Photography
Photography
The Photography curriculum at CBSC offers students a range of projects which cater to ability and progression, including analytical and practical work.
Photography provides students with a valuable opportunity to develop their creativity, technical skills, visual literacy, and personal expression. It equips learners with relevant skills for the digital age and opens up various career pathways in the creative industries. Alongside developing skills in a diverse range of techniques and processes, there is a focus on literacy and contextual knowledge. Students learn how to research, analyse and evaluate artworks. Inspired by artists, photographers and other stimuli students develop their ideas and explore appropriate techniques and methods to create personal and meaningful responses for their chosen themes. The portfolios represent their creative journey exploring an idea or concept through visual language and photography techniques.
GCSE Photography
The purpose of GCSE Photography is to develop visual literacy, creativity, and technical skills through practical engagement with lens- and light-based media. The core learning objective is to teach students how to analyse the world visually, experiment with both digital and traditional techniques, and communicate their unique personal narrative. GCSE Photography gives students the opportunity to be creative, gain and increase their practical skills and improve their analytical, communication and research abilities. The course is designed to equip students with strong visual understanding and ability to use photography to express themselves and capture the world around them.
A-level Photography
A-level Photography is a practical course in which students learn by doing and create imaginative personal work by developing ideas based on their chosen theme. They are introduced to a range of techniques and processes and develop their creativity and independent thought, learn to express themselves visually and let their imagination flourish. Photography is a great companion to all other subjects as creativity, imagination and problem solving skills can give students great ideas for their other subjects. The purpose of the course is to provide students with the skills, knowledge and ability to develop ideas creatively and to achieve a high standard visual representation of their ideas in response to their chosen theme.
Our Curriculum
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Tester Year - ‘Bridge’ subject
At Key Stage 3 pupils are introduced to the Photography Formal Elements through research, analysis tasks and practical studies including photoshoots and Photoshop editing. Pupils start building understanding of the course structure and begin developing their practical skills using an online portfolio. The work of photographers is used to inspire their creative journey and offer opportunities to learn techniques and methods relevant to their area of study. Students are encouraged to deepen their understanding through detailed analysis of sources and annotation of their own work. Photo manipulation, Photoshop editing and mixed media techniques are used to support their technical skills and understanding of photography.
Year 9
Key Stage 4
Year 10 & 11
The AQA Photography specification at Key Stage 4 aims to develop students’ creative, imaginative, and practical skills through the exploration of visual language and artistic expression. It encourages students to investigate, experiment, and refine their ideas using a wide range of materials, techniques, and processes. Students are expected to develop a personal and meaningful response to a theme or issue, supported by research and contextual understanding of artists, movements, and cultures. The course promotes independent learning, critical thinking, and the ability to visually communicate concepts with purpose and intent.
At Key Stage 4, we aim to develop students’ technical skills, visual literacy, and independent thinking. Through a rich curriculum that explores diverse artists, cultures, and media, students learn to refine their ideas, experiment purposefully, and communicate meaning through their artwork. Pupils are given the opportunity to explore their own interests and artistic influences in order to respond to the starting points during the practical exam in Y11 in a way that suits their creative style and personal interests.
Year 10 & 11
Key Stage 5
Y12 & 13
The A level Photography course aims to develop strong technical skills and concepts of photography through sustained Personal investigations into a broad range of photographers and artists. Pupils will gain a wider understanding of the techniques, terminology and creativity of digital photography and will visit galleries, take part in workshops and work in locations where inspiration can be drawn from. The skills, knowledge and experience gained on the 2 year A Level course is designed to prepare students for higher education at art college or university.
The course structure during Component 1 allows pupils to work effectively during the Exam period with a high emphasis on independent learning and work ethic. Pupils are supported with their planning and preparation for sets, organising props and models during the Exam period.
Year 12 & 13
Extra-Curricular
Museum, and art gallery visits are an essential part of the curriculum, giving pupils the opportunity to experience a diverse range of exciting exhibitions at London's major venues.Teachers run lunch and after school clubs offering all students access to art facilities, the photography studio and editing software.
Destinations
Higher education photography programs offer hands-on development through BA (Hons) and MA degrees, balancing technical training—like analogue darkroom processes, digital studio lighting, and post-production—with conceptual visual storytelling and industry networking.
- After GCSE and A Level, students can go on to study for a Higher National Certificate (HNC)/Higher National Diploma (HND) or Degree in Photography.
- There are currently 246 universities in the UK offering 38 HNC/HND courses.
- For degree courses, there are currently 87 universities offering 209 courses in the UK.
Studying a photography related degree at university can lead to many exciting career opportunities, including:
• Commercial photographer
• Fashion photographer
• Filmmaker
• Fine art photographer
• Forensic photographer
• Industrial photographer
• Medical photographer
• Nature photographer
• Photographic illustrator
• Photographic technician
• Teacher
• Photojournalist
• Picture editor
• Researcher
• Social photographer
• Sports photographer
Key Contacts:
Subject leader: Petya Gocheva - pgocheva@carshaltonboys.org