Statement of Curriculum Intent

Photography is defined here as the practice of creating durable static or moving images by recording light with light-sensitive materials such as photographic film or digitally by means of an image sensor.  Students must explore, acquire and develop skills, knowledge and understanding through the application of traditional and/or digital techniques and processes specific to their chosen area(s) of study of Photography.  Students must explore practical and relevant critical and contextual sources such as the work of historical and contemporary photographers and the different purposes, intentions and functions of photography as appropriate to their own work.  Students must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and understanding through area(s) of study relevant to Photography.

The content shown below is used in conjunction with the Art and Design Core Content section.

OCR’s GCSE (9–1) in Art and Design will encourage students to:

• Actively engage in the creative process of art, craft and design in order to develop as effective and independent students, and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds.
• Develop creative, imaginative and intuitive capabilities when exploring and making images, artefacts and products.
• Become confident in taking risks and learn from experience when exploring and experimenting with ideas, processes, media, materials and techniques.
• Develop critical understanding through investigative, analytical, experimental, practical, technical and expressive skills.
• Develop and refine ideas and proposals, personal outcomes or solutions with increasing independence.
• Acquire and develop technical skills through working with a broad range of media, materials, techniques, processes and technologies with purpose and intent.
• Develop knowledge and understanding of art, craft and design in historical and contemporary contexts, societies and cultures.
• Develop an awareness of the different roles and individual work practices evident in the production of art, craft and design in the creative and cultural industries.
• Develop an awareness of the purposes, intentions and functions of art, craft and design in a variety of contexts and as appropriate to the students’ own work.
• Demonstrate safe working practices in art, craft and design.

The GCSE (9–1) has two components.

Component 01: Portfolio students should produce:

• A portfolio of practical work showing their personal response to either a centre- or learner-set starting point, brief, scenario or stimulus.

Component 02: Externally set task

• The early release paper will be issued on 2 January each year and will provide students with five themes, each with a range of written and visual starting points and stimuli.
• A response should be based on one of these options.

Key Stage 4 Photography is an outlet for students to find and develop their own their creative style. They begin by understanding how to use the cameras manually and all have access to a Canon SLR within the lesson, allowing them creative manipulation over the image. Access to the full Adobe Master Suite allows students to develop their editing skills specifically focusing on Photoshop techniques as well as having the opportunity to create moving image and video production.

Projects are designed to not only teach the technical skills but also develop an understanding in the wider community, responding to social and cultural events through history and current times. Students are encouraged to become independent learners and thinkers with the aim to think outside of the box.

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