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Westfield Secondary School

Photographic Communication

Overview

Introduction

Photographic communication is a two-year course which is designed to engage, inspire and challenge. Projects are graded through four assessment objectives (AOs): AO1 artist links, AO2 development of ideas, AO3 observations and recordings and AO4 final response.

Qualification

GCSE: Art and Design (Graphic Communication)

Awarding body

AQA

Course leader

Miss R Blackburn

Assessment

  • Examination: 10%
    • Component 2: externally set assignment (AO4) | 10 hours | 10%
  • Non-examined assessment:90 %
    • Component 1: portfolio (AO1, AO2, AO3, AO4) | 60%
    • Component 2: externally set assignment (AO1, AO2, AO3) | 30%

Curriculum

Course content

Students begin by building skills and knowledge of photography, such as lighting, viewpoint, depth of field and compositions, before putting these skills into practice to build a portfolio of work which combines multiple projects with the overarching theme of advertising.

All projects start with AO1, artist and cultural links, where students study the work of existing publicists through written analysis and visual means. This will inform the style of work produced and enable students to think critically, developing a deeper understanding of art and design.

As part of AO3, students produce a variety of observational photographs displaying their skills. These will be informed and inspired by studies of publicists in AO1.

These two stages are combined to produce work for AO2, development of ideas. Students explore editing programmes such as Photoshop to create their own designs through experimentation. They take inspiration from the publicists whilst working within the project theme to communicate a message. They then refine your ideas to produce one final personal response to advertise the theme of the project (AO4).

Skills and requirements

Skills required

We continue to build on the skills developed in key stage 3. However, it is essential that students have a love and enthusiasm for the subject.

Skills covered in key stage 4 photographic communication include observational study through photography, photograph manipulation, creative ideas, annotation skills, written analysis of an artist’s work or style.

Beyond the classroom

Future pathways

Students can continue to study art and design as a vocational course or at AS and A-level. An art and design GCSE will also support study of other creative courses in further education.

Art and design opens the door to many exciting careers such as:

  • illustrator
  • hair and make-up artist
  • fashion designer
  • animator
  • graphic designer
  • theatre designer
  • architect
  • product designer
  • games designer
  • photographer
  • artist
  • ceramic artist
  • teaching, plus many more

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