Photography A Level
What Does the Course Involve?
Discovering your voice and expressing your ideas and emotions. This is what makes A Level Photography so individual. We want to nurture your individual creativity by giving you lots of choices so you are always working from your passion.
You will experiment with digital cameras and learn a range of photographic, critical and investigative skills to analyse, research and evaluate your own work and how it relates to the work of others.
You will develop a range of photographic technical skills including lighting, camera skills and digital manipulation.
Our excellent facilities include a dedicated teaching room with:
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Scanners
- Laser printers
- Nikon DSLRs
Studio space with an infinity curve and a traditional darkroom are also available to use in and outside lessons. You will have opportunities to work on live briefs, such as collaborating with music students to produce their CD cover shots.
There’s also chance for you to visit international photography festivals like Format and other exhibitions in London and Oxford.
A Level Photography Outline
Components of Course
- Personal Investigation – 60%
- External Assignment – 40%
Coursework
Personal Investigation: consists of two integrated parts:
- An in-depth critical, practical & theoretical investigative project and outcomes based on themes and subject matter that have personal significance.
- An extended written element of 1000 words, which may contain images and texts and must clearly relate to practical and theoretical work.
Examination: Component 2
Externally set assignment (begins February of second year).
This component incorporated two major elements: preparatory studies and the practical 15-hour exam. The Externally Set Assignment consist of a series of visual and written stimuli, presented by WJEC.
One of the stimuli is to be selected by the learner and used as a starting point to which students should respond in a very personal way by developing a portfolio of practical work and final outcome(s).
The practical exam consists of a 15-hour period of sustained focus work where students will create final pieces as a development of their preparatory work.
Exam Board
WJEC
Get In Touch To Learn More
This Photography A Level course is just one of many exciting options available. To see the full range, explore our A Level courses. Learn more about life at Cadbury Sixth Form College, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.
A minimum of five GCSEs at grade 5 and above, including Maths and English, with at least two at grade 6. You should have GCSE Art at grade 5 or a Merit in BTEC Art & Design. Outstanding students without these subjects, but with a good portfolio of photographic work and a background in subjects such as Graphic Communication and Media Studies, may be considered.
Possible career paths could include: Photographer, Photographer’s Assistant, Picture Editor, Teacher, Photographic Lab Technician, Graphic Designer or Computer Aided Designer. Photography alumni have volunteered to work with professional photographers to gain further knowledge and experience. They have also gone on to media, marketing and graphics careers and secured employment with organisations such as the National Trust. Maryam Wahid went on to gain a First Class Photography Degree from Birmingham City University and is now a BBC Four Photography Expert.
