National 4
Art and Design
Why take this course?
This Course is a broad-based qualification. It is suitable for all pupils with
an interest in art and design, and for those wanting to progress onto higher levels
of study. This qualification will allow pupils to develop their art and design skills and become familiar with the format of Art and Design in the Senior Phase.
The Course is learner-centred and includes practical and experiential learning
opportunities. The learning experiences in the Course are flexible and adaptable, with opportunities for personalisation and choice in both expressive and design contexts.
On completing the Course, pupils will have developed skills in planning, producing and presenting creative art and design work. They will have used art and design materials, techniques and/or technology in creative ways when developing and refining their ideas and work. Pupils will also have developed some understanding of artists and designers.
What will pupils learn?
The Course has an integrated approach to learning, and includes a mix of practical learning and knowledge and understanding of art and design practice.
Pupils will continue to develop skills in expressive art and visual design, researching artists and designers relevant to their practical units. Pupils will produce an expressive folio and a design folio based on themes that they have developed and researched.
The Course consists of two mandatory Units and the Course assessment. Both
units are designed to provide progression to the corresponding units at National 5.
Design Folio (National 4)
Working either in Graphic Design, Product Design, Fashion Design, Jewellery Design or
Architecture, pupils have to develop their own theme – for instance in Graphic design it might be “I am going to design a range of stamps to be sold at the forthcoming Commonwealth games based on figures in movement”. Developing a number of approaches in answer to the brief, pupils evaluate and refine their ideas during the design process.
In the course of their research pupils will investigate individually at least two
works of two designers (four works in total).
Expressive Folio (National 4)
Working either in Landscape, Portraiture or Still Life, pupils have to develop their own
theme – for instance in Landscape the theme may be“Washed up”. Where possible, they should produce their own research (from photographic or other sources), demonstrate their skills in a variety of media and show a self-evaluative approach to their work throughout the unit.
In the course of their research pupils will investigate individually at least two
works of two artists (four works in total), relevant to their own practical work.
How will pupils be assessed?
To gain the award of the Course, the pupil must pass all of the Units as well as
the Course assessment. Course assessment will provide the basis for grading attainment in the Course award.
The design folio and expressive folio as well as all written submissions are marked internally once both units are completed. There is no external assessment at this level and work is marked on a pass/fail basis.
What homework will pupils be expected to do?
Regular homework assignments based on folio work, and critical research with essays, are
a part of the course, as is the ability to meet deadlines.
Click below to see the SQA documents for this course.
This Course is a broad-based qualification. It is suitable for all pupils with
an interest in art and design, and for those wanting to progress onto higher levels
of study. This qualification will allow pupils to develop their art and design skills and become familiar with the format of Art and Design in the Senior Phase.
The Course is learner-centred and includes practical and experiential learning
opportunities. The learning experiences in the Course are flexible and adaptable, with opportunities for personalisation and choice in both expressive and design contexts.
On completing the Course, pupils will have developed skills in planning, producing and presenting creative art and design work. They will have used art and design materials, techniques and/or technology in creative ways when developing and refining their ideas and work. Pupils will also have developed some understanding of artists and designers.
What will pupils learn?
The Course has an integrated approach to learning, and includes a mix of practical learning and knowledge and understanding of art and design practice.
Pupils will continue to develop skills in expressive art and visual design, researching artists and designers relevant to their practical units. Pupils will produce an expressive folio and a design folio based on themes that they have developed and researched.
The Course consists of two mandatory Units and the Course assessment. Both
units are designed to provide progression to the corresponding units at National 5.
Design Folio (National 4)
Working either in Graphic Design, Product Design, Fashion Design, Jewellery Design or
Architecture, pupils have to develop their own theme – for instance in Graphic design it might be “I am going to design a range of stamps to be sold at the forthcoming Commonwealth games based on figures in movement”. Developing a number of approaches in answer to the brief, pupils evaluate and refine their ideas during the design process.
In the course of their research pupils will investigate individually at least two
works of two designers (four works in total).
Expressive Folio (National 4)
Working either in Landscape, Portraiture or Still Life, pupils have to develop their own
theme – for instance in Landscape the theme may be“Washed up”. Where possible, they should produce their own research (from photographic or other sources), demonstrate their skills in a variety of media and show a self-evaluative approach to their work throughout the unit.
In the course of their research pupils will investigate individually at least two
works of two artists (four works in total), relevant to their own practical work.
How will pupils be assessed?
To gain the award of the Course, the pupil must pass all of the Units as well as
the Course assessment. Course assessment will provide the basis for grading attainment in the Course award.
The design folio and expressive folio as well as all written submissions are marked internally once both units are completed. There is no external assessment at this level and work is marked on a pass/fail basis.
What homework will pupils be expected to do?
Regular homework assignments based on folio work, and critical research with essays, are
a part of the course, as is the ability to meet deadlines.
Click below to see the SQA documents for this course.
