KS4 Photography

GCSE Photography is a 2 year course. Students are taught the knowledge, skills and understanding in accordance with the AQA exam board specification. This specification provides students with a wide range of exciting and stimulating opportunities to explore their interests in Photography in ways that are personally relevant and developmental in nature.  Students explore different aspects of their creative process throughout the course which includes 2 units; Coursework and Examination. Each unit has a theme and students produce a Digital Portfolio and an individual final piece. All work involves self-reflection and analysis as literacy is now a compulsory aspect of the AQA specification. KS4 students have the opportunity to experiment and express themselves through developing individual photography and to experience the value of visiting local exhibitions.

Coursework Component 1: The Portfolio is 60% of GCSE and is marked out of 96marks. It is marked by the school and moderated by AQA. The Portfolio has no time limit but must include; – A sustained project developed in response to a theme, evidencing the journey from initial engagement with an idea(s) to the realisation of intentions (final piece/s) and – A selection of further work resulting from activities such as, experiment’s, skills-based workshops, responses to gallery/museum or site visits.

Examination Organisation Component 2: The Externally Set Assignment is 40% of GCSE and marked out of 96marks. It consists of a Preparatory period followed by 10 hours of exam time. It is marked by the school and moderated by AQA. AQA provides a separate externally set assignment with seven different starting points. Students must select and respond to one starting point from their chosen title. The externally set assignments will be available to students and teachers from January and is followed by 10 hours of supervised unaided work in which students are required to realise their intentions.

The 4 areas of AQA Assessment are:

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.

O4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.