A Levels - Art, DT, EPQ and…. ?

[Mydogiscalledsam]

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.

Move to a college that offers BTec Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art & Design.

These are all brilliant suggestions, thank you.

We (DS and I) are going to have a sit down and look over all the suggestions after we’ve eaten.

To answer a few quick points.

No he doesn’t have to stay at that school, but would like to, the next nearest sixth forms are in schools approx 10 miles away with non existent really bad public transport so a logistical problem. We are going to have a look at both though. We are also going to have a look at the college, but again, this is quite far away (approx 30 miles).

Predicted GCSE grades
English - 6
Maths - 6
science - 44/55 (doing foundation)
history - 5 or 6
german - 4 (if he’s lucky)
Art - 8
DT - 7

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

Be careful with DT. Many DT departments are opting for a 3D Design focus but through Art as it is more coursework based and less/no exam. However it would be an Art a-level so you would need to enquire through the school you are interested on which they offer.

My friend went to university at 16 to do art. Would just startinf his degree or an art foundation year early be a possibility?

If not, do an essay writing subject like English. Doesn’t matter how brilliant he is at art, he is still going to need to communicate with others in writing and essay writing subjects will help him with that.

Plus if he ends up doing book cover design in a publishing company the English will be looked on favourably and be useful in talking to colleagues etc

Why is he anti Digital Media OP? It might work well in supplement.

Geography.
Hear me out
It’s a facilitating subject for Russell group, very interesting and would give him good study skills. You don’t have to do it at gcse to do A Level.

I’m not sure this is true. The exam in A level Dt has been there for years. There is still an Art A level exam of 10 hours.

Its the GCSE where people have switched as the new DT exam is hideous at GCSE. Also 3D design doesn’t exist in A level DT. If it’s offered through DT then they can’t offer art, as that would be offered through art department.

Good suggestion. Artists are mostly self employed and from my experience at art college, the practical aspects of how to manage your own business can be sadly lacking.

English or sociology?

If he doesn't like humanities, he really really should not do sociology!

@Mydogiscalledsam

A levels are fine for art courses. My DD did Art, Photography and Business Studies. No great essays in BS and practical for the future. RG isn’t often where artists go. Do you don’t need essay facilitating subjects.

He might need to do an art foundation, but not necessarily. Art A level is very different to photography A level. Well in DDs case! The main thing would be to get a portfolio together for his chosen course. There’s a big thread in HE about applying to arts colleges.

With those grades I'd do an appropriate Extended BTEC Diploma and sort the travel issue somehow.
At minimum I'd really look at the specs for the courses and choose based on that.

i wouldn’t worry too much about making a final decision now as you can alway change your mind once GCSE results are out and you accept your place. My son started A-levels this year. On his original application he had put Geography, Biology and PE and was offered a space on that basis. He completely changed his mind by August and chose Psychology, PE and Law (tbh he really found year 11 a complete drag so we were also keen for him to try something new to re-ignite his enthusiasm for learning. He is loving psychology and Law).

This was at 6 form college mind you so not 100% sure if that applies to your school but there was lots of movement with friends obviously as some students didn’t get the grades they needed etc

Look into Anthropology?

That doesn't exist at A level...

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?

To save a lot of suggestions that your school don’t offer - can you say what courses are offered?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

@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.