Photography (A-Level)

A-Level

Studying a creative A level is both challenging and hugely rewarding. Whether choosing to study A level Photography with the intention of progressing to an art and design degree course and a career in the creative industries or choosing to study the subject to broaden their A level programme, students will find that studying a creative A level subject will develop a range of subject specific and widely sort after transferable skills. Photography is central to visual communication and every day we are exposed to a range of imagery through advertising, television, newspapers, magazines, on packaging and through social media. We live in an image dominated society and photographers work in conjunction with other creative professionals in areas such as graphic design, fashion, journalism and broadcast TV. The photographer’s role is wide ranging, and they are employed to help others to tell stories, to record the world, to entice or excite an audience, to sell products, to report facts, to challenge truth and even to provide evidence of crimes. The art of photography comes down to so much more than just pressing a button; it’s a form of creativity, a technical skill, a universal language and as a result, can lead to a lucrative and dynamic career.

Outline

On this course, we take students on a creative journey, teaching everything from the technical aspects of shooting and applications of photography to the various genres, styles and traditions of the art form. We also work closely with students to help them develop their own personal flair. This course requires students to work in one or more areas of photography including portraiture, landscape photography, still life photography, documentary photography and photojournalism. Students will be introduced to a range of photographic media, techniques and processes including using traditional methods, such as shooting on film and printing in the dark room, and digital techniques, which involve working with digital cameras and software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.We want students to be ambitious, inventive, motivated and above all creative. The course is mostly practical, supported by contextual enquiry to broaden students’ knowledge base and understanding. It is split into two elements, Personal Investigation (which involves the development of a personalised portfolio and related outcomes supported by a short, written essay) and Externally Set Assignment (which involves the development of ideas from initial research which are then refined into final outcomes based on a set theme). The Personal Investigation element is worth 60% of the overall grade and the Externally Set Assignment the remaining 40%.The first year focuses on building knowledge, understanding and practical skills through working on teacher set themes and mini assignment briefs. The second year becomes more focused on each student’s personal creative journey and the development of their personal ideas.All work is externally moderated to ensure fairness of assessment and that national standards are maintained.You can follow us on:Instagram: @pendletonschoolofcreativeartsTwitter: @creativeartspen

Entry Requirements

Students will need a minimum of five grade 5’s or above, including English Language and Mathematics. In addition, students must have a GCSE (or equivalent) in a creative subject area such as Art, Textiles, or Creative Media.

Students without a previous qualification in Art and Design must attend a Pendleton Sixth Form College masterclass, where staff will discuss further study choices and assess the student’s suitability for the course.

*Fees

Don’t let the cost of studying put you off – most of our students study for FREE, and those who don’t qualify for funding are very often eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Eligibility depends on both the course you have chosen to study and your individual circumstances.

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Academic Yr

Name

Avaialble At

Start Date

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Academic Yr

25/26

Name

Photography (A-Level) (Level 3)

Available At

Pendleton Sixth Form College

Start Date

02/09/2025

Fee

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