Pearson Edexcel A level Art and Design - Scheme of work - Component 1 Personal Investigation and Component 2 Externally Set Assignment

Oct 20, 2026

Pearson Edexcel A level Art and Design scheme of work outlining the knowledge and skills required to cover the two assessment components: Component 1 Personal Investigation and Component 2 Externally Set Assignment (ESA). It provides guidance on centre-chosen themes and activities, explains ESA timing released annually on 1 February, and updates sustained focus to 15 hours across up to five sessions in three consecutive weeks. Recommendations include specialist workspaces, resources, and structured week-by-week learning, outcomes, and exemplar activities for A level year 1.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatDOC

Pages27

Reading Time1 h 8 min

AccessFree to download

A level Art and Design: Scheme of work

Assessment components overview

Component 1 Personal Investigation

Component 2 Externally Set Assignment (ESA)

Recommended standard resources

A level year 1 schedule (weeks 1–4 and induction)

AS and A Level Art and Design Scheme of work A level Art and Design Pearson Edexcel A level Art and Design Editable scheme of work – all titles Components 1 Personal Investigation and Component 2 Externally Set Assignment This scheme of work covers the knowledge and skills required for coverage of the two assessment components at A level: Component 1 Personal Investigation and Component 2 Externally Set Assignment. For Component 1 Personal Investigation, the themes and activities suggested in this scheme of work are examples given for guidance only. Centres are free to choose or negotiate with their students their own projects, assignments and activities for Component 1. For Component 2 Externally Set Assignment, or ESA, a broad theme is set by Pearson. The ESA paper containing the broad theme and related starting points is released to teachers and students on 1 February each year. Centres should be aware that for Component 2 Externally Set Assignment the time allowed for the period of sustained focus has been increased to 15 hours. The 15-hour period of sustained focus may take place over a maximum of five sessions, and the sessions should take place within three consecutive weeks where possible. Note: centres wishing to co-teach AS and A level students in Year 12 should follow weeks 1–18 in the scheme of work for A level year 1, then refer to week 19 onwards in the scheme of work for AS. Recommended standard resources We recommend that the following resources are made available to students in every lesson. Specialist work spaces: e.g. studios, workshops, computers, video and film Materials, equipment and tools: e.g. for 2D, 3D, 4D and associated materials, equipment and tools across fine art specialist areas Access to learning centre: e.g. for books, periodicals, journals, videos and the internet Visits: e.g. to galleries, exhibitions, workshops and studios Websites: HYPERLINK "http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/" www.tate.org.uk/modern/ HYPERLINK "http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/" www.tate.org.uk/britain/ HYPERLINK "http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/" www.nationalgallery.org.uk/ HYPERLINK "http://www.npg.org.uk/" www.npg.org.uk/ HYPERLINK "http://www.galleries.co.uk/" www.galleries.co.uk/ HYPERLINK "http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/" www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/ HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Books on artists, sculptors, photographers and suggested teaching sources: Bower J – Introduction to Two-dimensional Design: Understanding Form and Function, 2nd edition (John Wiley & Sons, 2008) De Sausmarez M – Basic Design: The Dynamics of Visual Form, 2nd reprinted edition (Herbert Press, 2007) Harthill B and Clarke R – Collagraphs and Mixed Media Printmaking Handbook (A & C Black, 2005) Beverly Hale R – Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters (Watson-Guptill Publications, US, 1989) Meller S and Elffers J – Textile Designs: 200 Years of Patterns for Printer Fabrics arranged by Motif, Colour, Period and Design, new edition (Thames and Hudson, 2002) Newell J and Whittington D – Monoprinting (Printmaking Handbook) (A & C Black, 2006) Peto J – Design: Process, Progress, Practice (Design Museum, 1999) Schmidt P – Patterns in Design, Art and Architecture (Birkhäuser, 2007) Phaidon Editors – 30,000 Years of Art: The Story of Human Creativity Across Time and Space (Phaidon Press, 2007) Phaidon Editors – The Art Book, new edition (Phaidon Press, 2012) Little S – Isms – Understanding Art (A & C Black, 2004) Berger J – Ways of Seeing, reprint edition (Penguin Classics, 2008) Hughes R – The Shock of the New – Art and the Century of Change, enlarged edition (Thames and Hudson, 1991) Pointon M – History of Art – A Student’s Handbook, 5th edition (Routledge, 2014) Murray L and Murray P – The Penguin Dictionary of Art and Artists, 7th revised edition (Penguin, 1997) Simpson I – Drawing, Seeing and Observation, 3rd revised edition (A & C Black, 2003) Stobart J – Drawing Matters (A & C Blac

FAQs

What does this scheme of work cover for A level Art and Design?

It covers the knowledge and skills needed for Component 1 Personal Investigation and Component 2 Externally Set Assignment at A level, including guidance for themes, activities, and learning delivery.

How is the ESA broad theme provided and when is it released?

Pearson sets a broad theme, and the ESA paper containing the theme and starting points is released to teachers and students on 1 February each year.

How long is the sustained focus period for Component 2, and how should it be scheduled?

The sustained focus period is 15 hours, which may be organised into up to five sessions. Where possible, sessions should occur within three consecutive weeks.

Oct 20, 2026

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