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Explore your creativity visual understanding, ideas and creativity in a stimulating Art College atmosphere.

We like to think that Art at Castle is a little bit special. The way we work is far closer to an Art College than a school – studio space instead of classrooms, tutors instead of teachers, individual exploration and artistic growth instead of lessons. Our approach is to treat you as an artist rather than student. Although there is a lot to learn, artistic development happens rapidly and naturally due to the studio atmosphere. Here you will be thrown into a creative greenhouse with other students working towards the same aim of artistic excellence and individual creative expression. The work, ranging from traditional observational study through to challenging experimental work, is demanding, rewarding and intense.

We offer two courses at Castle.
Fine Art.

Most students taking Fine Art go on to Foundation Degree Art courses. Fine Art explores visual thinking in a creative and expressive way. Fine Art focuses on the visual experiences, ideas and feeling of the artist. Fine Art explores media and technique. Fine Art deepens the student’s visual experience and conceptual understanding.
Art often becomes a very deep and intensely rewarding personal journey for the student.

A typical unit of work will start with a visual exploration of a theme or an idea. Students will then develop their own individual responses. The student will undertake research into their ideas and relate these to the work of other artists. This produces a rich and deep level of study in their workbooks.
The work is then developed and refined through visual analysis to an ambitious final piece of work.

We have something of a reputation at Castle. Our students’ work is often very challenging both in ambition and in the student’s depth of personal exploration. The end of year exhibition is testament to how far and how deeply we take students.

Creative Graphics.

Creative Graphics has become a phenomenal success. The results speak for themselves and the work is far beyond what you would expect from an A level course.

Students taking Creative Graphics have their eyes set on becoming graphic designers or are looking for a career in the media.

Creative Graphics is about visual communication. How images and words are used to convey an idea or to persuade. Although a very practical subject where students respond to a range of design briefs, the course explores the psychology of graphic communication and looks deeply at ideas that the student will need to understand to become a successful visual communicator.

Students work either individually or in design teams. A unit of work will start with a design brief. The brief is then analyzed and the ideas explored. Through a process of analysis and refinement, the final outcome is arrived at, presented and evaluated.

This course focuses on the creative aspects of visual communication. There is an emphasis on students developing their own individual style and exploring ideas that interest them.

Structure of the Courses.

Both Fine Art and Creative Graphics have a similar structure, although the outcome is very different.

The qualification consists of two elements.

1. Coursework. This is where the students gather evidence of their visual understanding, creative responses, practical skills, independent study skills and ability to sustain a piece of work to a successful outcome.
2. Exam. Students are given a starting point to explore over an extended period of time. In many ways the exam is similar to a more structured unit of coursework. Students always find the exam exciting and enjoyable.

Some Questions Answered.

Which course should I choose?

Both courses have their similarities and their differences. Both courses develop visual thinking and creativity. Both courses give the student a depth of understanding and plenty of opportunity to design the content of the course around their own interests.
Fine Art is aimed more at the student who wants to explore their own ideas, feelings and perceptions. This A level leads to work in the arts and the creative industries.
Creative Graphics is aimed more at the use of images to communicate ideas, working to a set brief for a client. This course leads to work as a designer or in the media.

What if I choose the wrong course?

Not possible. Although the courses are very different, work can be transferred and developed from one course into the other. So changing options is not a problem. Also, either qualification is good currency in either the expressive or the design pathways.

Isn’t A level art very similar to GCSE (to tell you truth, I am exhausted after GCSE, I don’t think that I can do it all over again)?

There are similarities and GCSE art is a very good grounding for A level studies. Taking GCSE art will mean that you can ‘hit the ground running’ at A level. The experience is very different. At A level you will have far more freedom to develop your own ideas and extend what you have discovered in Yr11. It will feel far less like you are in a school and far more like you are engaged in individual exploration in your own art studio.

What are your results like?

Both Fine Art and Creative Graphics get excellent results. Most students do far better than expected in both subjects. Most students leave the A2 course with either a grade A or B. We also often manage to get at least one student in the top 5% in the country each year. Standards are very high. You do need ability to take Art at A level. However, we feel passionately about the creative development of all students. For this reason we will support you even if you are uncertain about your ability.

I want to take graphics, but I am no good on the computer.

There is a perception that Graphics equals working on computer. We actually do have quite a few students who lack confidence in this area. Although aptitude in the use of graphics software is essential in this area, it is not all we study. We do have students who rarely touch a keyboard. At the same time, understanding of the creative use of ICT is important and individual tuition is always available to meet your needs.

There are no jobs in art.

Nothing could be further from the truth. An independent study (’Destinations and Reflections’) found that ‘only 20% of art and design graduates are involved in work that is not at all relevant to art and design’. This figure is far lower than most other subjects. Also employers are well aware of the creativity and range of independent skills that an art graduate brings to the work place. This is why; ‘only 4.9% of art and design graduates are currently unemployed and seeking work’. If you have any anxieties about Art not leading to a solid career, please have a look at the key findings of this report (http://www0.bcu.ac.uk/crq/publications/dr/drexec.html).
There is also a very defined career route from Creative Graphics to a whole range of exciting rewarding jobs. Art and design is a lifestyle choice.

I’m not sure…….

You can always phone up Castle Sixth Form and book a time to see us for an informal chat, or drop me an email at dunninger@yahoo.co.uk for more details. I can answer any questions you have individually and send out some example documents explaining the course in more detail.

Enjoy your individual creative journey
.