GCSE PHOTOGRAPHY - KS4

WHO’S WHO?

Progress Leader: Mr S Chilvers
Teaching Staff: Miss R Pritchard
Link Governor: Mrs R Sinnott

COURSE INFORMATION

GCSE Photography follows the processes which they practiced and discovered in the Year 9 Food Styling and image creation module during the Design Technology carousel and key skills in KS3 Art. Students develop sustained projects to create a portfolio of work that shows students are able to develop and apply the knowledge, understanding and skills specified in the subject content within the context of digital photography and their selected area(s) of study.

GCSE Art and Design consists of two units of controlled assessment/portfolio which aim to develop the study skills essential to the subject whilst fully meeting the four assessment objectives.

COURSE SPECIFICATION

Students follow the AQA GCSE Art and Design specification. Click here to view the specification.

COURSE CONTENT

Students learn how sources relate to historical, contemporary, social, cultural and issues-based contexts and external considerations such as those associated with the cultural industries and client-oriented requirements. They will explore how ideas, themes, subjects and feelings can inspire creative responses informed by different styles, genres and aesthetic considerations and/or an individual's distinctive view of the world.

Within the context of photography, students must demonstrate the ability to use photographic techniques and processes, appropriate to students’ personal intentions including the use of figurative and non-figurative forms, image manipulation, close up, and imaginative interpretation.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

Unit 1: 60% coursework – sustained project sketchbooks/A2 boards project
Unit 2: 40% externally set assignment consisting of – preparatory studies developing work in sketchbooks culminating in an exam style-controlled assessment at the end of the course for 10 hours.
Assessment objectives (AOs) are set by Ofqual and are the same across all GCSE Art and Design specifications and all exam boards. The exams and non-exam assessment will measure how students have achieved the following assessment objectives.

AO1: Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.
AO2: Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.
AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.
AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.

To read the tables please rotate to landscape or view on a larger screen.

YEAR 10
TERM	UNIT OF STUDY	KEY SKILLS / LEARNING
Autumn	Sustained Project 1: Students have the selection of projects based on Natural Form	Critical studies Editing Techniques Composition Art as social commentary Viewpoint & Angle Working in sequence Depth of field
Spring	Sustained Project 1: Students have the selection of projects based on Natural Form Sustained Project 2: Students start an independent project based on a selection of projects selecting from: Portraiture Advertising & Marketing	Editing Techniques Composition creation Constructing Shoots Drawing Critical Analysis / Self Reflection Generation of Personal Response
Summer	Sustained Project 2: Students complete work based on either: Portraiture Advertising & Marketing	Critical studies Editing Techniques Art as social commentary Composition creation Set/Lighting Construction Critical Analysis / Self Reflection Generation of Personal Response
YEAR 11
Autumn	Students will complete a series of mini projects exploring differing themes to support their Portfolio.	Mixed Media Composition Self Reflection Experimental post production work Enhanced editing procedures and image manipulation.
Spring	AQA External Set Assignment Students will select one of seven starting points from the issued paper in January of their examination year.	Critical studies Editing Techniques Art as social commentary Composition creation Drawing Critical Analysis / Self Reflection Generation of Personal Response
Summer	Course Complete

ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Gallery visits if relevant exhibition available to support learning.

A LEVEL/BTEC REQUIREMENTS:

Students are usually required to have a 9 - 5 pass at GCSE to enter AS/A2.
A Level Courses: Graphic communication, Photography.
BTEC Courses include Level 3 Extended Diplomas in Creative Media, Interactive Media, Photography, Graphics.

HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING

Enquire the about the topic of studies and the use of first-hand imagery generated through photography is particularly useful. Encourage them to take lots of images using their phones, Photography is all about being able to see the world around them.

WHERE TO GO:

Visit Galleries (Tate Liverpool, HOME Manchester, Whitworth Gallery, Manchester Art Gallery)
V&A Photography Centre, National Portrait Gallery, The Photographers gallery (London).

WHAT TO WATCH:

Sky Arts any show about Photography.
Artist documentaries & Films/TV Series about the life of artists
Any YouTube videos about the photographers and techniques forming part of their individual studies.
YouTube: Any video clips on GCSE students' work focusing on sketchbook creation.

WHAT TO READ:

Any books that explore both the creative processes of Photographers or technical skills.
The Photography Book by Ian Jeffrey is a good reference guide.