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Original poster

A Levels - Art, DT, EPQ and…. ?

68 replies

Mydogiscalledsam · 15/02/2023 23:20

Really struggling with the one.
DS wants to do art, art and more art.
Aiming to go to arts college or university to do something, you guessed it, art related.

Is planning on doing Art, DT and EPQ.
Will be moving onto Arts Award Gold as an after school thing (currently finishing off silver).

But what goes well with these?

Really struggling, going round in circles and we have until Friday to put the form in. Nothing else interests him. He can’t wait to finish this year and just do what he wants art related things.

OP posts:
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CharlotteSometimes1 · 18/02/2023 18:46

Can I suggest that you look into art foundation courses, whilst there are no tuition fees to pay if you go straight to foundation from A levels there is also no maintenance loan. So you’d have to fund all his living costs. We are fortunate enough to have two excellent art Universities within commuting distance so dc could stay at home while they did their foundation and obviously moved away for their degree.

while you can go straight into a degree from A levels and skip the foundation I wouldn’t recommend it. Everyone I know who did an art degree says the kids who didn’t do a foundation struggled to adjust to a more free way of going about their practice.

TizerorFizz · 17/02/2023 17:31

@Pomtiddly
DD retrained to do interior design but did a Diploma course. She enjoyed it and got a top prize on the course. @Mydogiscalledsam I slightly missed that DS looked at Business. Now DD is working for a small business it’s been useful! He just needs to sim for a great portfolio and get into art school. DD had to get CC at A level for LCF a few years ago but that’s pretty standard from art schools too.

Pomtiddly · 17/02/2023 17:22

Runningonempty01 · 16/02/2023 09:29

Have you considered non A level options. Our local college offers UAL level 3 in Art and Design. Equivalent to 3 A levels .

My DD was certain after half a term that she didn't want to pursue A levels (Art, Film Studies, Sociology) despite doing well.
She moved to another 6th Form College to do this UAL full time course. She stayed on for the foundation year.
She has ended up with a wide portfolio and a lot of evidence of her development of ideas in her work. She has just applied to do interior design and got an unconditional offer, a low conditional and 2 interviews on the back of her portfolio and personal statement.
It wasn't a course that we were aware of when she was applying for 6th form.

PhotoDad · 17/02/2023 16:45

For most of my DD's school years, wildlife photography was a major hobby! However, it's very niche as a career, and now she is at art school studying illustration. There are so many small specialised courses out there, and many students do an "art foundation" after sixth form to discover which area of art/design appeals to them. Lots of helpful people here on MN if your DS pursues that path!

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 17/02/2023 12:40

I think digital media could be really good. Tv and film work is often amazing art, but art to a brief and if you are lower down not as much creativity. But it is a fascinating area to go into.

Original poster
Mydogiscalledsam · 17/02/2023 10:36

I’ve tried to expose as much as possible. We’ve done art galleries, museums, been and seen some landscape art in the middle of the country, I managed to get him a weekend working alongside a wildlife photographer.

I say he’s had his eyes opened, but I have too. There’s so much out there that I just didn’t know existed. It’s hard to expose when you don’t know it exists. Things like VFX for TV and stage design as well as costume design. I don’t know how I didn’t because it’s obvious now that I think about it. I think it’s living in the middle of nowhere combined with my own lack of exposure when I was younger thats caused the ignorance of it. I’m always happy to learn something new and do my best for him to give him the opportunities I never had. I’ll certainly be looking for opportunities to expose him to some of the new things that have been discovered.

@DogInATent that’s a good but if advice in the link you shared. Thank you.

OP posts:
DogInATent · 17/02/2023 09:52

He’s realised there is a lot out there that is art related for him to explore which our middle of nowhere back of beyond location doesn’t expose us to
Expose him to it. Take him to the cities where there's more going on so he can see. Days out, weekend trips. It'll be worth it.

A brilliant pieces of advice for artists/creatives is to Stay On The Bus. He may not need this advice right now, but knowing it may be useful in the future.

Quitelikeacatslife · 17/02/2023 09:29

My DD is doing art , textiles and geography, she has loved the textiles course probably more than the art, it is very design based. Also re doing 2 courses. She has just got place on art foundation course at good university as this is still probably the best route in to study art at uni. She submitted portfolio and requires only 72 ucas points to get on . This is doable with 2 a levels or equivalent.

