Photography A Level

Applicants will only be considered once all the application information has been completed including predicted and/or actual grades and references.

Applicants with non-UK qualifications, for example, overseas qualifications, will be required to have the equivalence of their qualifications verified by UK ENIC (the wider European title for national recognition agencies www.enic.org.uk) who will charge the you a fee for providing this ‘Statement of Comparability’. If you are unable to gain a Statement of Comparability, we reserve the right to withdraw your application due to the lack of comparable grade evidence. We are required to ensure that students are eligible for ESFA funding, which is guaranteed if they are living with a parent who: Has British citizenship and/or; Has a right of abode/leave to enter the UK and/or; Has a relevant work permit/visa and/or; Is a foreign diplomat.

Please provide any outstanding documentary evidence in relation to the above. Applications from students who are not eligible for ESFA funding will have their application withdrawn by the school. The school does not hold a licence to support applicants with Home Office Tier 4 Student Visa status.

Why Study Photography?

The course is designed to encourage creativity, imagination and independence based on personal experience, taught skills and critical understanding, transferable to other areas.

To study as a subject that may be either a positive contrast or complement to your other chosen subjects – Fine Art, Contemporary Fine Art, Film Studies, Media Studies, The Social Sciences, Music, Performing Arts, Dance, Criminology.

This is a broad course of study.

The study of traditional photographic techniques including, researching light exposure, film speed, aperture variation, focus. Dark Room techniques. Photograms, Cyanatypes, Photo-montage. Moving image/time based Photography. Digital Photography including image manipulation, through various software packages including Photoshop.

Drawing to develop ideas and outcomes, Use of a range of techniques to combine traditional photography, digital photography, drawings and collage/montage to realise outcomes. A wide range of photographers, artists, film makers and art movements will be studied, including Contemporary works.

There are trips out to relevant galleries and exhibitions in London throughout the course, such as The Photographers Gallery, The Courthauld Institute, The Tate Modern. There is a foreign trip in May of Year 12 and residential UK trip at the beginning of Year 13. University and Degree Show trips are also organised; including to our partner The University of Creative Arts. Lectures by department staff and guest visitors are organised throughout the course, and portfolio sessions and workshops are run in Year 13. Creative work experience placements are facilitated.

Exam board: AQA.

Component 1

Personal Investigation (60% of the final grade):

• a portfolio of practical work in response to a brief or stimulus, devised and provided by the centre

• a related study: an extended response of between 1000 and 3000 words.

Component 2

Externally Set Task (40% of the final grade) 12 week prep period and 15 hour exam

What Are The Entry Requirements?

To qualify for a place in Sixth Form, you must achieve five GCSEs at grade 5 or above, including Maths and either English Language or Literature or five GCSEs at grade 5 or above, plus at least a grade 4 in Maths and English Language or Literature.

For this course: GCSE grade 5 in GCSE Art or BTEC Merit

Photography – Commercial, Fashion, Documentary, Advertising, TV work, Reporting, Film Studies, Media Studies, Digital Art, Communication, Photography Historian, Annimation, Museum and Curating work.