Study With Us

This programme is for students committed to developing their subject knowledge and creative approaches to Photography. Previous experience of Photography is not essential but previous experience of an Art and Design based subject at GCSE Level is desirable.

Work will be undertaken in a studio environment with access to specialist equipment and resources including a fully equipped professional standard photography studio and darkroom. In addition to this, gallery visits, and onsite research and recording are encouraged. This course provides students with the opportunity to develop their skills, creativity, contextual knowledge, confidence and critical thinking through exploration of a variety of techniques, approaches and workshops.

Students begin the course by undertaking a range of technical workshops before moving on to project based learning with the main Component 1 project beginning in the second term of year 1.

This programme is for students committed to developing their subject knowledge and creative approaches to Photography. Previous experience of Photography is not essential but previous experience of an Art and Design based subject at GCSE Level is desirable.

The course is based on practical working methods including the use of digital, film, and camerless photography, all informed by current and historical contextual sources. Sessions are project based and work is produced initially in a technical way to learn the basics, before becoming more experimental, showing research into a related topic, development work creative explorations, experimentation in relevant area, then an outcome. You will use a selection of skills and techniques to develop and progress your work.

You will be introduced to a variety of experiences involving a range of media, audiences, processes and techniques. Workshop style sessions will give practical knowledge and experience through tutor demonstrations and production of samples. You will explore images, techniques and resources relating to a range of photography processes, from the past and recent times. Visits to local galleries will also be encouraged both independently and through organised visits.

You will be assessed on a body of work produced for Component 1 and Component 2. 

Component 1 consists of a Personal Investigation project where you will explore a subject of your own choice from initial ideas through to a significant final outcome. Component 1 also includes a 1500 – 3000 word academic essay where you will critically explore the work of the artists who have inspired you and document your own progress through the Personal Investigation. Component 1 is worth 60% of your overall grade.

Component 2 is the Externally Set Assignment where you will undertake a project based on your choice from a selection of starting points provided by AQA. As part of Component 2, you will produce a final developments created independently over 15 hours of supervised sessions. Component 2 is worth 40% of your overall grade.

Both Component 1 and Component 2 are assessed using 4 Assessment Objectives; Assessment Objective 1 explores the work of other photographers and artists.

Assessment Objective 2 explores different media, developing, reviewing and refining work as you progress.

Assessment Objective 3 demonstrates your ability to how skilled work and idea.

Assessment Objective 4 is where you create a personal, highly skilled final outcome informed by the project you have produced.

5 GCSEs at Grade 9-4, including English and Maths

A minimum of a Grade 5 in an Art based subject if studied at GCSE.

Many of our students continue with Arts based subjects after A Level.

Foundation, HNC and HND courses are available at Wakefield College after completing Arts based A Levels.