KS4 Photography

Although photography is used throughout the school curriculum it has now been introduced as a GCSE in its own right following the AQA Art and Design Photography Specifications.  The curriculum is designed to develop a knowledge and understanding of Photography through a variety of learning experiences and approaches.  This will allow students to develop the skills to explore, create and communicate their own ideas.  They will demonstrate these skills through the development, refinement, recording, realisation and presentation of their ideas through two portfolios and by responding to an externally set assignment.  The course is divided into two components, the first a student/school based portfolio (60%) and the second an externally set assignment (40%).

In Year 9 the students build up a bank of visual resources based around a series of themes.  They will study Animals, Landscape, Architecture, Portraits and Still Life.  Students will source this material independently and on a range of off site visits. They are also set an independent task at the start of the year based around the theme of Celebration which will be the subject of their final project in Year 9.

In Year 10 and 11 they choose two themes from Year 9 using these as a basis for their two portfolio components.

In the January of the students’ final year they will be set an external exam which will conclude with a ten hour controlled test.  This will be internally marked and externally moderated.