Photography gcse

[Dadzzz]

We have the options meeting coming up for DD1, Yr 8, so as yet I don't know how many choices will be available to her.

At the moment she has expressed an interest in food tech, pe and photography. DW did pe gcse so we have a slightly older insight to that. Has anyone had any recent experience with any of these that we can consider once we have more information from the school.

Just to clarify, I don't know what other non optionalal subjects she will have, can only assume maths, triple science, double English, re (c of e school), will be on there which would mean it's possible only 3 or 4 options

@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).

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

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.

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.

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

All schools round here start gcse options in year 9

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.

Seems info she gave me is wrong. Core subjects 2 English, maths, triple science, re. She has to choose one of geography, history, mfl or computer science, then 2 of all the other subjects which includes the ones above. She won't be a le to choose all 3 she initially mentioned.

Useful to hear others thoughts on the photography course that their dc have experienced.

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.

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.

@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.

The school seem to be of the opinion that if one of the dc are weaker on one of the sciences it won't pull the collective grade down if double science? Not one we can change unless changing school.

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.

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.

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.