Photography Key Groups

All areas of our curriculum at Boldon School, is successfully adapted, designed and developed to be ambitious and meet the needs of all students. Each subject area develops their knowledge, skills and abilities to apply what they know and can do this with increasing fluency and independence.

Our teachers check pupils’ understanding systematically, identify misconceptions accurately and provide clear, direct feedback. They respond and adapt their teaching as necessary without unnecessarily elaborate or individualised approaches. This is to get the very best outcomes for our students whether they are SEND, disadvantaged or to challenge our higher ability students. This will ensure that students are ready for their next stage of education, employment or training to gain qualifications that allow them to go on to destinations that meet their interests and aspirations and the intention of their course of study.

How the photography Curriculum supports our SEND students:

The Department for Education states, ‘Children and young people with SEND all have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn than most children and young people of the same age. These children and young people may need extra or different help from that given to others.’

Boldon School is an inclusive school where every student is encouraged to develop a thirst for knowledge, to enjoy their curriculum and feel valued as a member of our school community. We are committed to the progress, inclusion and resilience of each student and support the learning journey that they require. Our curriculum is successfully adapted, designed or developed to be ambitious and meet the needs of pupils with SEND, developing their knowledge, skills and abilities to apply what they know and can do with increasing fluency and independence across all subject areas.

Photography can promote students with SEND by engaging them through visual materials as well as written ones. They can explore imagery and photographs free of the constraints of text, allowing those who struggle with language comprehension to develop a rich understanding of the subject matter. Teaching with photographs can create a direct, sensory connection between learners/pupils and their subject. This can result in new levels of interest and attention. It can also create pupils with higher levels of visual literacy. Many SEND students can also use photography as a tool to understand themselves in relation to the greater world around them.

How the photography Curriculum supports our disadvantaged students:

The Secretary of State for Education set out the government’s national plan to support children and young people to reach their full potential, regardless of their backgrounds. With an overarching goal and aim of improving social mobility through education, and delivering better educational and career outcomes more evenly across England.

At Boldon School we have 50% of our students with high levels of deprivation, but strive to raise the attainment and aspirations of all students regardless of social background. We have a robust allocation system of pupil premium funding to obtain the most successful outcomes for our students and to narrow the gaps in attainment across all subject areas.

Photography is an incredibly powerful tool when considering how to increase the cultural capital of students. Our curriculum allows students to explore diverse societies, giving them insight into how others live around us. The faculty provides camera and editing equipment for all students, removing the pressure of having to finance equipment. Trips to view professional photography can also be funded by the school, ensuring that no students miss out on the opportunity.

How the photography Curriculum supports our higher ability students:

HM Chief Inspector stated, If we are going to succeed as an economy and as a society, we have to make more of our most able young people. We need them to become the political, commercial and professional leaders of tomorrow. 

At Boldon school we aim to nurture scholastic excellence through a challenging curriculum where the work given to students is demanding and matches the aims of the curriculum in being coherently planned and sequenced towards cumulatively sufficient knowledge. We recognise the need to stretch and challenge all students but especially our MAT and higher ability students to obtain maximum progress.

Higher ability students are supported in photography by teachers nurturing their student’s artwork to excel their artistic development. Student work can be archived to record and track student achievements, allowing them to see the progression and development in their work. Teachers can help their students find and connect with other artistic peers, both in and out of school. After-school clubs help students find like-minded peers, and give them the opportunity to collaborate. These relationships are necessary for social/emotional well-being as well as artistic growth.