Art & Design

Welcome!

Please scroll down for GCSE options information and details about the Art and Graphics courses here at DCSG. 

For an indication of where studying GCSE Art & Design could lead you, we've gathered some information on where our art students go: these people all graduated from Dulwich College Beijing and Dulwich College Shanghai in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and are now successfully working in a range of the creative industries worldwide: 

To start your creative journey, there are two Art & Design GCSE options available:  Art and Graphics.  Which one is right for you?

Options Presentation:

Slideshow only:

FAQs

What's the final exam like? Is it really 10 hours long?

In the final assessment, called an NEA, you make a finished piece in 10 hours, which is a scary prospect if you haven’t done this before! However, you will receive the NEA paper in January of Year 11 and will have the whole term to prepare for it before the NEA itself happens in April. You can take all your preparatory sketches and studies into the NEA with you, as well as getting advice about your work from your teacher, so you will be very well prepared.

The NEA takes place over two school days and you will have your normal break and lunchtimes as well, so it’s not ten solid hours! To help prepare you for this, you will also practice by having 5-hour and 10-hour assessments in Year 10 and 11, which will also be used as part of your coursework. This will help to give you experience and confidence.

Do you have to be good at art to do GCSE?

No! It is far more important that you have an excellent attitude to learning, that you listen to instructions and try hard in all classes. Art and Graphics are not easy subjects, but they are VERY rewarding if you commit to them.

Am I allowed to do whatever I want?

Yes and no. In the projects we cover, you will have choices and options at each stage. There will be more and more freedom as the course progresses until, at the end, you are choosing your topics, style and subject matter for yourself. In the beginning, however, it’s really important that you let your teacher guide the learning until you’re ready to take the reins yourself.

Can I take both Graphics and Art?

Yes! This is explained in the video above and slide 7 in the presentation answers this.

How long does homework take each week?

As a GCSE Art & Design student, you will get homework each week. This is often a practical task such as photography, drawing or painting, but might also involve research about artists, making notes or reflecting on your work.

Your homework will usually take around an hour to complete, but keen students who love the subject often take longer, because they enjoy what they’re doing so much. There are also ‘Open Studio’ sessions at lunchtime and after school, which you can use to help you develop your work further.
It sounds obvious, but it's very important that you focus on your art homework while you’re doing it: if you’re browsing online or doing other things, it can take much longer than it needs to. Listening to music, however, really helps many students find their creative zone!

I love drawing manga - can I do that in Art?

Manga is not often suitable for work in Fine Art, as the aim is to develop your own visual language and style, not copy Japanese anime, which is already highly stylised. However, there would be more opportunity to apply these commercial styles if you choose Graphics.

How will studying Art benefit my university application?

All universities are ultimately looking for self-motivated, independent thinkers who are able to take risks while managing their own time, workload and deadlines: all these skills are developed really well in Art and Graphics. Please look at slide 2 in the presentation, which lists more of the important transferable skills you will gain from choosing Art or Graphics.

Do I need my own art materials at home?

No! It helps if you have some basics like good quality drawing pencils, pens and paper, but you will always be able to borrow the equipment you need to take home, or use the Art Department supplies at lunch or after school.

Contact:

For any other questions or further information, please contact Nicky Cases, Head of Art.
nicky.cases@dulwich.org

Further course information and Careers Advice

Find out more about careers in Art, Design and the Creative Industries here: