Art A level in year 11 - mad idea?

[HPparent]

DD goes to a comp with an art specialism. She has just finished Art GCSE in year 10. Today she was offered the chance to drop one of her GCSE one year courses next year and take Art A level. I have no idea whether the school intend them to take the AS level next year or just do a three year A level.

No idea what is behind this, DD thinks that very few year 11s are taking art in Sixth form.

She is quite keen to do it as she is dyslexic and the displaced GCSE was history. She finds essay writing subjects (apart from English) quite tricky. DD is also likely to be below the normal number of A grades required to remain at school for the Sixth so thinks it is more likely they will let her stay if she is doing well in Art.

I think it is a mad idea for various reasons. I don't think 4 hours teaching time is enough to complete the work and she will also be one GCSE down. I also think the move is to benefit the school but I am not sure why.

The school does early entry in other subjects but never Art before - has anyone else come across it?

My DD did Art A level as a normal 2 year course and it consumed her! It is very intensive with early deadlines in March in her case. It can be stressful and she had to work hard at her techniques to get an A and she went to a school with outstanding Art.

I would advise that your DD should concentrate on her GCSEs. She could choose artistic A levels in year 12. Why not add in photography or textiles as well? By the time the A2 syllabus is reached in year 13, most pupils are only doing 3 subjects, not GCSEs. Not everyone is academic and schools should embrace artistic children. However, rushing an Art A level will be hugely stressful and will she get the best grade possible? Probably not.

How many gcses is she doing?

Thanks MMM that is what I thought. The workload is too heavy to cope with. Photo and textiles are not on offer but I would prefer her to move schools. Her current school also take 4 subjects to A2, I think 3 is plenty.

Caulk, she has completed 3 with Art and DT still to finalise this year so 5 so far. Next year she will do English Lit, maths, triple science and two options - one of which may now be a choice of Art A.

Art A-level, or even AS will be a lot of work- also, if she is planning to transfer schools/to college at the end of y11, then starting an A-level she might like to carry on to A2 may end up being a waste of time if she doesn't stay on at the school.

On the other hand, having 11 GCSEs instead of 12 won't have a negative impact either.

If she is really keen to start art this year and have something fun/creative on her timetable, then I think I would let her. However, I think it's really important to work out how the workload is going to be balanced with other subjects. Maths GCSE especially needs to be treated as more important than Art AS I would say.

I would aim for the standard GCSEs in year 11 and do 4 or 3 A levels. Do them properly, not with GCSEs . This gives her the best options for future study. No-one will be impressed with Art A level started in year 11. Likewise 11 GCSEs is too many as well. Some schools like to make it difficult for their pupils!

Thanks MMM and Slowlorisincognito. She started her music and History GCSEs today (she has to do them as one year courses) and seems very happy with the history teacher - that was the one she would have dropped. I agree that doing an early A level confers no advantage and is likely to cause a massive headache - the coursework for Art and DT which she had to do this year, also as one year courses was bad enough!