Art and Design (Photography)
The Duchess's Community High School
Course summary
Why should I study Photography? Photography is an exciting and challenging subject that develops a great range of skills including: ● Technical and creative skills in photography ● Develop an understanding of contemporary and historical photographers ● Research and analytical skills ● Software skills including Adobe Photoshop ● Studio Lighting ● Opportunity to use moving image Students create innovative and exciting independent projects which, after introductory workshops, are negotiated to be on a theme of the student’s choice and interests. It is worth noting that students can also take A Level Photography in conjunction with A Level Art, and this is often a complementary pairing, especially for students who have creative aspirations beyond A Level. In Year 12 teaching is based around one- and two-week projects, skill-building workshops followed by independent coursework projects between four and twelve weeks in length. Classes on camera skills, creative lighting, and software including Adobe Photoshop equip students with the tools to realise their ideas. Photography is contextualized through the investigation and critique of historical and contemporary photographers. The short independent projects, such as Documentary Photography and Natural Forms, develop independence, enabling students to explore topics of interest to them. The extended project then puts all these skills into practice and results in a strong portfolio of work. In Year 13 students will develop one major Photography project based on a personal theme including contextual work, a compulsory essay, a portfolio of best images, and final outcomes in a form of the student’s choosing. The emphasis on this is a personal response; students generate their own independent project brief followed by a sustained personal investigation.
Entry Requirements
Checked against your grades — every rule traces to the school's published source.
| Requirement | Rule | You |
|---|---|---|
GCSE qualifications | 5 gcse qualifications at grade 4.0 or above | — |
As published by the school
Five grade 4 or above at GCSE or equivalent, including Art & Design or Photography.
Am I eligible?
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Assessment
We offer AQA A Level Photography, assessed as 60% coursework and 40% exam. Coursework is created over both Year 12 and Year 13, with projects from both years entered for the full A-Level. This enables students to develop the subject knowledge and skills required at this level. The exam starts in February of Year 13 with a preparatory time of roughly 8 weeks before a 15-hour practical exam spread over 3 days. The preparation time is for research, Photography shoots, and the design of an outcome to be created within the controlled time.
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