Start Date
- September 2026, Full Time, Day
What You Will Study
Through this course you will build on your skills and develop as an artist through the process of research and experimentation. You will deepen your understanding of art - reflecting upon, and questioning how to think about and make art - and at the end of the course you have the opportunity to exhibit your work in a professional gallery setting in the Paston Art Show.
In your first year you will keep a work journal (sketchbook), develop ideas and analyse the work of a wide range of artists. You will explore painting, printmaking, sculpture and experimental image making, using non-art materials and research into the work of artists. This is all geared towards helping you arrive at a finished piece of work that can be hung in an exhibition.
The second year of the course is designed to help you strengthen and deepen your own area of interest and specialism. The work you will do will reflect your own interests and what you want to go on to study after A Level, be this architecture, fashion, textiles, art and much more besides. Trips and visits also play an important part in the course, with previous trips including visits to the Tate Modern, The Royal Academy, Amsterdam, and Berlin.
You will have access to four specialist workshops with professional software, screenprinting, darkroom and painting facilities. We also have great display spaces and make full use of this at our annual art show. We have visiting artists, including past students, who come in to talk to our groups about the careers and pathways that are available within the creative industry. Strong features of the course include portfolio preparation, the support we give to students with UCAS applications, regular visits to art galleries in London and Europe, and preparing for the prestigious Paston Art Show.
To get a better idea of what sort of work we make and the exciting trips we go on, follow @pastonart on Instagram or visit www.behance.net/pastoncollege.
Why Choose Paston College?
A wide range of subjects
We're proud to be the biggest provider of A Levels in Norfolk, offering 27 A Level courses
Student progression
100% of our students progress to university, employment, apprenticeships, of gap years
Excellent results
Our students do consistently well on their A Level courses, with pass rates consistently in the high 90s
Entry Requirements
You will need to achieve a minimum of two GCSEs at grade 6 or above, and three GCSEs at grade 4 or above. You need to achieve a grade 4 or above in GCSE art. If you did not take art at GCSE, you must have a portfolio approved at interview.
How You Will Be Assessed
You will be assessed through two components. The first component is a personal investigation worth 60% of the total qualification. The second component is an externally set assignment worth 40% of the total qualification. This incorporates two elements: preparatory studies and the 15 hour period of sustained focus (a finished piece of work completed under examination conditions).
Course Progression
Many students each year go directly on from Paston College to university or art school all over the UK to continue their study of art. If you decide to study locally, you may benefit from our progression agreement with Norwich University of the Arts.
Where Your Course Can Take You
You could consider a range of careers including an architect, graphic designer, illustrator, fashion designer, teacher and shoe designer. One of our former Art A Level students is currently studying for his MFA in New York!
Fees
If you are a UK or home fee status student and aged 16-18 on the 31st August before the start of your course, tuition fees are free. If you are aged 19 and over please contact the Advice Shop.
