GCSE Photography

What students learn this year:

Year 10 Photography is a portfolio-based GCSE course following the Edexcel exam board. Students build a sustained body of work through camera skills workshops, experimental photography, artist research and creative development. The course is assessed through Component 1: Portfolio (60%) and Component 2: Externally Set Assignment (40%).

Pupils learn how to shoot, select, edit and present images while developing personal responses and exploring conceptual themes including Seen / Unseen (Perception), Disrupt (Interruption) and Transform (Change).

Term overview:

Term / Half-term	Main topics / units	Key knowledge & skills
Autumn 1	Photography Foundations: Camera + Light	AO1/AO3 Camera basics, composition, exposure, lighting, formal elements
Autumn 2	Light Experiments + Alternative Processes	AO2/AO3 Photograms/light drawing, pinhole cameras, camera obscura, paper sculpture outcomes, experimentation + annotation
Spring 1	Seen / Unseen → Perception	AO1/AO3 Artist research (Saul Leiter / Alexey Titarenko), atmosphere and narrative, colour vs monochrome, motion blur/long exposure
Spring 2	Seen / Unseen → Developing Personal Response	AO2/AO3 Planning shoots, Independent artist development recording primary images, image manipulation/ editing and sequencing.
Summer 1	Disrupt → Interruption (Distortion & Experimentation)	AO2/AO3 Abstraction, distortion processes, re-photography, mixed media/collage links, creative risk-taking through experimental process
Summer 2	Transform → Change (towards Distort themes)	AO2/AO4 Developing a sustained project, experimenting with art-based processes (incl. textiles/mixed media), refining and producing mini outcomes

How learning and progress are checked

Progress is checked through:

regular sketchbook/portfolio reviews
contact sheets, experiments pages and workshop outcomes
artist research and written reflection
teacher/peer feedback at key checkpoints

Assessment in this year group:

Type of assessment	Approx. frequency / when	What it is used for
Sketchbook & classwork review	Ongoing	To assess skill development, experimentation and understanding of techniques and AO’s
Midpoint practical tasks	Once per half-term	To check progress and provide targeted feedback
Project Development	Each half-term	To assess application of skills, creativity, refinement and personal direction
End-of-year assessment	Summer term	To provide an overview of progress across the year and mini outcomes

Homework and Independent study

How often is homework set?

Homework supports class learning and is set weekly to compliment the development pupils projects and skill.

Typical length per task:

1.5hrs per week

Suggested independent study:

Homework supports portfolio progress and may include independent photo shoots, editing, artist research, experimentation at home and written annotation. Pupils are encouraged to photograph regularly outside lessons and refine their selections to strengthen their coursework.

How parents and carers can support:

Encourage regular practice at home (photography / shooting / editing)
Support independent artist/photographer research
Help pupils stay organised with sketchbooks, equipment and homework
Remind pupils to meet deadlines and complete portfolio tasks
Encourage attendance at interventions / catch-up sessions
Promote positive creative routines and resilience when work is challenging

Support for students who need extra help

Teaching is inclusive and carefully structured, with clear demonstrations, differentiated tasks, and additional guidance where needed. Scaffolded resources and targeted feedback help all students access learning and make progress. The art department run weekly intervention sessions to offer ALL pupils additional support and challenge.

Stretch & challenge:

Stretch is built through ambitious material exploration and increasingly independent decision-making. Pupils are encouraged to take creative risks, refine work to a higher standard, and develop a personal project direction inspired by artists and contextual research. Pupils are supported to produce complex outcomes through deeper experimentation, sustained development and purposeful refinement.

Clubs / trips / extra opportunities

Enrichment opportunities include visits to galleries and exhibitions, giving pupils the chance to experience artwork first-hand and build wider cultural understanding. Pupils may also take part in open studio sessions, creative clubs and the end of year exhibition to extend skills, experiment with materials and strengthen their portfolios.