Why study A-Level Art & Design? (Year 11)

Post-16 choices shouldn't be made on syllabus details alone. This lesson plan will help you to show Year 11 students whether A-Level Art & Design or another post-16 route fits them best, drawing on the jobs it leads to and the skills it builds.

This lesson is designed to be delivered in 30 minutes as a teacher-led classroom activity.

This activity supports the following frameworks:

  • Gatsby Benchmark 4

This activity is suitable for Year 11 and features careers linked to the following subjects:

  • Art and Design

This is one of three lesson plans designed for Year 11 Art & Design teachers:

These lesson plans will help you show students how Art & Design connects to their future careers.

We recommend using this lesson plan at the beginning of the spring term, as students approach their post-16 choices. It builds on the two earlier lesson plans and draws them together to help students make an informed decision. A-Level Art & Design is one post-16 route among several - this lesson plan helps students decide whether it's the right one for them, or whether Art & Design fits their future better through another route.

Learning objectives

  • Students will understand what studying A-Level Art & Design involves.
  • Students will recognise how Art & Design fits different post-16 routes, not just A-Level.
  • Students will be able to say whether A-Level Art & Design is right for them and why.

Before the lesson

  • You will need a computer connected to the internet and a classroom screen.
  • Open the What can you do with Art & Design? page and have it ready on the screen.
  • Review the page in full so you know what's in each section.
  • Be ready to describe your school's A-Level Art & Design syllabus.

During the lesson

1. Recap: jobs and skills (5 mins)

  • Ask students to recall what they discussed in the earlier Year 11 lessons:
    • What jobs use Art & Design?
    • What skills does Art & Design build?
  • Write their answers on the board as a quick recap.

2. Walking through the page (15 mins)

  • Bring up the What can you do with Art & Design? page on the classroom screen.
  • Show students the table of contents so they see the shape of what's on the page.
  • Walk through the key sections together, unpacking why each one matters for their post-16 decisions:
    • Art & Design at A-Level - What the course covers and how it differs from GCSE.
    • Subjects that pair with Art & Design - Which other A-Level choices work well alongside it.
    • Where Art & Design can take you next - The range of routes after A-Level. Be sure to flag the Foundation Diploma, a one-year course distinctive to creative subjects and the standard route into many creative degrees.
  • Briefly outline your school or college's A-Level syllabus, exam board, and assessment methods.

3. Is A-Level Art & Design right for you? (10 mins)

  • Ask students to think about whether A-Level Art & Design fits their post-16 plan.
  • Prompt them with questions:
    • Did you enjoy studying GCSE Art & Design enough to spend two more years on it?
    • Are you up for a course where most of your time is spent making your own work, with less day-to-day instruction?
    • Do the skills Art & Design builds matter for the career or route you're leaning towards?
    • Does A-Level Art & Design pair well with your other post-16 choices?
    • Would a T-Level, apprenticeship, or college course work better for you?
  • Close by reminding students that the best post-16 choice is the one they'll engage with - whether that's A-Levels, a T-Level, an apprenticeship, or going straight into work. Interest and effort are what lead to good results, and good results open doors.

After the lesson

  • Share the What can you do with Art & Design? page with students and their parents/carers:
    • www.coffeewith.xyz/subjects/what-can-you-do-with-art-and-design
  • Encourage parents/carers to explore the page with their child and to discuss the contents.
  • Encourage parents/carers to also explore related videos and careers with their child.
  • Use the School Tools / Activities feature to record the lesson activity:
    • Activity name: Year 11 - Why study A-Level Art & Design?
    • Activity type: Linking curriculum learning to careers