Photography

Exam Board:

AQA

What will I study on the course:

You will explore photography as a creative and technical medium, producing images using digital and/or traditional methods (e.g., film, darkroom, or digital processing). Key areas include:

  • Developing ideas through research into photographers, artists, and contexts (historical and contemporary).
  • Experimenting with photographic techniques and processes (e.g., portraiture, landscape, documentary, photojournalism, studio lighting, experimental imagery, manipulation in software like Photoshop).
  • Recording observations, ideas, and experiments in sketchbooks or digital formats, including annotations and critical analysis.
  • Realising personal intentions through final outcomes, such as photographic series, edited images, or installations. The course covers areas like fashion, architecture, still life, moving image, or location-based work, with a focus on composition, lighting, editing, and responding to themes. It encourages creativity, technical skill, and understanding of how photography communicates ideas in the real world.

How is the course assessed:

100% non-exam assessment (coursework and externally set assignment; no written exams):

  • Component 1: Portfolio – 96 marks, 60% – A sustained personal project (evidencing the journey from initial ideas to final realisation) plus further work from the course. Internally assessed and externally moderated by AQA; no time limit.
  • Component 2: Externally set assignment – 96 marks, 40% – Respond to one starting point from the AQA exam paper (preparatory period followed by 10 hours of supervised time to produce final outcomes). Internally assessed and externally moderated.
    Both components address four equal assessment objectives: developing ideas (AO1), experimenting/refining (AO2), recording (AO3), and presenting a personal response (AO4). Work is graded 9-1 based on practical portfolios, sketchbooks, and final pieces.

Post-16 courses:

A Level Photography (Lens-based and Light-based Media), A Level Art & Design, Level 3 BTEC in Creative Media, Photography, or Art & Design; apprenticeships in creative industries. Progression to sixth form/college (e.g., Stoke-on-Trent College or local providers) for degrees in photography, fine art, media, or related fields.

Careers:

Professional photographer (fashion, portrait, wedding, commercial, product), photojournalist, graphic designer, advertising creative, film/TV cinematographer, video editor, social media content creator, studio technician, digital retoucher, or roles in marketing/PR, journalism, museums/galleries. Photography skills are valued in the fast-growing UK creative and media sectors, including freelance work, app/web design, and visual storytelling.

Specific advantages:

This specialist course is highly practical and creative, allowing you to focus on photography while developing a personal style in a supportive environment. It suits students who enjoy visual storytelling, technology (cameras, editing software), and experimentation, with no prior experience required. At Discovery Academy, it’s part of the Creative Arts offer, with access to facilities for digital and experimental work, helping build confidence, a strong portfolio, and skills for further creative study.

How useful it is in the real world:

Extremely useful – in a visually driven world dominated by social media, advertising, and digital content, photography skills are essential for communication, marketing, and creative industries (one of the UK’s fastest-growing sectors). It develops transferable abilities like project management, critical analysis, technical proficiency (e.g., editing software, lighting), and visual literacy, valued by employers in media, business, journalism, and beyond. GCSE Photography builds a professional portfolio for job applications or apprenticeships, enhances digital awareness, fosters creativity/problem-solving, and supports everyday uses like personal branding or documenting experiences in an image-saturated society.

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