Courses Offered

• Intermediate 1
• Intermediate 2
• Higher

The purpose of these courses is to promote knowledge and understanding of the Visual Arts & Design, their historical development and contemporary applications.

Skills such as research, media handling, problem solving and evaluation are developed further, with the courses designed to give pupils the opportunity to express themselves and explore areas of personal interest.

Course Details

Each course comprises of 3 mandatory units:

Expressive Activity

Pupils can choose a theme to work within from one of the following areas:

• Portraiture
• Figure Composition
• Still LIfe
• The Natural Environment
• The Built Environment
• Fantasy & Imagination

Within their chosen theme, pupil will produce investigative work from first hand sources. From this, development studies will be undertaken where clear ideas, thoughts and feelings should be shown. A final piece of artwork (which may be 2D or 3D) showing control, imagination and considered use of media will be completed.

Design Activity

Pupils can choose a theme to work within from one of the following areas:

• Graphic Design
• Product Design
• Interior Design
• Architectural/Environmental Design
• Jewellery Design
• Fashion/Textile Design

For this activity, pupils will negotiate and finalise their own specific design brief with thier class teacher. This brief will be investigated taking account of requirements, design issues and constraints. From this reserach, possibile ideas will be explored, all showing inventiveness and flexibility of thought. A final solution will then be selected and made in finished or protoype form. An evaluation of the process and solution will also be completed.

Art and Design Studies

Pupils will undertake two studies, one related to Expressive Activity and one related to Design Activity. Each study will relate to the personally chosen theme for the practical activities. Each study will take the format of investigation completed in a sketchbook using notes, comments and visual images. From this investigation, an essay summary will be completed for each study.

Assessment

Intermediate 1

All units are assessed internally in school by the Department, in accordance with SQA guidelines.

Final external assessment is done by the SQA via a course review - a Design Practical Folio and Evaluation, and an Expressive Folio.

Intermediate2/Higher

All units are assessed internally in school by the Department, in accordance with SQA guidelines.

Final external assessment is done by the SQA in two parts:

• Course Review - A Design Practical Folio and Evaluation, and an Expressive Practical Folio.
• Written Question Paper - Int 2 lasts 1 hour, Higher lasts 1.5 hours.