The subject itself is taught as a specialism within the Art and Design syllabus and as such the themes and ideas will be approached in that context.  It is an exciting area of study and since its introduction at AS and A level it has enjoyed much success.  The growth and development of the photographic department, its facilities and resources, is ongoing.  Candidates’ work has attracted praise from moderators who have been impressed by students’ use of digital technology.  The GCSE course will build on these firm foundations. Although candidates undertake three coursework projects, the end of course exhibition will be a selection of photographs from the three projects and will be mark globally rather than separately. 

Visits to exhibitions will be a compulsory element of the course and will comprise no more than two per year for which a charge will be made.  Candidates will be encouraged to take an open minded approach to photography and use darkroom and digital techniques imaginatively and creatively.  Their skills of observation and compositional awareness, ability to articulate ideas, acquisition of knowledge and understanding of the work of others, critical thinking and written communication will all be developed and encouraged.  While some curriculum time will be devoted to the shooting of photographs, candidates will be expected to do much of this in their own time so that lesson time can be used for the production of the images, discussion and development of ideas and background research.

Consumable items such as photographic paper, inks and logbooks, will be charged for and are estimated at about £50 per term in addition to the cost of trips.

It would be an advantage for candidates to have their own cameras and/or laptops [where appropriate] but not essential.  The borrowing of equipment will be strictly controlled to allow multi-use.  Candidates will be required to pay for any damage caused to borrowed equipment.   

Career Opportunities:

The subject complements other Art and Design courses as well as being a subject in its own right with its high standing and relevance to the wider world both as a Fine Art medium and in its practical application in many areas such as: photojournalism, publishing, editorial photography, freelance commission, illustration, graphic design, advertising, medical photography, picture editing, research and management, photo agencies and libraries, creative and design practice, gallery/museum sector and many more.There are a growing number of higher education and university courses available, which offer photography as a stand alone subject or as part of a combined course.  Some of the following course titles indicate the opportunities there are to study the subject at HND and Degree level: Documentary Photography [Newport]; Photographic Practice [Northampton]; Fine Art-Digital Media/Fine-Art Photography, Combined Honours Photography, Photography-Editorial & Advertising, Digital Cinema Production, Illustration with Animation, Video, Film Studies [Gloucestershire]; Photography in the Arts, Photojournalism, Video; Documentary Video [Swansea]; to name but a few.

Examination Board:          AQA