Art and Design BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma

This course covers a broad range of experiences including: photography, printmaking, sculpture, drawing, painting, colour theory, textiles, graphics and digital arts.

The first year is exploratory and the second year allows you to specialise. The course allows you to try different areas and establish your speciality. Initially in year one you will study for a Subsidiary Diploma.

Successful students will be invited to study for the Extended Diploma which they will complete in year two of the course.

The course has been designed to allow you to experiment with lots of different media and skills. The broad experience enables you to understand what you are really good at and helps you decide what you want to specialise in. This insight will help you choose the right future career path. Units covered include sculpture, photographic techniques, printmaking, specialist contextual investigation, multidisciplinary work in fine art, professional practice in art and design, generating fine art ideas, fine art principles, developing and realising fine art ideas and professional and personal development.

During the course you, along with your fellow students, will take part in several internal exhibitions. The largest will be the final end of year show in year two when all courses participate in a final show to which family and friends are invited. In addition you will be able to access careers advice from specialist members of staff and you will be carefully guided through the UCAS process if you want to apply to a higher education course.

Alongside specialist topics you will also work on projects that develop your time management skills, research abilities and factual writing skills. These transferable skills are relevant to all areas of creative arts and will prepare you for both higher education and the world of work.

Many of your tutors are practising artists and designers bringing current industry practice to the classroom. What you can expect from the team is enthusiasm and commitment, individual guidance to help you progress and achieve, help with working on your individual strengths, extensive guidance for application to higher level courses, help with building a varied portfolio of work and help with exploring careers within the creative industries.

The course is taught through a range of approaches designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop your technical and conceptual skills. You will be given assignments to work on at regular intervals throughout the year. The teaching team will help guide you through all of the assignment requirements.

There are no formal timed exams on this course so all of your work will be assessed as you complete the assignments. Staff will provide you with feedback to help you better understand the processes behind the subject matter. Delivery methods will include practical workshop sessions in the sewing workshop, pattern cutting areas and print room, classroom-based theory sessions supported by IT and computer-based research real-world fashion industry situations (cat walk shows exhibitions) and educational visits to venues within the UK. There may be the opportunity to a have a residential trip abroad.

During the first year of the programme students will work towards an Art and Design BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma (equivalent to one A-level). Successful students will be able to progress on to the second year of the programme where they will work towards either an Art and Design BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (equivalent to three A-levels) or Art and Design BTEC Level 3 Diploma (equivalent to two Levels).

Throughout the duration of the programme students will develop a portfolio of work fashion industry knowledge and skills to help them find employment or support an application for a higher education course. Additional learning and pastoral support is offered through the tutorial support.

Four GCSE grades C or above including an Art-related subject English Language and preferably Maths or a BTEC Level 2 Diploma with a Merit profile or a Higher Diploma and supporting Functional Skills. Details of suggested portfolio content is included at the bottom of this page. A satisfactory reference is required.

Students who successfully complete the two-year programme will be able to progress on to the Art and Design BTEC Level 4 Foundation Diploma a degree Foundation Degree or Higher National Diploma in an Art and Design related subject.