How much can you tailor GCSE Art

[CainsKneebone]

DS would ideally like to take Graphics but unfortunately the school don't offer it. He is particularly interested in typography, computer design, branding etc. How much choice do you get in GCSE Art about media? Can you use computers?

I suspect it depends on the school and the exam board. AQA GCSE Art, which DD is doing, allows Graphic Communication as one of the options you can specialise in, however this isn't offered as a possibility at DD's school (I suspect because they don't have have a specialist teacher in this area). Equally, at their school, photography is a mandatory area that they have to include at least at a minimum level, regardless of what they choose as specialism(s).

I think it depends on the teacher and school. Both my DDs did GCSE and one did A level.

One school’s approach was basically a pathway with prescribed weekly activities to get an A* and the other was also a pathway but less prescriptive. Both were based around painting/drawing/collage type work with a fair bit of research and writing. There was very little choice involved.

We had a similar issue and dd opted for DT Product Design instead. She then progressed to Graphics A level and is now a Photography student.
Does the school offer Photography GCSE that involved computer work.
Does the school offer iMedia or Media GCSE?
For Graphics A level any creative GCSE would be fine.

Thanks. Obviously we need to speak to the school, I just wondered how it normally worked. No Media (at GCSE) or Photography (at all) offered. Doing any tech that involves using machinery is an absolute no no! Clearly she can also do Computing (and she might, she has good Maths skills and would probably enjoy it) but it won't cover the Graphics angle I believe.

My dd is doing gcse art (year 10) and so far it’s pretty much all drawing, using different media - pencil, pen, ink, etc. I think later on they get a bit of choice but not at the moment. It’s a lot of work and I think you have to be good at drawing.

My daughter is interested in animation and that's not part of her gcse. She is doing the Silver Art Award though which is self directed, so is doing an animated piece for that on computer.
I think for Art GCSE they want to see manual skills - technical ability in drawing and painting. Graphics could be an element of it for sure, but in the main I would think it needs to be done by hand.

Look at the GCSE requirements for any A level graphics course at your preferred college, my daughters A level graphics didntvrewuire the GCSE, any art GCSE was ok as many schools don't do graphics

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