KS4 Photography
Studying photography gives us the opportunity to reflect on the world around us and to also demonstrate to potential employers that we are creative thinkers. It is an opportunity to develop skills as young photographers and students will enjoy studying in a different way because there is a heavy emphasis on coursework and practical outcomes.
Exam board:
AQA GCSE Art & Design, Photography
How is this course examined?
- 1 x Coursework (60%), which is started in September of Yr10 and completed by Christmas of Yr11.
- 1 x Practical exam with preparatory work (40%). This work starts in the January of Yr11. It is a personal practical response to a given exam board starting point, with an outcome produced over two days in early May.
How is the course structured?
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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Coursework Portfolio Development.
You will follow a guided unit of digital photography coursework, with plenty of opportunity for personal outcomes within that.
Additionally you will have the opportunity to work in the photography studio after school to support your coursework development. |
Coursework Portfolio Completion, (Dec)
Using your preferred technique of choice to push your own work and concepts, in order to complete the additional work section of your portfolio. Outcomes will be printed and mounted and will go home to be enjoyed at the end of the course
Exam (Jan- April) Responding to a chosen starting point, you now have the skills and we will support and guide you as you work independently. |
Why is the course sequenced this way?
We start Yr10 with a directed digital coursework project as this gives us an opportunity to develop your knowledge and build skill, pushing for that GCSE standard of outcome. It also gives us time to support you with that difficult leap from being completely teacher directed to the independent learning styles needed in y11.
Towards the end of Yr10 you will be pushing your own photographic creativity to its limits as teaching now becomes more ‘tutorial’ in style as we head to Yr11. This will echo the teaching methods of your Art next step in education- getting you ready for that higher level in this subject, should you wish to pursue this.
How will I be assessed during the course?
- Regular portfolio reviews with your teacher
- A mock exam experience
What’s the best way to revise?:
Revision techniques are not needed for this subject, however, the following will be the best way of achieving those top grades:
- a dedication to a continual production of personal outcomes, either at home or using our weekly after school studio time
- a commitment to visiting the wonderfully diverse wealth of photographic work in galleries and museums that we have in this city and around us.
