AQA GCSE Art & Design: Reviewing the 2025 Exams
Course Code: T0395
£249.00
ABOUT THIS COURSE
This course is designed for all teachers of AQA GCSE Art & Design who want to reflect on the 2025 exam series and refine their practice for stronger student outcomes. With a clear focus on examiner feedback and student performance, the course will explore common challenges, highlight examples of strong work, and provide practical strategies to support students in meeting the assessment objectives across both components. You’ll leave with renewed confidence, creative ideas, and usable resources to raise attainment in 2026 and beyond.BENEFITS OF ATTENDING
- Gain key insights from the 2025 exam series and examiner feedback
- Identify common weaknesses and how to address them
- Improve student outcomes in both the portfolio and ESA
- Develop AO1–AO4 understanding through practical strategies
- Take away resources and ideas that can be used immediately
PROGRAMME
10.00am: Reflecting on the 2025 Exams- What the 2025 exam series tells us about current student performance
- Key strengths and recurring issues across the portfolio and ESA
- What successful projects looked like – insights from top-graded work
- How students can better meet the demands of the assessment objectives
11.15am: Break
11.35am: Strengthening the Portfolio (Component 1)
- Supporting students in developing sustained, meaningful projects
- Helping students meet AO1–AO4 with balance and depth
- Encouraging creativity, independence, and critical thinking
- Improving the written element through structured guidance
- Reviewing sample work to understand what success looks like
12.30pm: Lunch
1.30pm: Externally Set Assignment – Building Confidence and Creativity
- Approaching the ESA with clarity, structure, and student-led direction
- Supporting strong development in the preparatory period
- Managing time effectively to produce a strong final piece
- How to stretch students to access the top mark bands
- Reviewing real student examples to benchmark expectations
2.10pm: Break
2.20pm: Raising Achievement in GCSE Art & Design
- Embedding AO1–AO4 in lesson planning and feedback
- Differentiation strategies to support a range of learners
- Creating a culture of independence and risk-taking
- Practical takeaways to improve teaching and outcomes in 2025–26
- Action planning and resource sharing
3.30pm: Depart
GCSE - Code: T0395
AQA GCSE Art & Design: Reviewing the 2025 Exams
COURSE LEADER
Mark Coombe is an experienced Art & Design teacher of 25 years who has taught all areas of Art & Design. He is renowned as a CPD leader, trainer and presenter across all disciplines of Art & Design. He is a practising artist, in particular in animal portraiture – livestock & rare breeds – and his current portfolio is supplying The National Trust in Norfolk, Suffolk and other regions.