Five GCSEs at grade 9–4, including a grade 4 or above in English, Maths and a creative subject.
Creative Art and Design Practice – UAL Level 3 National Diploma/ National Extended Diploma
Level 3 Diploma in Creative Practice is for students who thrive in studio-based environments rather than traditional classrooms. Unlike the modular constraints of A-Levels, this qualification offers an immersive, interdisciplinary experience that encourages you to blur the lines between fine art, digital design, fashion, and photography. The curriculum prioritises the creative process, teaching you that experimentation and risk-taking are just as valuable as the finished product. By focusing on “learning through making,” you develop a sophisticated, industry-ready portfolio and the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the global creative economy. Ultimately, it provides the freedom to define your own artistic voice while securing a nationally recognised pathway to universities or professional practice.
Year 1
Unit 1 The Creative Process
Unit 2 Developing Creative Practice
Unit 3 Responding to a set Brief (synoptic assessment)
On rotation
Fashion/Textile design: for example, surface pattern design, domestic textiles, wallpaper, fashion/costume design.
Three-Dimensional Design: for example,
ceramics, jewellery/body adornment, interior design.
Fine Art, Curation and Exhibition Management: for example,
printmaking, painting, mixed media, drawing, understanding history, collections, galleries and visual culture.
Year 2
You will focus on your individual specialist areas.
Unit 4 Researching a Specialist Industry Practice
Unit 5 Specialist Technical Skills Development
Unit 6 Specialist Creative Outcome
(synoptic assessment)
Year 1
Internally assessed and internally verified portfolio of coursework evidence (Units 01, 02), which are subject to quality assurance by Awarding Body.
Internally assessed and internally verified assignment (Unit 03) which is graded by the centre and externally moderated by Awarding Body.
Year 2
Internally assessed and internally verified portfolio of coursework evidence (Units 04, 05), which are subject to quality assurance by Awarding Body.
Internally assessed and internally verified assignment (Unit 06) which is graded by the centre and externally moderated by Awarding Body.
This course is specifically designed to enable the student to develop a portfolio to seek either work or to progress to university in areas such as; Fashion, Costume and Textile Design, Printmaking, Fine Arts, Illustration, Ceramics, Jewellery, Craft or Interior Design. Additionally, Museum, Exhibition and Gallery Curatorship.
A studio fee and kit list is set in August of each year for each course. They can be purchased from the college via the online college shop. There may be print costs throughout the year depending on projects. The college has support funds available for those students who have difficulty meeting the costs.
There will be the opportunity for a variety of trips and visits on a rolling programme that include, UK cities such as London, Brighton or Oxford and residential trips that have included, Paris, Madrid, Berlin and New York. There are a number of opportunities to visit universities, studios and places of creative work. Lots of competitions from local universities, a variety of guest speakers from the world of Creative Industries.
Andover College has a large open plan studio space which has specialist equipment and resources such as a darkroom, print and heat presses, laser cutter, 3D printer, full Adobe Suite, large working spaces including a large kiln. We have space that can accommodate working in a wide range of materials such as ceramics, glass, wood, metals and plastics.