Scottish Art School applications

[Wbeezer]

DS3 will be applying to Scottish Art Schools this year. The question I have is how common is it for schools to timetable portfolio preparation. DS3's school are reluctantly allowing him to choose three subjects + portfolio for S6 but seen concerned that he really needs to do four (examined) subjects to put on his UCAS form. Is portfolio prep common in other schools (i thought it was, it was in my day)?
Do you think AAAC +B and one AH would be OK? He really can't think of another Higher that he would pass with a decent mark. All the talk about exceeding standard offers I'm hearing are from parents whose kids are applying to the usual popular academic courses. Really hoping that C in Higher Biology will not matter that much...

I don't understand what the portfolio thing is you're talking about. What year is he going into?

My dd has just finished S6 and did 2 advanced highers and 1 higher this year (did 5 highers the year before).

Asked my DC as their school strong on art (DS2 said 4 of his year went to Art School with another couple doing Fashion at the Caley) . Anyone with strong Highers only needed to do 3 subjects and these could be AH Art, AH Design, H Photography, Fashion course at Caley for S6s. I think they could also go to night school portfolio prep classes.

The portfolio is the most important thing as long as he has the standard entry requirements he shd be fine. Three subjects in 6th year is ok, portfolio takes a lot of time. For what it’s worth although many go straight from 6th year I think there is a definite benefit of a college year with a better chance of securing a wider range of offers.

wbreezer have sent you a pm

@dementedpixie, i probably just explained that badly, i meant having a time - tabled study slot in the art room to work on portfolio pieces, it's what I did in S6 but my experience is out of date so i was trying to find out if anyone else's schools allow only three subjects in S6. His guidance teacher seems to think three may disadvantage him but I think a good portfolio would outweigh that.
I agree about college being good, if there is a suitable course within travelling distance, which is debatable for us, however if he doesn't get in we'll make that work somehow. DS3 is being a bit stubborn about even considering some of the options that are available but I'll make him fill all the slots on his UCAS form in case Edinburgh and Glasgow don't appreciate his "genius"
Unfortunately his school is a bit rubbish for art, they are obsessed with stem and the art dept is neglected by the SLT.

At DCs school the only formal time for portfolio development was the enrichment slot but those aiming for art school spent were encouraged to spend as much of their free time in art department eg sitting at back of other classes.

Thanks everyone.

Iirc, @weegiemum 's dd got in to the Art School (to do Graphic Design?) straight from S6 without having to do an extra portfolio year (although that was a contingency plan).

She might be able to offer some advice.

Thanks for flagging this pretty bird.
My dd1 has just finished 2nd year at GSA, doing Communication Design (graphics, illustration and photography). She got in straight from school but had a place at the Tramway Visual Arts Studio to do a portfolio year if she didn't get in (in Glasgow, not sure what's available elsewhere).

In S5 she did English, History, Graphics, Art and Gaelic (was at the Gaelic school in Glasgow). Then in S6 did Advanced Art and English, resit of Graphics and H Photography. The AH was like a portfolio, there's a huge amount more content than higher. She was also able to do a weekend portfolio course at the tramway on Saturdays.

I think she really benefitted from the external portfolio help, though she is really talented at art. I'm not sure where else offers such courses as the Saturday one she did alongside school. School just didn't have the time to help beyond the support for AH. I wouldn't write off the art school portfolio courses between school and art school, GSA offers one and so does DJ CAD, assume Edinburgh and Gray's must do similar.

If you want any further info feel free to pm me, it's still all engraved on my psyche!!

Ds was also interested in the Art School route but has ended up bogged down in COVID. He did the portfolio course but it fizzled out as there was no studio time and he ended up getting a job in home care and is now applying for nursing instead.

I'm not expecting much help from school, its a very under resourced dept.
Im a bit exhausted at the thought of getting DS3 into Glasgow every Saturday for a portfolio class (third child, slightly worn out mother). If it ends up blended learning or online again he's definitely better off working with us at home, his grade this year went up significantly when taught by me over lockdown, however he would like the social aspect if its in person, he's a bit fed up of being the only boy in a very small class of quiet girls! I have an old friend who was head of a foundation course at a college in London for years who would help with portfolio assembly etc.
So much more straightforward in my day, although i do remember having my last ever proper tantrum, (including throwing myself on the floor and hammering it with my fists and feet) when my mother gently pressured me to put a bit more effort in and stop procrastinating!

Do you live near a train station that runs into Glasgow??? If he does the GSA portfolio prep course (if they start running in person courses again) it’s a really easy walk from Queen Street.

Not near, near, a ten mile drive. It would get quite £££ with all the train tickets and petrol and the fees are quite dear, it does look good though. There is no info at all for the courses at the Tramway for the upcoming term but I'll message them.
Plan at the moment is to go for it with an application this year alongside his school work as he has a comparatively light load academically and put an HNC down as backup.
I've booked a life class and will try and get some inside info about what kind of projects portfolio courses tend to do and then "borrow" any ideas i like the look of, I've taught first and second year art student in pre family days so i think i can manage it. Of course young people are generally less enthusiastic about their DMs ideas than a tutors.
Need to sit down with DS and come up with a proper plan and it will have to involve starting now, might give him a week off!

Hi @Wbeezer,
If your son has the Higher grades, it's down to his portfolio and UCAS application (and additional support materials for GSA). Nothing is given for more exams once the entrance requirements have been met. So ABBB by end of S5 or AABB by end of S6 this is for ECA and GSA, others are lower.

Some schools timetable portfolio time and others don't. And how each student interprets the work that's done during 'portfolio' and advanced higher often varies.

You sound like you have a good idea of what's required - Tramway has closed, their funding wasn't continued by Glasgow Life last year. There are plans for a course for S6 Glasgow school students in discussion with Strathclyde University for a portfolio course to start in September.

If you are looking for 1:1 support, search me up, Portfolio Oomph. Hope this helps....happy to help.

Best wishes,
Julie

GSA might be doing their weekend portfolio class in person this year, they haven’t quite decided. It will be available to book mid August.