GCSE Photography

Exam Board: AQA

Overview

Photography is taught both at GCSE and at A-level at The King Alfred School. Historically our students have obtained among the highest marks in the UK in Photography and our work is routinely used by AQA to set the national standards in both GCSE and A-level. King Alfred School Photography students have placed in the top five grades in the subject area every year for the last 16 years nationally in AQA at A-level and the department is rated top in the UK in The Good Schools Guide.
In GCSE the specification used is Art & Design 4200(Photography). It emphasises the importance of photography as an art form as well as a way to communicate ideas. Development of ideas through sustained research and individual work is the most important aspect of the course. Production of good journals and written backup studies is mandatory. Candidates are encouraged to understand the potential of photography through:

- The proper use of cameras, both film and digital and associated equipment.

- Developing and printing monochrome images.

- Working to a brief, theme or topic.

- Viewpoint, composition, and depth of field.

- Presentation, layout, mounting.

- The production of journals and critical studies to explain ideas.

Students may choose to work in many areas of the subject area including:

- Photo-journalism

- Fashion

- Portraiture

- Illustration

- Documentation

- Landscape and Cityscape

All students must provide their own 35mm Single Lens Reflex camera in good working order and a digital camera of at least 8mpc. The usual maximum number of students in the group is 12.

Assessment of work

Beginning in 2010, the GCSE examination consists of:

- Coursework Portfolio (60% of the final mark), several projects looked at together as a group.

- Controlled Test (40% of the final mark). All work is internally marked and moderated by AQA.