Studying Photography A Level at Esher Sixth Form College

Overview

Photography is all around us and is one of the fast growing and most exciting contemporary mediums. At Esher, you will develop your awareness of the photographic world that surrounds you. We work hard to enhance your appreciation of Photography, teach you how to use our Photoshop suite, DSLR and film cameras, and professional photography studio, and above all help you learn to love the visual world that is ever evolving.

Photography is all around us and is one of the fast growing and most exciting contemporary mediums. At Esher, you will develop your awareness of the photographic world that surrounds you. Our dedicated efforts extend beyond technical skills; we foster your independence, nurture your resilience, and ignite your curiosity. Through hands-on experiences with Photoshop, DSLR and film cameras, and our professional photography studio, we guide you toward a profound appreciation for the ever-evolving visual world.

Entry Requirements

In addition to the College Entry Requirements, to qualify for this course you will also need to achieve a minimum of:’

Grade 4 in GCSE Art or Photography or Media or A BTEC First/BTEC Technical /Cambridge National Level 2 Merit in an Art/Media related course.

If you do not have the specified/relevant Arts & Design based GCSE subjects and still wish to be considered for this course, please read the Portfolio Requirements.

Course Details

Component 1 – Personal investigation.
This component is worth 60% of the students grade and consists of a major, in-depth, practical, critical and theoretical investigative project/theme-based portfolio and outcome/s with integrated extended written critical and contextual analysis (1000 words minimum).

Component 2 – Externally set assignment.
This component is worth 40% of the students grade. Learners are required to develop independently a personal response to one of a varied range of stimuli within specified time constraints. Learners must therefore bring together the best of their understanding, knowledge and skills built up over their course of study and demonstrate their highest achievement through this externally set assignment. Following the preparatory study period, learners will be allocated a period of 15 hours sustained focus study to realise their response, unaided and under supervised conditions.

Year 1
In the first year, you will work on a series of projects that let you experiment with a wide range of photographic techniques through both guided and independent learning. You will explore various photographic genres, from fashion to documentary and landscape to portraiture, inspired by photographers from different eras. This year is designed to help you build your skills and confidence, leading up to Component 1 in the final term.

Year 2
In the second year, you will continue to develop the skills you learned in Year 1 with personalised guidance and regular peer assessment sessions. Your creativity will be nurtured, and you will be encouraged to explore your chosen style independently in component 1 and 2. We will also delve into the connections between films, art, music, and photography. Additionally, you will write a 1500-word essay, which is an important part of component 1.

Course Projects:
Year 1:

Camera confidence
Technical ability
Professional practice
Component 1 mock
Component 1 (60% of final grade)

Year 2:

Component 1 continued (60% of final grade)
Component 2 (40% of final grade

Assessment

Your projects will be regularly assessed by teachers, who will provide written and verbal feedback on your strengths and areas for improvement. At the end of each project, you will receive a final grade. The coursework (component 1), completed over the first and second years, makes up 60% of your final grade. At the end of the second year, you will complete an externally set practical assignment (component 2), which accounts for 40% of your overall A Level mark. Component 1 and 2 are marked by teachers and externally moderated by the exam board EDUQAS.

Subject Combinations

Art, Fashion, 3D Design, Graphic Communication, Media, Film Studies, Maths and English all offer a range of progression routes.

FAQs

What extra support/enrichment activities are on offer?
We actively encourage our students to take advantage of our comprehensive kit loan system, which offers a wide range of photography equipment such as cameras, lenses, lighting, tripods, and creative filters. Our students have the flexibility to use our equipment whenever they need it, even over weekends and college breaks.

We are also very lucky to have a dedicated photographic studio that is available throughout the day, for students to use during their study periods. This is supported by a friendly and knowledgeable full time photography technician who is always on hand to offer guidance and support.

In addition to our outstanding facilities, we organise exciting photography trips, both day and residential. We have previously been to prestigious photography fairs such as Paris Photo and PhotoBrussels, offering our students both cultural experiences and exposure to the newest and most respected photographers across the globe.

Paris Photo: The leading international fair for the photography market – 13-16 november, 2025

PhotoBrussels: PhotoBrussels Festival

We also arrange day trips to popular universities, including Arts University Bournemouth and the University of the West of England in Bristol. Taking full advantage of our closeness to London, we organise visits to a variety of the latest photography and moving image exhibitions, ensuring that our students can engage whenever possible with photography in its wider context.

To finish their time here at Esher in style, we hold an Esher Oscars night in conjunction with the Media and Film departments. This fabulous event is a celebration of our students’ achievements, complete with golden awards statues for the winners in each category.

University Destinations

Photography A Level is a highly respected qualification, with 90% of our students progressing on university and arts foundation courses.

Here are some typical university destinations that our Photography A Level students go on to. Click on a destination to see some examples of courses they have taken;