Art & Design (Photography) A Level

Applications Open: - Friday 14 November 2025

Applications Close: - 13 February 2026. Applications may be considered after this date but it is strongly advised to apply before this deadline.

Entry Requirements: - Admission to courses - This is based on your needs and staff advice, but you should be aware of these points: 1. You will need to obtain a minimum of six GCSE passes at Level 5 or above including Mathematics and English (a minimum of a grade 5 in the reformed GCSE qualifications in English and Mathematics) and grades 9-6 in their preferred A-Level subjects or nearest equivalents. 2. Subjects have clear entry requirements. You will find these under the course details or from Subject Heads.

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices (Internal and External Students)

External Applicants - please click here (This form is for external candidates and parents/carers to book a slot to ask any questions about the admissions process and Sixth Form at Highsted Grammar School). Please be aware that it is first come, first served. We will try our best to accommodate your preferences but this might not always be possible).

Internal candidates - should contact their Head of Year directly.

Photography could lead to academic or vocational degrees and careers relating to Press Photography, Photojournalism, Fine Art, Editing, Fashion Photography and Styling, Film, Forensic Science, Curating and many others. You will develop skills in creative and practical problem solving, developing ideas through research, practical application, analysis and critique. These transferable skills gained through the study of photography are, in general, applicable to many walks of life.

The new A Level in Photography is a two year course, which has two components. Coursework which counts for 60% of the final grade, and an exam which takes place at the end of the second year which counts for the remaining 40% coursework starts with an investigation into a range of different photographic techniques and processes, including photo shop. Then, after selecting a personal starting point, they will take their own photographs which will be used as a basis for experimentation. This will enable them to develop and refine their ideas and lead to a creative finished piece of work. They will also undertake an in-depth written study and analysis of an aspect of photography and artist’s work that relates to their ideas. Candidates receive the exam paper at the beginning of February of the second year and after a planning and preparation time of approximately eight weeks; undertake a fifteen hour exam during which they produce a finished piece of work.

It is advisable that students have their own camera.