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Art, Craft and Design

Art at Aquinas is an exciting and challenging subject that encourages students to be creative and show a more personal understanding of Art, Craft and Design. The aim of this course is to promote a broad based learning experience across a range of media exploring ideas and themes in two and three dimensional processes and techniques.

This is a broad based 2 year course which aims to encourage creative thinking and artistic understanding. You will have the opportunity to work across two or more areas of Art and Design including: Fine Art, Design, Textiles, 3D and Photography.

Qualifications & Assessments

Exam Board AQA
Level Level 3
Qualification A Level
Assessment Method 100% Non-Examined Work
Entry Requirements Entry Requirements
Photograph of an Art and Design student working on an art project

Year 1 Knowledge, Understanding and Skills

Students will gain experience of working in a variety of Art, Craft and Design media including: Drawing; Print-making; Mixed media; Ceramics; Painting; Sculpture; Textiles; Photography and Digital manipulation, supported with sketchbook techniques and responding to a range of themes.

Year 2 Progression and Formal Assessment

Building on skills learnt in the first year through two assessed projects:

  • Component 1: Personal Investigation (60%)
  • Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (40%)

Studying Art, Craft and Design at Aquinas can lead to a wide variety of courses at University. Most students will apply for an Art and Design Foundation Course before applying to University, many of our students have gained places on the MMU Foundation Course or the Stockport Foundation Course. Many Art and Design related degree courses expect students to have an Art Foundation Course after studying A-level.

Students who have completed the Art and Design Foundation courses after studying Art, Craft and Design A Level at Aquinas have progressed to Chelsea School of Art to study Textiles, Camberwell School of Art to study Fine Art, Central St. Martin’s to study Fine Art, Sheffield Hallam to study Graphics and Manchester Metropolitan University to study Fine Art.

Throughout the course there will be visits to museums, art galleries and universities. There is also an optional trip to Barcelona.

For more information about trips relating to this course including Barcelona please see the Trips and Travel page

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News & Blog

Latest From Aquinas

Last night saw the presentation party for the latest, great issue of our student magazine. There was yet again a great selection of articles and stories, all written and designed by our fantastically, talented students.

Photograph of students who worked on the AQ Magazine

We are proud to announce the launch of our brand-new website! This platform marks an exciting step forward in our commitment to innovation and excellence. Designed to support academic success and enhance the student experience, our new website serves as a central hub for information, events, news, and resources related to life at Aquinas College.

Screenshot of the new website

I am thrilled for Aquinas students who have produced another outstanding set of results. Over 58% of A level results have been at the highest grades of A*, A or B, with a 99% pass rate. In addition, 70% of Vocational grades were at Distinction* or Distinction grades with a 100% pass rate. These amazing […]

Aquinas students celebrate their A level results

On Wednesday 19th June the media department took a group of students to visit the excellent facilities at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN)’s Media Factory. The students were given a tour of the facilities including a state of the art fully functioning TV studio.

Photograph of inside the Media Factory's TV studio control room.