TizerorFizz · 17/02/2023 09:27

As art is very much on portfolio, you don’t need an academic type A level as well. BTec is fine. If he’s willing to travel to get what he wants, so be it. Although DD has career changed, her art background means she thinks creatively. Technology and digital art is clearly a source of work. Cad and other programs are widely used in creative jobs. Sometimes earning outweighs pure art!

Original poster
Mydogiscalledsam · 17/02/2023 09:19

Good point about the 2 A levels @TizerorFizz. Thats sort of what I was meaning when I was saying it’s not the final decision. The BTEC business just helps to fill the application form in and we have found some additional options to explore. Which is good.
It was mentioned also by @Dragon22 about the 2 A Levels and how the points work, thank you for that Dragon, was most helpful and useful to know, it’s nice to have two people saying the same thing and it’s also echoed in university admissions requirements.

I think if he couldn’t go to college, the two A level route, plus his EPQ which will undoubtfully be art based, and the Arts award would give him a good grounding whilst also leaving time for him to work towards building a portfolio.

DS and I had the conversation last night, if things are going more digital, there’s the option of using the EPQ to explore that, so I don’t think he would be missing out on anything. I do think he really does need to nail whatever he does because if college can’t be logistically sorted he will be going straight to university. Another reason I’m really liking the 2 A Level suggestions, again, he can work in what he likes and what he needs to without worrying about something else.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 17/02/2023 09:02

@Mydogiscalledsam
He doesn’t need to leave school. The A levels will be fine. He most likely will be asked for 2 anyway. Plus the portfolio! So make sure he nails his art snd dt. It’s a great shame he cannot do photography. With great teaching it’s very enjoyable and good candidates do well in it. My DD really got into it.

I would look into where he might go for a foundation or go straight to university. I wouldn’t want hours of travel either although I know people years ago who did it. Rural living has always seen a dearth of art courses!

Original poster
Mydogiscalledsam · 17/02/2023 08:54

He's gone with BTEC business for now. That will at least fill the application form in.

Had the conversations that things can change between now and September, so what he’s put down isn’t defiantly what he will end up doing. That sped up the decision making process a bit.

Im still going to investigate college logistics and if there are easier/better ways to get him there, and investigate the school near the grandparents.

Plan is also to apply to one of the sixth forms in another town, they already offer Art, DT and EPQ but, with a bit of digging on their website, they are planning to offer BTEC L3 Art and Design equivalent to one A level in September if there is enough interest. Their deadline is a few weeks away so we have time. Have a feeling I’ll become a taxi for 2 years if this one works out, no idea how we’ll manage it, but it’ll probably be worth it.

Id like to thank everyone for their help. The biggest thank you for mentioning the portfolio requirements, how things are going towards digital and importance of understanding business. This has 100% been taken on board. My eyes into the world of art have been well and truly opened. I have a much better understanding and I think DS does as well. He’s realised there is a lot out there that is art related for him to explore which our middle of nowhere back of beyond location doesn’t expose us to, and he definitely left for school a little happier this morning.

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Piggywaspushed · 17/02/2023 07:41

But I don't think the OP's DS should do it notwithstanding.

I think the BTecs in business or DM are the way to go.

Piggywaspushed · 17/02/2023 07:41

mathanxiety · 16/02/2023 23:35

I'd drop politics from the list.

It's heavy on theory/ philosophy and requires a lot of essays.

It actually isn't. It's heavy on parliament and organisation of political groups and the HOC. I thought it was really dull when DS did it - but, compared to eg RS , sociology and history it is lighter on the essay requirements and far lighter on theory than sociology and RS.

Piggywaspushed · 17/02/2023 07:38

We have had this conversation on MN before. Until you live in an area like the OP does you wouldn't believe how bad choice (and public transport) are!

TeenDivided · 17/02/2023 06:53

30 miles to the nearest college?
What on earth do less academic kids do round your way? (Or do the school 6th forms all offer a range of BTECs too?)

mathanxiety · 16/02/2023 23:35

I'd drop politics from the list.

It's heavy on theory/ philosophy and requires a lot of essays.

PhotoDad · 16/02/2023 22:26

Echoing PPs. Whatever he enjoys doing! Entry to art school will be mostly based on the portfolio, not on subjects/grades. A lot of good, selective, art schools give unconditional offers if they like the portfolio.

