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"Castle School Education Trust is committed to high quality education across the primary, secondary and sixth form key stages. Our schools cover the South Gloucestershire area. We encourage independence within each school within a strong framework of values."

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Mangotsfield Secondary

  • December Dates: 7th FOM Christmas Fair, 11th All Years' Challenge Day & FOM Y7 Disco, 18th Christmas Lunch Day, 19th Term Ends, early finish of 12.20pm 

Photography

Why do we study Photography?

Photography has become so accessible for people of all ages, from all walks of life, and in every community and culture. Whether we use a professional camera, a mobile phone or a polaroid, we capture memories, record events, create works of art and promote our interests within an increasingly visual world, with billions of images surrounding us throughout our lives.

Students at Mangotsfield are taught to use the camera as a creative tool. We build their understanding of its functions and how they can manipulate these for effect, with the intention of capturing imagery of a high technical quality on camera, rather than relying on editing and post production. Whilst we have a large range of DSLR cameras available to students, we also explore how cameras on our phones can be cleverly used for home learning to mimic the use of a DSLR. 

Composition is a key area which filters through every part of our work, as we explore movement and shutter speeds, depth of field and focus, through exciting themes such as light painting, food photography, splash photography and advertising techniques.

Meet the team

Mrs Beedle - Head of Art & Photography 

As a photography teacher, my teaching stems from my experience of 35mm film photography and processing photographs in the dark room. 

Colour brings me great joy and I love capturing it in my digital photography today. It’s wonderful to be able to share my awareness of composition and the creative formal elements as I support students to develop their creative eye in this evolving subject. 

Mrs Delalu - Teacher of Art and Photography

Photography is an important part of the world that we live in, it’s more than just taking photos. I’m  teaching students to communicate their thoughts, feelings and ideas. It’s an opportunity for young people to express themselves and their identity into the photographs they take. I’ve always loved double exposure photography and mixed media. I take my joy of photography and put that into building students’ technical and creative skills. They can then take their learnt skills beyond school and into their future careers. 

Course: AQA Photography GCSE

60% Coursework and 40% Exam Unit

Assessment: Students are assessed on several units of work.  The exam theme is selected  from the exam paper by the student and takes roughly 12 weeks.  All units cover the following areas of assessment:

  • How students’ own ideas are developed, in part through exploring others’ works and techniques.
  • Range and quality of experimentation undertaken, plus students’ ability to refine and develop.
  • The quality of photographs in their original state; methods used to record and present the work.
  • Students’ ability to develop their own purposeful and meaningful imagery to create their final pieces.

GCSE Programme of Study

This course will show you how to view the world differently, how to capture it creatively, and how photography and the skills you will develop can be a valuable asset in many other vocations. Six coursework portfolio units each explore a different theme, new techniques, and require development of personal outcomes. Our themes in Year 10 include: composition and perspective, experimental album covers, and the commercial practice of Food Photography and tourism brief using the work from the trip to Lacock Abbey.

 In Year 11 we try out  creative capture of Light Painting and dramatic Advertising techniques such as splash shoots. Written work is in the form of notes and observations (no essays and no written exam). 

Students will study an advertising techniques unit in Year 11.  This unit includes many techniques such as mixed media, Photoshop, projections, creative lighting, and unusual viewpoints. Research into ‘tricks of the trade’ has helped students to discover that backlighting creates effective shots of water and smoke, and professional photographers use mashed potato for ice cream shoots! The aim of this final coursework unit is to prepare for the exam, encouraging independent development and refinement, through trouble shooting and reviewing.

From mid-January they work on their exam, worth 40% of their grade. The AQA board exam requires a student to choose one of seven options. This chosen option will be the subject of their work until late April / early May.


Cameras are provided, though students are welcome to bring their own in.

 Enrichment Opportunities

Lacock On Location Shoot Trip

In year 10 students visit Lacock Abbey and town to complete research and take multiple photoshoots in response to a tourism photography brief. Providing core experience of how to shoot on location. Back in school students will present their work from the trip to form the main work of one of their courtwork units. 

GCSE Support 

After school students are given the opportunity to work in the specialist studio/computer room to refine and complete coursework. 

Homework in Photography

Students are given a variety of homework assignments within photography including research on prominent photographers and practical photoshoot tasks to support learning in the classroom.  Students are also encouraged to use the school’s photography studio.

Students are encouraged to work independently and set individual homework assignments.