Education should be all about choice – but choice within parameters that foster both intellectual and emotional development (emotional intelligence as well as intelligent emotions) by cultivating creative and critical thinking, caring and doing. Each individual student has their own skills, potential, talents and preferences, even if only in a latent state. They also all enjoy learning so long as they are given the choice to decide, in part at least, what path to follow and are offered a learning process that is enjoyable and fulfilling. They should be encouraged to opt for whatever route suits them best whether it is academic or vocational, through teaching or self-discovery, theory or practice – preferably an individually chosen combination of all these. Students should be given the opportunity to engage in self-reliant learning activities that respond to personal needs and desires and to be able to continue their learning as far as they are prepared to go whether this is a pursuit of higher educational studies in the sciences or a career in the arts. My advice to students is for them to try to define their own interests as clearly as they can before making major decisions that will deeply influence their future – and to trust their instincts. It is within this spirit that Doukas School offers students educational opportunities to expand their university choice options and to meet the entry requirements of the top institutions in their chosen field, whether in the UK or elsewhere. The GCE programme leading to A-level qualifications is an academic programme for students wishing to gain entry to the best HE institutions in the UK. Within that programme students may choose their own subject combination, bearing in mind the specific entry requirements that may differ from university to university. The BTEC Art Foundation is a vocational programme that leads to the Edexcel Foundation Diploma in Art & Design qualification necessary for access to specialist BA courses at the most prestigious art & design colleges and even architecture schools. Again this programme provides students with a choice of pathways depending on their area of interest. Although the GCE and BTEC courses are separate programmes, combining the two is an option that potential art students should consider seriously if they have no other high school qualifications or possess only the Greek Apolytirio. In the pages that follow you can find out everything you need to know about these programmes as well as information concerning the application process, the selection criteria and other course specific information.
