Photography gcse

DD is Y10 doing GCSE photography and loving it. DS did it a couple of years ago (so we already had the camera). The first term has mainly been technical camera work, understanding how things like shutter speed, light, focus, framing etc changes photographs and then did a dawn shoot. They were all required to have a digital slr or they wouldn't have been able to do the manual adjustments.
The writing so far is mainly justifying their choices etc in their portfolio book and doing artist studies.
In terms of homework they don't get set any but as the portfolio building is constant she stays after school once a week so she can work on the school computers for editing.

Dd is doing photography GCSE ... she is loving it.. she wanted to do a creative subject but isn't very good at drawing.. has a very good eye in photography though. They all use phones but there are cameras available to use if they want to. She is also doing PE which she really enjoys too...she is quite academic with a science type mind so finds the PE theory very interesting.

My DD took photography GCSE. She just took it summer 2023. She got an 8. She didn't have an SLR camera. She used her phone. Editing was then all done on their laptops or on school computers. It did include written research work, although not extensive. It was very heavy on workload. The constant pressure of improving their portfolio right up to the end was quite stressful.

@Dadzzz So 7 subjects compulsory and a humanity or MFL or Cs to be added. Many would do a humanity so that might leave two options. A bit sad that MFL is sidelined and not required. She could do two practical subjects but I’m surprised they insist on triple science. Top sets do but many others don’t need it as they won’t do science A levels. So she needs to decide if two practical subjects serve her well.

It will ramp up next year. When options start in Y9 some subjects start with GCSE work, maths / science and that happens with a 2 year GCSE, the work starts in year 9.

For other subjects it is a 'holding' pattern and a chance to read around the subject eg I had a Y9 childcare class, as well as starting the syllabus we did some things like make puppets from wooden spoons / plasticine / felt.

Then they filmed their puppets, they all had a storyline related to child care, a visit to hospital or starting school.

It may be uncommon to do them over 3 years but DS school is Ofsted outstanding and regularly in top state school lists so certainly not inadequate. Area is very affluent and full of families who could afford to go private.

A 3 year GCSE in photography is the slow route. Ofsted and the government discourage it as it narrows the curriculum too early. Brighter dc get bored when the curriculum is designed for 2 years. Taking 3 years is designed to improve results but there are more schools that do this rated inadequate. Around here it’s not common.

All schools round here start gcse options in year 9

Courses not universities though. I wouldn't expect an English course would accept me with double maths and physics! Same principle

they all have phones that are good enough

When DD's friend did photography GCSE they started the syllabus in 2014, and the quality of photos from phones back then just wasn't good enough, so they had to buy SLR cameras.

I imagine photography will involve using Photoshop regularly to manipulate images as well.

DS is doing photography GCSE, and they do it over 3 years. He's currently in Y9 and it doesn't seem very onerous at the moment - he's not hugely academic, clever but minimum effort. They don't even need a camera at this stage, they all have phones that are good enough. That may change and I've been waiting for school to say we need to buy a camera but it hasn't happened yet. I have to say though, he absolutely loves it.

I’m not wrong. There are quite a few courses that don’t accept Photography A level. It’s probably irrelevant though!

@TizerorFizz you are wrong about photography and universities - most accept it, even Oxbridge. Some subjects don't accept it (medicine/biomedics etc as they need sciences).

As the options evening is in year 8 does this mean that your DD will start GCSEs in year 9? If she has three years to study for GCSEs then time won't be such a problem. althoug, as I said earlier, I thought three year GCSEs were frowned upon as it is felt that narrowing the curriculum at 13 is too soon.

@Dadzzz Yes. As @RampantIvy says. Most schools limit these subjects to two. As I said DD did drama and art. Two is enough to manage time as they are coursework heavy.

@Dadzzz practical subjects are very content heavy due to coursework. It was 60% coursework and 40% exam when DD took GCSE art. She used to spend hours at weekends perfecting her portfolio. Times that by three and it is a lot of work over the two years.

It pretty low level research and writing up, even at A level, isn’t onerous. You just plough through it. Actually some unis won’t accept Photography A level as a qualifying A level for an academic degree.

What you learn about at GCSE isn’t the same in terms of academic study as other academic GCSEs (how can it be?) and doesn’t prepare students for economics or politics, say. It’s definitely enjoyable but other subjects are better prep. DD enjoyed the A level but you don’t need GCSE for A level. The bigger issue is three practical subjects is too many.

My son is doing photography. We got him a cheapish second hand SLR.
The practical is only 40% thought. The rest is written exam. He's also doing food and nutrition which is again about 40/60 split.
He wantrd to do PE but was put off by the 80/20 written to practical ratio and (at his school), they have to be actively involved in a sport at a competitive level.

I disagree @TizerorFizz DS found the research and independence of GCSE photography great prep for A Levels.

If it's a choice between art and photography I'd suggest art as it is broader (and a bonus for lots of things - architecture, photography, even at degree levels).

I’m trying to say it doesn’t prep anyone for A levels other than photography. Art does because it’s broader. History is good prep
for politics and other a academic subjects are good prep for A levels in their family of subjects. However as I said, if she likes photography, why not? It’s only one subject. With the other practical ones though, the work will mount up. DD did Art and Drama for GCSE and would not have been allowed a third practical subject.