Photography GCE A level

Step 1: Apply

Step 2: An account will be set up for you by us, on our Learner Hub portal. You will receive a message and link via Help You Choose when this is ready for you to access.

Step 3: On our Learner Hub portal, set your first choice course (ie 'A Level Programme', 'Early Years Practitioner Level 2', 'Creative Media Level 3') and book your interview from the choices displayed

Step 4: Interview (Course discussion) You will meet with an academic tutor from your chosen area of study for an informal discussion about your course choices, to ensure you have chosen the best course for your future ambitions.

Step 5: Offer Offers are given verbally at interview but you will also receive an email confirmation. All offers are provisional until the point of enrolment and most of our course offers are conditional, meaning there is an entry criteria you need to meet before enrolling. This will be outlined in your written offer. Sometimes we are unable to offer you a place on your chosen course. If this happens the reasons will be discussed with you at your appointment and we will look at alternative options with you. We will be in contact to confirm the outcome and what to do next. We also have a team of specialist Course Advisers who are more than happy to look at alternative options with you and answer any questions you may have.

Step 4: Enrolment Enrolment is the final stage before starting your course with us and takes place within the last two weeks of August. We require you to be available to attend your appointment in person at college, so we can complete all the required steps to enrolling you on your chosen course. We may ask you to bring some documents with you so please read your enrolment invitation carefully.

NB Our main communication with our applicants is via their personal email addresses - please remember to check your inbox for messages from us!

Part of our A Level Programme: to be studied alongside two other A Level or A Level equivalent subjects (ie AAQs)

This two year course aims to provide the range of skills and creative opportunities that can be applied to areas of professional practice and potentially further study at degree level. We tailor the course to maximise your individual interests and develop your own creative identity with a strong sense of cultural awareness. The two units that are covered during this course are personal investigation: exploring a self-initiated photographic theme and an externally set assignment which encourages you to choose from eight themes and produce a final piece during A fifteen-hour practical exam. In both units, you will be asked to produce experimental coursework and research prior to a final piece.
Throughout the course you will learn a wide range of practical, expressive and theoretical skills to build creative confidence.

These skills include:

Practical

• Understanding camera features in film and digital formats from 35mm, medium and large format

• Understanding light and exposure and applying camera techniques to suit portrait, landscape and still-life subjects

• Using photographic accessories such a studio and off-camera flash, lens filters, time lapse etc.

• Manipulation and refinement of imagery through digital software (Adobe Photoshop) and darkroom practice, processing and enlarging black & white film negatives.

Expressive

• Understanding how to combine technique and subject matter into photographic themes to express a personal vision

• Applying skills and ideas to contexts such as documentary, fine art, commercial, editorial and natural history photography.

Theoretical

• Exploring elements of the history and contemporary practice of photography to gain inspiration

• Understanding and applying analytical skills in writing about and discussing photographer’s work.

Photography gives you a brilliant creative outlet where you might not have conventional artistic skills such as drawing and painting. We organise local, national and international trips that will give you the opportunity to capture fascinating locations and cultural diversity. You will also take part in our end of year Paston Art Show where work from across all art & design subjects are exhibited in the Griffon Studios’ exhibition space. If you want to create bold, insightful and memorable photographic work, enjoy and take pride in the creative process and understand more about how important photography is in today’s creative industry, then this course is for you.

You will be assessed formally through assessment criteria from the exam board and informally through one to one appraisals of ongoing coursework. You will also be assessed through a variety of coursework and will be asked to complete preparatory studies to complete a finished piece of work completed under exam conditions.

Minimum of 5 x grade 5's at GCSE. You must also study English/Maths GCSE if you have not achieved a grade 4 in these subjects.

Additional Entry Requirements:-
Art, Graphics or Photography GCSE grade 5.

If you did not take an Arts GCSE you must have a portfolio approved at or after interview - email admissions@paston.ac.uk for details should you need them.

You can go on to do various forms of photography or other art subjects at University. A number of students have gone on to study subjects such as architecture, fashion and marketing, film production with the the experience they have gained from this course.