TizerorFizz · 16/02/2023 22:16

@DogInATent

You are absolutely correct about web design and digital skills. DD2 changed career and she’s now doing much more cad based work in interior design and although art skills are useful for the thought process, use of computer programs is where the jobs are. It’s pretty important to have back up skills.

@Mydogiscalledsam
Politics is essays. DD1 submitted one of hers to Oxford back in the day. It’s not about political views. Art colleges won’t care much as they often only ask for 2 A levels anyway. A portfolio is required and you need time to prepare it. Often required for interviews in Feb! So before all A level work is completed. Or do a foundation course! The portfolio is pretty important for course admission.

Boomboom22 · 16/02/2023 22:10

Also are you sure his school wouldn't let him do both dts? It nay be they are run/taught at the same time and make their own products and textiles. If so and he is talented they may be willing to let him do both if he can access the dt room in frees. At my school 6th form can work in the background whilst lower school lessons are on but we have good behaviour.

Boomboom22 · 16/02/2023 22:07

With his grades and interests btec business would be most useful, especially if he wants to be se and do art immediately at 18, perhaps alongside a pt job.

Original poster
Mydogiscalledsam · 16/02/2023 21:49

We’ve had a look into arts colleges for degrees and what he could potentially do after so have a good idea of what is out there.

College offer a one year Art BTEC which leads onto offer the UAL foundation diploma. However it’s 1 hour 40 minutes on the train. That’s really not a good thing, but we are going to investigate further. I do feel he would be better at college.

Not much point in changing schools.
One sixth form only offering Art and not DT.
Other sixth form can offer the same options as his current school: Art and DT, only one art course and one DT course.

Appreciate the comments about not being able to do art and photography or products and textiles. I had indeed read it completely wrong. I knew it wasn’t allowed at GCSE and must have somehow read it wrong because was expecting it to be the same. Regardless, it wouldn’t have mattered. School aren’t running photography this year because there wasn’t enough demand so hasn’t made it to the option blocks and textiles is in the same block as products.

From all your brilliant suggestions, we made a list of them all and looked at everything that was in the remaining 2 blocks. We’re currently in the middle of going through them but have ruled a few out and are properly going over the maybe lost.

List is currently
English Language
Psychology
Business
BTEC performing arts
BTEC Business
BTEC Digital Media
And a sudden contender - Politics

We have no IT BTEC, and computer science in the same block as art. But he didn’t want computer science anyways.

There was a question about why not digital media, after a bit of digging it turns out it was because of the teacher. We had the conversation that it might not be the same teacher next year, so it’s made it to the considering list.

There was another question about what do kids do who don’t do sixth form, the answer is either an apprenticeship in hospitality, engineering, agriculture or whatever else is available at the time. If you don’t do an apprenticeship then it’s sixth form to do BTEC sport, BTEC health and social, BTEC business and that’s your lot. The next town over has more BTEC options but they are music, performing arts, agriculture, applied science, child development and horticulture. Nothing very art-y.

May have to call on the help of the grandparents. I have found a school near the them which will allow an Art&Design, Textiles and DT combination so that’s something for us to investigate.

OP posts:
Ireallydohope · 16/02/2023 21:02

He should look at what he wants to study after and see what the requirements are to get in

DogInATent · 16/02/2023 20:51

Mydogiscalledsam · 16/02/2023 18:00

Forgot to add, he want to ‘Do’ art not ‘study’ art. Wants to do the drawing, painting, models and be creative.

How does he see himself 'doing' art in the future?

I'm going to give him similar advice to that I gave to someone in a similar position that was entirely focussed on photography (forgive the pun). The photography/art comes easy to someone both gifted and passionate about it. Making a living from it comes hard, often very hard. The earlier suggestion of Business Studies alongside Art is potentially a good one. Or ICT. I know a couple of people who are both very gifted in art that do website design/consultancy alongside their art. But, if art is his thing you really need to be considering colleges as well as sixth form.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 16/02/2023 20:40

redskydelight · 16/02/2023 20:20

With those predicted grades I'd question whether A Levels was the most appropriate route tbh. Even Art and DT are going to have elements of writing.

What do other students do if they don't want to take A Levels?

I taught A level art and A level Dt for years. There’s lots of writing in GCSE Dt, and hard materials science.

He’s more than capable of A level with those grades.