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Art & Design: Photography

King Edward VII School

Glossop Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2PW

GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent
Level 3

Available start dates

Available start dates

Tuesday, 01 September 2026
King Edward
2 Year(s)
Full time
Daytime/working hours

Course Summary

Students will produce a coursework unit (Personal Investigation 60%) and an examination unit titled “externally set assignment” (E.S.A. 40%). This unit ends with a controlled test component during which time students produce their final outcomes.

Students are required to:
• Understand and explore the concepts and contexts of the work of contemporary artists, crafts persons, designers and photographers, plus other critical sources such as film, music and literature.
• Explore and experiment with a range of materials.
• Record from observation including taking photographic images.
• Experiment and develop ideas through a range of practical and conceptual processes, working towards a final piece showing clearly how you have been informed by the work of contemporary artists, crafts persons, designers and photographers, plus other critical sources such as film, music and literature.
• Present the work in an appropriate context e.g. sketchbook, mounted sheets, virtual folder, website, with an introductory written element.
• Produce a substantial final piece (or pieces) of work.

Course Details

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How will it be delivered and assessed?

AO1 – Research – understanding the work of others

AO2 – Development – experimentation and refinement

AO3 – Observation - recording ideas

AO4 – Outcomes – clearly linked personal responses

Component 1 Project Portfolio (60%)

Students will be asked to produce a range of images, artefacts and samples leading into either two dimensional or three dimensional pieces of creative work.

Portfolios will include:

• A selection of thoughtfully presented pieces that demonstrates the breadth and depth of the course of study.

• At least one extended collection of work or project, based on an idea, concept, theme or issue. This should demonstrate the student’s ability to sustain work from an initial starting point to a final outcome.

• Evidence of their ability to research and develop ideas and link their work in a meaningful way to relevant critical/contextual materials.

Component 2 Externally Set Assignment (40%)

Students will choose one question from a choice set by AQA. Students must cover all four assessment objectives thoroughly during the examination period.

Preparatory period – from February 1st

Preparatory work should be presented in any suitable format, such as mounted sheets, design sheets, sketchbooks, workbooks, journals or models.

Supervised examination – 15 hours

In the 15 hours spread over a week, students must produce a finished outcome or a series of related finished outcomes, informed by their preparatory work.

Entry requirements

Grade 5 in Art, Photography or Graphics or attending an interview with a suitable portfolio of work.

TO ENSURE YOUR SUBJECT CHOICES FIT INTO THE TIMETABLE PLEASE SEE OUR BLOCKING TIMETABLE BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW TO GO TO OUR WEBSITE. SUBJECTS SHOULD BE CHOSEN IN DIFFERENT BLOCKS TO AVOID CLASHES.

Sixth Form option blocks

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Additional information


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