Associate of Arts in Art

The Art School has three dedicated teaching staff with a range of skills and specialisms and occupies three studios in the newly refurbished Castle Building. Two of these spaces are dedicated to lowering school groups, and the third is exclusively for sixth formers. There is also a dedicated communal study area where students can enjoy full access to high specification laptops, the full Adobe Creative suite and an excellent library of books and subject-specific journals. Facilities exist for drawing, printmaking, textiles, ceramics, photography and graphics, all overlooked by the magnificent Acton Burnell Castle. The Art School offers a tranquil yet hardworking environment where students are encouraged to explore their creative potential and develop skills in various media.

We aim to offer the full OCR Art and Design suite at AS and A-Level, but most students follow a Fine Art course as this allows a much broader approach and incorporates several different specialisms. All students in Form 3 / Year 9 study Art with those opting to study at GCSE level following an AQA course of study. GCSE Art incorporates more printmaking, painting and various mixed media techniques. This leads to a very personal portfolio of work as students become increasingly aware of themselves as individuals and how they can best express this through a series of connected works. Students studying Art at AS and A Level explore their ideas in a range of media from negotiated starting points, and resulting portfolios are a vital part of the application process for any student wishing to study Art and Design or Architecture at university.