Creative Arts
Head of Creative Arts: Sara Elston
Welcome to the Art Department at Ivybridge Community College.
Our Creative Arts curriculum is built around three key pillars: understanding the big ideas that shape the art world, engaging fully in the creative process, and developing mastery across a range of artistic skills. We nurture students’ independence and creativity, offering opportunities to explore diverse media and techniques across Art, Craft, Design, Photography, Textiles, and 3D Design.
From Key Stage 3’s broad multidisciplinary foundations to the specialist GCSE and A Level pathways we offer in Art, Craft and Design, Photography, and Textiles, students are supported to grow as confident and expressive young artists.
Our impressive facilities provide an inspiring environment for creativity and innovation.
The site includes multidisciplinary classrooms designed for Art, Craft, and Design, featuring:
- A dedicated IT suite equipped for digital art and design.
- A professional photography darkroom for traditional and modern techniques.
- Sixth Form Textiles studio with screen printing and sublimation printing.
- Printing facilities including etching presses.
- Spacious Art and Photography studios to foster artistic expression and exploration.
- Two kilns, including the capability to fire raku, enable students to experiment with unique ceramic techniques.
Key Stage 3
Multidisciplinary approach to Art, Craft and Design
Key Stage 4
Students studying Art and Design follow the AQA GCSE Art and Design course, which is assessed through two main components:
Unit 1: Portfolio of Work (60%)
Students build a portfolio containing more than one extended project, created throughout the course, and covering all four Assessment Objectives.
Assessment Objectives (AO):
- AO1: Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.
- AO2: Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.
Unit 2: Externally Set Task (40%)
Students produce work in response to a starting point set by the exam board for their practical exam.
Throughout the course, students explore a wide range of artistic disciplines under three broad project themes: Environment and Natural Forms, Cultures, and St Ives (Coasts).
To inspire and support their creative development, students also visit local and national galleries, including trips to St Ives and the Eden Project to strengthen their critical, contextual, and cultural understanding.
At the end of the course, students proudly exhibit their work at the annual summer Art Exhibition.
Exam Board: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/gcse/art-and-design-8201/specification
Key Stage 5
At Key Stage 5, students studying Art, Craft & Design deepen their creative skills while developing independence, originality, and confidence as artists. The course supports a wide range of future pathways in the rapidly expanding creative industries.
Course Structure:
A Level Assessment
Component 1: Personal Investigation (60%)
Students develop an in-depth project based on a personal idea or theme, producing practical work supported by written study (1,000–3,000 words). Their work connects to the influence of relevant artists, designers, photographers, or craftspeople.
Component 2: Externally Set Task (40%)
Students respond to a stimulus provided by AQA, creating a personal and meaningful final outcome under exam conditions. This component assesses their ability to develop ideas independently across all four Assessment Objectives.
What Students Will Study
Students explore a wide range of artistic materials, approaches and processes, including: painting and printmaking, ceramics and sculpture, textiles and mixed media, photography and digital arts, drawing and recording skills, creative problem-solving and experimentation, contextual and art historical research.
Assessment Objectives
Students are assessed on their ability to:
•A01: Develop ideas through sustained and focused investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and critical understanding.
•A02: Explore and select appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes, reviewing and refining ideas as work develops.
•A03: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions, reflecting critically on work and progress.
•A04: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and, where appropriate, makes connections between visual and other elements.
Future Opportunities
The course offers excellent preparation for Art and Design degrees, foundation courses, and careers in the thriving creative sector. Past students have progressed to leading art colleges and universities.
Career pathways include: advertising, graphic design, architecture, art, antiques, museums, three-dimensional design, software and computer games, designer fashion, film and video, publishing, performing arts, and more.
Exam Board: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/a-level/art-and-design-7201/specification
For more information, please contact the College here: