A-Level
About
It’s an exciting and challenging time to study photography. The subject is more popular than ever and technology is far more readily available, therefore serious photographers have to work harder to produce something unique. It also means there are far more ways to share your work and reach wide audiences such as Instagram, Flickr, Tumblr and self-published books like Blurb.
We think photography can be meaningful, enjoyable, expressive, beautiful, informative, challenging – a way of engaging with and learning about the world and a way of getting your ideas across.
We don’t see photography as an isolated subject – graphic design, fine art, film, media, music, fashion, history, geography, chemistry, psychology, literature, philosophy, travel – the list is endless of subject that intersect with photography. Drawing – poetry – software – retro cameras…… all of these things inspire us!
We invite speakers from the industry and from Higher Education to come in and share their experiences with our students. The students who have been on placements have found the experience to be highly rewarding. We have recently been on trips to galleries, collections and museums in Manchester and London to undertake primary research. We also encourage all our students to join our location photography shoots to the city and to more rural areas.
There are two public exhibitions a year in college that feature second year work – the first in January and the second in May at the end of the academic year.
We use a variety of social media sites to promote the college, the course, your activities and to show your work.
Outline
The examination board is WJEC. http://www.wjec.co.uk/
This is an Art and Design A Level. There are 2 modules per year.
The first module is coursework. The second module is the timed ‘exam’ – you produce work in a set time, to a brief given out by the exam board in the usual classroom.
Standards at A level are very high – written work, research, knowledge of other photographers work are equally as important as your own practical work.
Coursework Portfolio (60% of AS grade / 30% of A level grade) Controlled Assignment (40% of AS grade / 20% of A level grade)
Personal Investigation (60% of A2 grade / 30% of A level grade) Controlled Assignment (40% of A2 grade / 20% of A level grade)
Assessment
Work is formally assessed by work presented in sketchbooks that document your creative process; This is a personal record of your style, interests and ideas. Photographic outcomes are presented in both print and digital formats; An online portfolio is produced at the end of each coursework module. We use ISSUU website for this. There are two main assessment points – in January and May.
Informally, we assess you in a number of ways: group discussions, one to one tutorials and by the weekly homework you submit in lesson. We give you feedback regularly too – verbally by discussing your work with you, in writing –this takes the form of regular comments written in your ‘Individual Learning Plan’ which is kept in your sketchbook and on the college intranet where a short report is written in response to the goals you set yourself.
Progression
Our students have progressed to some of the best courses and universities in the country including Fashion Photography at Falmouth University, Photography at Manchester Metropolitan University, Media at University of Salford, Fashion and Brand Promotion with Photography at University of Central Lancashire to name a few. Photography, Media, Fine Art, Film Making and Journalism are popular progression choices.
Some students decide to undertake a one-year Art and Design Foundation course before committing to a degree – this can strengthen your application and broaden your options.
Code
PHO-ASL
Entry Requirements
3 Bs and 3 Cs at GCSE
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