Newtown High School

Art and Design

WJEC AS and A-Level Art and Design specification

WJEC AS Art and Design

WJEC A2 Art and Design

The WJEC AS and A-level specification in Art and Design has been designed to provide engaging and innovative creative learning experiences, where art, craft and design practice is meaningfully integrated with theoretical knowledge and understanding.  

This course provides learners with opportunities to develop a broad foundation of critical, practical and theoretical skills at AS, which offers learners a holistic understanding of a range of practices and contexts in the visual arts, crafts and design fields, culminating in greater specialism and achievement at A-level.  

Whichever title or combination of endorsed titles is followed, the specification encourages creativity, sustained investigation and analysis, experimentation, and design and making as a means of developing technical and expressive skills. It gives learners the opportunity to follow a programme of study which extends experience and personal response as well as developing imagination and critical and reflective thinking. The ability to innovate, adapt and work independently, which underlies all aspects of the specification, is valued by higher education and employers alike.  

 In keeping with the regulatory requirements for all AS and A-level Art and Design specifications, the WJEC specification aims to encourage learners to develop:  

• intellectual, imaginative, creative and intuitive capabilities ,
• investigative, analytical, experimental, practical, technical and expressive skills, aesthetic understanding and critical judgement,
• independence of mind in developing, refining and communicating their own ideas, their own intentions and their own personal outcomes,
• an interest in, enthusiasm for, and enjoyment of art, craft and design,
• the experience of working with a broad range of media,
• an understanding of the interrelationship between art, craft and design processes and an awareness of the contexts in which they operate,
• knowledge and experience of real world contexts and, where appropriate, links to the creative industries,
• knowledge and understanding of art, craft, design and media and technologies in contemporary and past societies and cultures,
• an awareness of different roles, functions, audiences and consumers of art, craft and design.

Learners should, where possible, also be encouraged to develop an appreciation of a Welsh perspective in relation to the above.