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About the course:
About the course:
Exam Board: AQA
Part of the Art and Design specification
Subject contact: Ross McPherson
Photography offers students the opportunity to explore the many diverse approaches to this creative medium. Students will look at the work of a wide range of photographic artists building their analytical and critical skills in the assessment of the work. They will then explore the techniques and processes involved in their practise, formulating their own personal responses. The department is equipped with a studio and large darkroom space along with a full suite of PC’s running the Adobe Creative Cloud package which can be accessed by students whenever required. All work is documented in sketchbooks and their best outcomes are hand selected by the students and displayed in the end of year exhibition at each stage of the course. At least two trips are organised over the duration of the course to relevant sites or exhibitions to support their learning.
The course is centred around the Advanced
Level, two year course however, there is an
option to sit an exam at the end of the first year and achieve an AS level qualification in the subject.
This will be at the discretion of the course leader and will need to be discussed with them before applying for the course.
Prospectus Video.mp4Skills development
Skills development
Coursework Portfolio:
Initial exploration - Over the first four terms students will explore the full range of techniques and processes available to them through specifically designed skills based tasks. They will then have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to work independently selecting a specific genre to explore and develop a personal project in line with the assessment criteria. This project will be the focus for their work presented in the end of year show where students will exhibit selected elements of their work alongside work from the Art and Fashion departments. This is an open exhibition that parents and carers will be informed of and are more than welcome to attend.
Units of study:
Units of study:
Component 1
Component 1
Personal Investigation:
60% of the full A-Level
During the last two terms of their first year students will start working on their personal investigation.
Students select their own subject matter exploring as many relevant processes and photographers as possible to build an in-depth project which is supported by a written dissertation of between 1000 – 3000 words. This will have a clear dedicated final outcome which will be presented in their year 13 end of year show.
Component 2
Component 2
Controlled Assessment:
40% of the full A-Level
Students are given an exam paper provided by the
AQA board in February of their final year and are
required to build a project around one of the
questions on it in line with the assessment criteria.
There will be a 15 hour examination at the end of the two month exam period where students will have to work independently under controlled conditions and create their final piece which is expected to form part of their exhibition.
Alumni reflections:
Alumni reflections:
"I never felt I was limited in imagination or image making potential. My studies shaped me as a creative and I only have the staff at HC to thank for that."
"A-Level Photography tested me in ways I couldn't have imagined, but I excelled in the subject with the aid of the teachers and technicians and I couldn't have asked for a better start to my own creative journey. "
"I loved studying GCSE and A-Level Photography at Hugh Christie because it gave me the opportunity to become more confident with myself and my own ideas."
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