Home » Courses » Photography

Photography

Apply Now

Course Overview

Photography

Photography has been used to record, document and present examples of everyday life, in ordinary and extraordinary circumstances. A Level Art and Design: Photography is a two-year course which provides students a variety of experiences that explore a range of photographic media, techniques and processes. This experience lays a foundation for further study of Photography in Higher Education. It is suitable for you if you want to develop your interest in and enjoyment of photography.

Course highlights:

Photography encompasses a wide range of techniques and processes with exploration of different materials, both formal and experimental. You will learn a range of professional digital camera technologies and skills including basic and advanced camera functions, studio lighting and industry standard software. By understanding the technicalities involved you then can explore your own concepts and ideas creatively.

Located at: Barnsley Sixth Form College

Course Start: September 2025

Course length: 2 Years

Study Mode: Full-time

Course Code: QSFCALPTY1

Course Fees and Funding

How much does the course cost?

Full-time Barnsley College students aged 16-18 years old do not have to pay tuition fees.

Other funding information

This course is not eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Course Content

  • GCSE Grade 5 or above in either Art and Design, Fine Art or Photography and a submission of a physical or digital portfolio covering a range of media. We will contact you to request your portfolio after you have applied.

  • Students who have not been to a school which offers GCSE Art or Photography can still apply with a portfolio.

Component one is 60% of your overall grade and component two is 40% of your overall grade. The two-year course is split into four sections which are: Interim Personal Investigation Part One (PI Part One) Personal Investigation Part Two (PI Part Two) Externally Set Assignment (ESA)

To study the course, you will need to purchase a Build a Kit Base of compulsory materials, the extras are aimed more towards Fine Art students, but you can purchase whatever you like. These are available to buy from Barnsley Sixth Form College. It is recommended that you have your own camera, however the College does have equipment that students can book out to complete their studies. A camera on a mobile phone is not recommended, instead an entry level DSLR is preferable.

A Level

You can progress to Higher Education to study a variety of Photography or Art-related courses such as photography, graphic design, fine art and illustration. The portfolio of practical work produced on this course will also be useful for interviews, employment and further study. Potential career routes include Photo Journalist or Freelance Photographer.

Other Resources

For further details, please contact our Information Unit by calling 01226 216 123 or emailing: info@barnsley.ac.uk

Our Additional Learning Support team can provide you with the support you need. Call 01226 216 769 for further information.

Barnsley Sports Academy offers state-of-the-art facilities and diverse sports programs, enabling students to achieve academic and athletic excellence. Remember, you don't have to be studying Sport to join Barnsley Sports Academy.

Barnsley College has a range of sports opportunities for all students to take part in, gain professional training and compete nationally and internationally. We also have a state-of-the-art fitness village, the Sports Village, where students can make use of our fitness suite, spinning studio and classes for competitive rates.

Disclaimer: Please note we reserve the right to change details without notice. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

The course information on this page was last updated 12 May 2025.