Art and Design including Photography (BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma)

Specific Entry Criteria

Grade C in English Language or Maths plus Grade C in Art or a Merit grade in BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Art and Design if taken.

About the Subject

This is an ideal course if you have studied Art and Design at GCSE or a BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Art and Design. The BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma is a well recognised qualification and is equivalent to 3 GCE A levels.

The course aims to introduce students to a broad range of Art and Design skills, from painting and sculpture to textiles and photography. The work is largely practical with students recording processes and evaluating their own work in written form. In all units, students will work to written assignments where art work will be created for a purpose, perhaps site specific or for public spaces.

On successful completion of this course you can enter onto a higher education course such as Degree or Higher National Diploma. The BTEC National Diploma course will prepare you well for both these progression opportunities in terms of quality of work, creativity and level of knowledge.

Year 2

Students will complete a further 8 units in their second year.

Unit 5 – Contextual influences

Investigating the work of other artists to inspire own ideas.

Unit 78

Developing and Realising Fine Art Ideas

Unit 45

Graphic Image Making

Unit 85

Exploring Specialist Techniques

Unit 79

Multi–disciplinary work in Fine Art

Unit 6

Application, Exploration and Realisation (double unit)

Unit 86

Extending Specialist Techniques

Unit 72

Exploring Specialist Textile Skills Unit 85, 86 and 6 enable students to specialise in specific areas such as Fine Art, Printing, Sculpture, Textiles, Graphics, Photography, and Multi disciplinary work, therefore developing a more personal, creative portfolio of work.

This is quite an intense course as there is much to cover in two years. Therefore students need to be motivated, eager to learn new skills and organise their time well to meet deadlines.

Course Content

Year 1

This is a two year course in which you complete 5 mandatory units and a further 13 specialist units.

Students will complete 9 units in their first year:

Unit 1 Visual Recording in Art and Design

Observational drawing and mark making skills

Unit 2 – Materials, Techniques, and Processes

Exploration of a range of media and techniques.

Unit 3 – Ideas and Concepts in Art

Exploration of ideas generating techniques

Unit 40 – Graphics, Media, Techniques and Technology

The exploration of graphic media.

Unit 81 – Printmaking

Unit 34 – Typography

The exploration of type, lettering and layout.

Unit 4 – Visual Communication

The exploration of art as a communication tool.

Unit 80 – Painting in Fine Art

Unit 10: Personal and Professional Development

Assessment

The units and the full award are graded as Pass, Merit and Distinction. After initial assessment, units are returned to students, with feedback, to enable students to develop/extend work and therefore grades.