Curriculum
Photography

Miss Irwin
Photography Lead
Subject Staff
Miss Fisher
Mr Handley-Griggs
The Subject Way
Firstly, to teach students the vital skills they need to achieve their full potential and gain the very best grades they can. Secondly, to teach students how each subject relates to the wider world, incorporating the life skills they will learn.
It is our belief that knowing how what you learn links to the wider world brings a subject to life and therefore improves overall understanding and engagement.
The Art faculty consists of Fine Art, Photography and Art, Craft & Design. If a student opts for the Art faculty, they will experience all these three subjects through holistic projects throughout Year 9. These are classed as foundation subjects.
Overview of KS4: Photography
KS4 GCSE Photography follows the AQA Art Craft and Design Photography and Lens Based Media Endorsement. The course is divided into 60% coursework and 40% exam which is sat during Y11. Students should work in one or more areas of lens-based and light-based media such as those listed below. They may explore overlapping and a combination of areas:
- Portraiture
- Landscape photography (working from the built or natural environment)
- Still Life photography, (working from natural or manufactured objects)
- Documentary photography, photo journalism, narrative photography, reportage
- Fine Art photography, photographic installation
- New media practice such as computer manipulated photography and photographic projections
Candidates are required to integrate critical, practical and theoretical study in lens-based and light-based media that encourages direct engagement with original work and practice.
An example project could be based on ‘Close ups’. Students would look at photographers work that have used close up photography techniques and then apply these skills to their own photographs (for example a photograph of food). They then look at ways of enhancing their photographs with photo shop or artistically and select the images that best answer the question ‘Close ups’.
Year 10 2021/22
Y10 Fine Art (drawing painting printmaking photography) Woodland Fantastic and Strange Self Identity Portraiture | Y10 Craft Art (3D sculpture, drawing, printmaking clay construction photography) Woodland Fantastic and Strange Self Identity Portraiture | Y10 Photography (photography, collage, construction, photo manipulation and edit) Self Identity Dark and Light Creative Landscapes Fantastic and strange Mock |
Year 11 2021/22
Y11 Fine Art (drawing painting printmaking photography) Self Identity Portraiture Nov max Extended project – mock exam Choice Theme to work with: Students can develop the ideas and then work in their chosen medium. Theme – Work Theme – Food January 1st 10 Hour Exam (currently not used due to covid) | Y11 Craft Art (3D sculpture, drawing, printmaking clay construction photography) Self Identity Portraiture Nov max Extended project – mock exam Choice Theme to work with: Students can develop the ideas and then work in their chosen medium. Theme – Work Theme – Food January 1st 10 Hour Exam (currently not used due to covid) | Y11 Photography (photography, collage, construction, photo manipulation and edit Messages Surrealism Possible development later? January 1st 10 Hour Exam (currently not used due to covid) |
Homework
Photography students research different photographic artists and styles of photography. They look at different effects, compositions and presentations of photographs such as close up, lighting, perspective and using a range of camera settings. Students manipulate images both manually and digitally using phone apps and the printed image. They will also be required to collect a large assortment of images that relate to current projects.
Find out more
If you would like more information about our curriculum, please contact the school using the details on our contact page.
Our Subjects at KS4
CORE SUBJECTS
EBACC SUBJECTS
OPTION SUBJECTS
INTERVENTIONS