Photography
Goffs Art & Photography Department
We love Art. That is our motto in our beautifully equipped department.
At Goffs we pride ourselves on high quality teaching, whilst nurturing creativity in all. Teachers are highly experienced and have a wide skill set, enabling students to learn from us in areas such as: drawing, painting, printmaking, 3d, mixed media and digital processes. We want our students to become passionate and intelligent through art, whatever their ability. We ask that our students come to us willing to have a go with the promise that if they do, we will help them ‘fly’!
KS4
Year 10 & 11 GCSE Photography
Over the 2 year course we build up skills and knowledge on camera techniques and editing techniques. Work is carried out in the form of projects. Students look at a wide range of artists to inspire their ideas. We teach them to analyse imagery in order to understand the importance of subject, element, media and intention, through written annotation. They will learn to use a camera manually, experiment with backgrounds and lighting. They will also learn more creative techniques in editing, both on and off the computer (drawing, stitching, weaving onto photographs). Our aim is to teach them to be confident photographers and explorative artists. We encourage creative practice incorporating editing on and off the computer. We follow the AQA GCSE Photography: lens based and light based media course. The portfolio (coursework) makes up 60% of the course and the timed examination period is 40%. The exam is a project set externally by AQA. Students follow a starting point from the exam paper over about 10 weeks making work in relation to it. At the end students are given 10 hours to complete a final piece. Drawing and written annotation is a compulsory part of the AQA specification.
KS5
A2 Photography
Students who opt to take AS, mostly progress onto the Year 13, A2 course. Our students must be hardworking and resilient. Again, as at GCSE we follow the AQA exam board specification. This year gives our students the opportunity to learn about the camera’s manual setting (aperture, shutter speed, ISO), editing techniques through a theme of ‘Bodyscapes’. Students will work through a project independently whilst experiencing workshops to teach specifics related to the course (e.g. depth of field, lighting techniques). The portfolio makes up 60% of the course, whilst the exam 40% (timed project with 10 hour final outcome). Students will use PowerPoint to evidence their projects. Students have the opportunity to visit London’s Royal Academy Summer Show as part of their progression onto Year 13, in order to gather primary research for the next stage of their education.
Year 13 A2 Photography
Again, as at GCSE we follow the AQA exam board specification. During Year 12, the year gives our students the opportunity to learn about the camera’s manual setting (aperture, shutter speed, ISO), experimenting with different photographic styles and outcomes as well as exploring editing techniques through the theme of ‘bodyscapes’. ‘Bodyscapes’ can be interpreted in any way by the students. Students will analyse work and must demonstrate depth in their work throughout. Year 12 concludes with a 10-hour mock, creating a final outcome.
As we move into Year 13, students are expected to choose their own line of enquiry, investigating and researching about photographers, artists, techniques and themes to inform and develop their own practice as a photographer. Students will use techniques learned from Year 12 and are expected to build on these independently as well as finding new techniques, methods or applications. There is a mandatory essay of 1000-3000 words on their chosen theme. They need to ensure their research is evidenced in the form of a bibliography. During the course, students are expected to be resilient and hardworking. The coursework is worth 60% of their final grade, whilst the exam 40% (timed project with 15 hour final outcome).
