Photography
"Art empowers learners to observe, question and interpret the world around them, developing the creativity, confidence and technical skills to express their ideas with imagination and purpose."
KS4 Specification
GCSE Photography (AQA Art & Design: Photography)
Curriculum Intent
At Gladesmore Community School, the GCSE Photography curriculum empowers students to become confident, creative and critical thinkers who use photography to explore, communicate and challenge the world around them. Rooted in our REACH values of Respect, Enthusiasm, Aspiration, Cooperation and Hard Work, the curriculum celebrates the rich cultural diversity of our school community while equipping students with the artistic, technical and analytical skills needed for further education, employment and lifelong creativity.
Our students come from a wide range of cultural, linguistic and personal backgrounds, and photography provides an inclusive visual language through which every student can express their identity, experiences and aspirations. We encourage students to investigate themes that are meaningful to them, drawing inspiration from their local environment, family histories, contemporary issues and the global artistic community. By valuing every student's perspective, we foster a curriculum where diversity is recognised as a strength and creativity becomes a vehicle for understanding both ourselves and others.
Our curriculum also prepares students for an increasingly visual and digital world. Students develop transferable skills including communication, collaboration, organisation, research, digital literacy and presentation. They gain an understanding of the ethical responsibilities of image-making, including representation, consent, copyright and the influence of visual media in contemporary society.
Enrichment opportunities, visits to galleries, engagement with practising photographers and exploration of London's rich artistic landscape broaden students' cultural capital and inspire ambitious futures. We aim for every student to leave GCSE Photography with the confidence to see themselves as creative individuals who can contribute thoughtfully to society, whether they continue into creative industries or apply their visual and analytical skills in other fields.
Through Photography, our students learn not only how to create compelling images, but also how to see the world with curiosity, empathy and confidence. They are encouraged to dream boldly, reach their potential and achieve outcomes that reflect both academic excellence and their unique creative voice.
Curriculum Summary
The GCSE Photography course follows the AQA specification and is assessed through four core Assessment Objectives:
- AO1: Develop ideas through investigations and critical understanding of photographers, artists and sources.
- AO2: Refine ideas through experimenting with media, materials, techniques and processes.
- AO3: Record observations, ideas and insights through practical work and written annotation.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions.
The qualification is made up of two assessed components:
- Component 1 – Portfolio (60% of total GCSE): A sustained portfolio of practical work produced throughout Years 10 and 11, demonstrating the development of ideas from initial research to a final outcome.
- Component 2 – Externally Set Assignment (40% of total GCSE): Completed during Year 11, students choose a starting theme set by AQA, producing preparatory work before completing a 10-hour supervised practical examination.
Year 10 – Power of Portraits
Year 10 begins the Component 1 - Portfolio, introducing students to the AQA assessment objectives through the Power of Portraits project. Students investigate how portrait photography communicates identity, emotion and storytelling while studying the work of a range of influential photographers and artists.
Throughout the project, students develop their ability to investigate artists (AO1), experiment with camera techniques, lighting, digital image manipulation and animated GIFs (AO2), record observations through photography and annotation (AO3), while building a personal portfolio of creative work (AO4).
Year 11 – Contemporary Still Life / Personal Project
Year 11 continues the Component 1 Portfolio with a Contemporary Still Life project, using cultural sweets and food as inspiration to create visually engaging and meaningful images. Students further develop their photography, editing and video production skills before completing an independent Personal Project, enabling them to explore an area of photography that reflects their own interests and creative vision.
During the spring term, students begin Component 2 – the Externally Set Assignment, responding to a theme provided by AQA. They investigate artists and ideas, experiment with materials and techniques, develop their concepts through preparatory studies, and complete a 10-hour supervised practical examination to produce their final personal project, demonstrating all four Assessment Objectives.