Media Studies

Media and Film industries are some of the most swiftly expanding and with new and different technologies being developed all the time, this is an exciting and diverse subject area with many and varied career possibilities further down the line.

We take a very practical approach to teaching and learning in the Media and Film department and students benefit from having access to a wide range of facilities and equipment including a dedicated media computer room, professional photography and filmmaking equipment, a media library and industry standard software such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro.

Students learn a variety of practical production skills from enthusiastic teachers and technicians as well as skills of verbal and written analysis; our results are consistently strong because students find these areas and the products within them engaging and enjoy the challenges they undertake.

Independence is a trait which is valued, encouraged and nurtured within the department and students are given responsibility for their own work from an early stage. As a subject that students have to opt for, we expect them to be interested, engaged and motivated in the subject areas being explored and see our role as supporting and guiding them in their learning journey.

At Key Stage 4, students will study BTEC Creative Media Production. Students will study a broad range of media products, audience and industry issues and have lots of opportunity for practical work in which they create their own media products. The course currently has two coursework components equalling 68% of the qualification and a practical exam which is worth 33%. For the external assessed component students will receive a brief in which they will respond by making a suitable media product using the technology and equipment.

We also offer Media Studies GCSE (Eduqas) where students study a range of media products under the theoretical frameworks of: media language, representation, audience and industry. Students will study products such as print newspapers, magazines, film posters and adverts; music videos and the artists’ online presences; the TV crime genre; radio programmes; the gaming industry and film production. Alongside this, students have the opportunity to create their own media product under component 3 in which they have complete design and  production control.

At Key Stage 5, A-Level Media Studies is a popular and engaging subject with classes studying the OCR specifications. The course consists of 30% coursework, 70% examination. Students analyse, in depth, a variety of media products and consider a wide range of issues of ideology, politics, culture and society in relation to the product and its wider context. Wherever possible, we take a practical approach and use links with industry professionals to give students a realistic experience of media/film production and practices. REMOVE AS THERE IS NO MEDIA OFFERED AT PRESENT

How can you support your child?

• Encourage your child to engage with a variety of media/film products
• Encourage students to complete their weekly homework and attend out of school learning opportunities made available by the department
• Support your child’s attendance to all lessons