Graphic Communications sits within the Creative Arts Faculty. The Creative Arts Faculty intends to deliver a vibrant and dynamic curriculum from Year 7 - 13 which gives students the freedom to explore their creativity, inspires design ideas, whilst equipping them with the skills to continue the subject with confidence at GCSE, A-Level and beyond.  

The department prides itself on developing the use of new technologies; laser cutting, 3D printing and the latest Adobe Creative Cloud software. Computer-aided design and manufacture are central to activities the students participate in.  

Co-curricular Enrichment  

• Lunchtime and after school GCSE and A-Level sessions 
• Careers talks by experts in the field 
• GCSE and A-Level exhibition in June 
• Educational visits 

KS3 (Year 7 – 9)  

Graphic Communication, textiles and food are taught in a one-term carousel system, where two tutor groups are split into three equal-sized classes and rotate between the three specialisms. Current projects for the year are as follows:  

Year 7: Book Cover – Students get to grips with design basics before developing and designing a book cover using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator software.  

Year 8: Artist’s Typography – Students gain a deeper understanding of the principals of typography. They research the work of existing typographers and artists before creating their own alphabet inspired by their chosen artist using Adobe Illustrator.   

Year 9: Branding and Packaging – Students learn about the process of branding before applying their knowledge to an area of their personal interest. The project culminates in the development and production of their own branding, logo and packaging created using Adobe Software.  

GSCE (Year 10 – 11)  

GCSE Graphic Communication promotes creativity and learning across a variety of experiences and through various programmes, tools, techniques, materials and resources. Our specialist graphics suites provide students with access to Adobe software and our graphics workshop, where students create products with our 3D printer, laser printer, A1 printer and much more.  

The course consists of two components. Component 1 is the portfolio (coursework) and component 2 is the externally set assignment set by the exam board and is a 10-hour exam set over two days. For more information on the GCSE course, download our GCSE Options Guide.

A-Level (Year 12 – 13) 

The A-Level course offers the students an opportunity to produce personal creative work and develop a deeper understanding of graphic design, whilst developing knowledge of materials and techniques, and the skills to communicate ideas and information visually. Experimentation using a range of media, techniques and processes, including digital and non-digital elements, enables development of creativity and independent thought, and generates problem-solving skills.  

The course consists of two components. Component 1 is a practical investigation into an idea, issue, concept or theme, supported by written material. Component 2 is an externally set assignment demonstrating a student’s ability to produce sustained work from an initial starting point to a realisation, applying the skills acquired during the first part of the course. This component is a 15-hour exam.  

For more information on the A-Level Graphic Communications course grade requirements, download a copy of the Sixth Form Prospectus and  for more information on the course content, download a copy of the A-Level Options Guide.