A Level Art & Design - Photography

Overview of the course:

Awarding Body - Edexcel

Students will sit AS exams at the end of year one and A level exams at the end of year two.

AS Level

Component 1:
Personal Investigation (coursework)
50% of qualification

Content Summary: Students will:
•Generate practical work, ideas and research from sources
•Explore media and processes, develop and refine ideas, and present outcomes.

What students create:
•Supporting studies
•Personal outcome(s)

Component 2:
Externally Set Assignment
50% of qualification

Content Summary: Students will:
Students respond to one externally set, broad-based thematic starting point to encourage independence in developing ideas, intentions and response.
What students create:
Preparatory studies
Personal outcome(s) in 10 hours of sustained focus

A2 Level

Component 1:
Part 1:Personal Investigation (coursework)
Part 2: Students submit a piece of continuous prose (minimum of 1000 words).
60% of qualification

Content Summary: Students will:
•Generate practical work, ideas and research from sources
•Explore media and processes, develop and refine ideas, and present outcomes.

What students create:
•Supporting studies
•Personal outcome(s)
•Personal study

Component 2:
Externally Set Assignment
40% of qualification

Content Summary: Students will:
Students respond to one externally set, broad-based thematic starting point to encourage independence in developing ideas, intentions and response.
What students create:
Preparatory studies
Personal outcome(s) in 15 hours of sustained focus

Topics:

The A level Photography courses aims to develop students’ practical, creative and communication skills through the use of photography, as a means of personal enquiry and expression involving the selection and manipulation of images. Students must employ creative approaches that go beyond mere observation and recording. By the end of the course, students will be able to produce exciting work using their own initiative.
Visual language: the creative elements of photography and art, use of the camera, lenses and film, use of light, darkroom techniques, manipulation of images, contextual references though research into the work of others, analysis and critical evaluation.
Personal Investigation:
Under a given theme, you will experiment with a wide range of equipment, methods and techniques in producing a range of photographs aimed towards your chosen theme. You will find out about researching, analysing and reviewing your own work and that of other photographers. This will all then provide the basis for developing your ideas towards a final piece of work.

Externally Set Assignment:
With a given theme set by the examination board you will apply what you have learnt from you’re your personal investigation. Exploring a chosen approach to the theme through experimenting with media and developing and applying your skills. Alongside this, you will be researching and analysing your own and others' work to support your progress. Then developing your ideas and, under timed examination conditions producing an outcome.
A2 requires the student to produce a piece of written work (1000 words) and the final Unit is a controlled timed exam (AS 10 Hours / A2 15 Hours)