Art & Design: Photography GCE A Level

Course summary

GCE A Level Photography - Edexcel Exam Board Studying A Level Photography, students will develop understanding and skills in both traditional and new technologies. Students will be introduced to a variety of experiences that explore a range of photographic media, techniques and processes, including darkroom developing techniques, Photoshop, scanography & photocopying experiments, pinhole cameras, projection and mixed media to name a few. Students will choose to explore relevant images, artefacts and resources relating to a range of art, craft and design, from the past and from recent times, including European and non-European examples. This will be integral to the investigating and making processes. Students' responses to these examples will be created through practical and critical activities that demonstrate their understanding and awareness of different styles, genres and traditions, which will be documented in their sketchbooks as their work progresses. We run a yearly trip to a major London art fair and private galleries to develop your understanding of the wider picture and also encourage students to make regular visits to London galleries and museums to inspire their own practice. The main area of study will be on the Personal Investigation; in which you will decide with the support of your teacher the area of study for your own project. You will produce a sketchbook and portfolio of studies, experiments and ideas working towards a final outcome/s. You will also support this with a written study related to your practical investigation, a minimum of one thousand words is required. Coursework constitutes 60% of your final grade. (20% of which are allocated to the written study) 40% of the A Level mark comes from the externally set assignment, a 12-week project at the end of the two year course ending in a 15-hour practical exam.