Art & Design
With the creative industries being one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the UK, there has never been a better time to study a creative subject.
Fine art is thriving at King’s, with consistently good results, and the A-level course we offer aims to stretch and challenge creative minds. It will develop not only practical skills in relation to drawing and painting, but also many transferable skills.
Pupils studying fine art at A-level learn to be self-disciplined, self-critical and confident in the way they approach their work. We have fantastic facilities spread over four floors and Sixth Form pupils have their own spaces to enable them to work independently throughout the week.
A-level fine art combines well with most subjects and pupils often enjoy the balance of a hands-on, coursework-based approach alongside other academic subjects. All our teachers are themselves practising artists.
Today’s employers are looking for creative thinkers and people who are willing to take risks. Following theme-based projects, pupils meet a variety of challenges and learn to express ideas and formulate creative solutions. Through exploration and experimentation, we encourage our pupils to be imaginative thinkers who can make decisions and communicate confidently in our increasingly innovation-driven economy. Studio-based practice is contextualised with educational trips to galleries and museums which provides pupils with the opportunity to engage directly with art and design.
As well as visiting key galleries in the UK such as the Tate Modern and the Saatchi Gallery, we have an annual trip abroad to a destination such as Vienna, Paris or Barcelona. Every year we have pupils who move on to study art-related courses at university. These include art foundation, interior design, architecture, photography, fashion and more.
Within the department we guide and support the pupils with their applications and with the preparation of their portfolios for interview.
ASSESSMENT
The course is assessed through coursework, including a Personal Investigation worth 60% and an externally set assignment worth 40% of the total grade. There is also an extended essay to write and a practical exam at the end of the course.
OUR SYLLABUS
A-level Fine Art and Photography complement a wide range of subjects, allowing students to balance hands-on coursework with academic studies. Studio-based practice is enriched by educational trips to galleries and museums, providing direct engagement with art and design.
WHY STUDY ART & DESIGN AT A-LEVEL?
Today’s employers are looking for creative thinkers and people who are willing to take risks. And, with the creative industries being one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the UK, there has never been a better time to study Art & Design. It will develop not only practical skills in relation to drawing and painting, but also many transferable skills. Pupils move on to study art-related courses at university, including art foundation, interior design, architecture, photography, fashion and more.
- Visits to Tate Modern, V&A, and National Portrait Gallery
- Annual international trip to cities such as Vienna, Paris, or Barcelona
- Design competitions working with architects.
- Art clubs after school to work on individual projects with one-to-one teacher support.
Creativity, adaptability, communication, collaboration, problem-solving, attention to detail, self-motivation, emotional and cultural intelligence, time management, open-mindedness, technological literacy, design and user experience, and use of AI.
Interior design, fashion photography, graphic design, museum curation, media and communication, and illustration. Every year, our pupils move on to study art-related courses at university such as interior design, architecture, photography, and fashion management.
James White who studied Photography and is now a fashion photographer working for Vogue magazine and other well-known publications.
Rob Excel and James Lees who are interior designers.
Jago Schmidt who is now working for Brompton and studied at Central St Martins.
Martha Gray who studied Interior Architecture and is now Creative Lead at Interaction.
