Art & Design - Fine Art - SFX 6th Form College

Art & Design - Fine Art

Course type: A level

Awarding/exam body: EDUQAS (WJEC)

Do you love working with a broad range of artistic media?

Do you explore cultural, social and political issues with your art?

Then you’ll enjoy Fine Art A Level. It fosters creative problem solving, independence, innovation and risk taking as well as engagement with cultural, social and political issues. As you explore the world of art and design, you’ll experiment with and learn through the creative visual process. You can expect to work with a wide range of media: traditional techniques such as drawing; painting; printmaking and sculpture. We support learners to become highly independent, creative and self-motivated individuals.

In Year 1, your focus will be on becoming visually literate and articulate – exploring ideas, developing skills through the creative process, and learning from creative exploration. You’ll develop mastery of practical skills, and creative and visual learning.

You will also make contextual links between your own work and that of other artists and designers through research assignments and an extended essay.

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Course Units

Unit 1: Personal Investigation Portfolio (a coursework unit), 60% of overall mark. It includes a 1000-3000 word assignment.

Unit 2: Externally Set Assignment, 40% of overall mark. The project approach assignment is studied between February and May, and includes a 15-hour exam.

Course Assessment

Two coursework projects: the Personal Investigation (60%) and the Externally Set Assignment (40%).

Where This Course Could Take You

Progression to university from A level Fine Art is high. Students who want to specialise in art and design typically progress on to a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design at University of the Arts London (UAL) institutions, Goldsmiths University, or other universities across the country.

Career opportunities include architecture, interior design, product design, illustration, textile design, set design, fashion design and many others.

Entry Requirements

6 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, preferably including English Language or Maths at Grade 4 or above. An average GCSE Score of at least 4.3.

Grade 4 in Art, Textiles or Graphic Design, if taken OR Minimum Merit in BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Art

Course Highlights

We visit a range of exhibitions and workshops throughout the course where you’ll have the opportunity to visually explore, challenge and develop your own ideas and opinions on significant themes and issues.

Drawing trips to London galleries have previously included: The National Portrait Gallery, The Victoria and Albert Museum and the Tate Museums.

Courses

Students can take any combination of 30 A level and Level 3 Applied Diploma subjects. Vocational programmes include 11 Level 3 Extended Diplomas, including BTEC, CTEC and University of the Arts courses, and 4 T Levels. We also offer BTEC Level 2 and Foundation options, along with GCSE Maths and English language retakes.

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Students

At Saint Francis Xavier, we develop the whole person. Our commitment goes beyond academic achievement; we equip students with the confidence, values, and skills needed to thrive in higher education, employment, and adult life. With an extensive range of courses, our students receive expert teaching in our modern, state-of-the-art facilities.

Parents & Carers

Personal Tutors will work with both you and your student to overcome any obstacles and achieve their potential. We build a positive ethos around learning and behaviour, support students with discussion and advice, invite you to progress review evenings, provide each student with an Individual Learning Plan (ILP), and send you full reports.

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Upcoming Events

Open Evening

Wednesday, 4th March · 4pm – 6pm

Explore your options and secure your offer from Saint Francis Xavier Sixth Form College for September 2026.

Book your place to visit London’s top performing and friendliest sixth form college with a 97% pass rate in A levels, BTECs, UAL Diplomas and T Levels.

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Hire Our Spaces

Hold your next event with us in one of our many available spaces. Choose from: a multi-use games area, sports hall, dining hall and garden, multi-purpose hall, dance/drama studio, fitness suite, meeting/conference rooms, computer suite, chapel and music studio. Kitchen and catering facilities and free parking are also available.

Nursery

‘Happy staff make happy children’

Nightingale’s Nursery is set in the beautiful, secure grounds of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Sixth Form College where children can play outside and help tend the vegetable patch. The nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework and provides a holistic learning environment, paying special attention to the transition from home to nursery, reassuring parents of their child’s wellbeing and progress on a daily basis.

Nightingale’s friendly team builds positive relationships with all the children and parents.

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What Our
Students Say

The support I received from passionate teachers who pushed me to aim higher, to the tailored guidance with university applications made all the difference. SFX believed in my potential even when I doubted myself, and that encouragement gave me the confidence to pursue my ambitions. Without that foundation, I don’t think I’d be on the path to a legal career today.

Joshua, former Sociology student

Saint Francis Xavier Sixth Form College announces excellent 2025 Level 3 examination results

We congratulate all our students who received their excellent public examination results today. We are delighted to see results improving on last year’s impressive pass rates across A level, BTEC, CTEC and UAL courses. Our second year T Level results have also been excellent. The overall pass rate at Level 3 was 97%, including 50% […]

Celebrating SFX diversity at Culture Day

Saint Francis Xavier Sixth Form College was filled with colour, flavour, and pride as we hosted our much-anticipated Culture Day — a joyful celebration of the rich diversity that makes our college community so special. We are proud to be a truly inclusive college, welcoming students and staff from a wide range of cultural and […]

SFX Young Enterprise Team Wins Regional Final at Samsung KX

We’re incredibly proud to announce that our Young Enterprise team, Nexora, has won the Central, North & West London Final, held at the prestigious Samsung KX venue in King’s Cross. Representing St Francis Xavier Catholic Sixth Form College, students Guilherme, Nawid, Tiago, Ruan and Kevin competed against seven other schools in a high-pressure final that tested their innovation, professionalism and business […]

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Art & Design - Fine Art