Media Studies Department
Departmental Aims
The Media Studies department seeks to provide a safe, caring, positive and stimulating environment that promotes social, physical and moral development. We aim to embed the following principles:
- Every child matters
- Improve value added
Resources
Media and ICT resources are used extensively through out the Media studies department in dedicated Media rooms. The department has 11 iMac computers. They use the Tiger operating system. We use photoshop, i Movie, i Photo, Appleworks and Word. Part of the course require students to produce Magazine covers and in AS level a double page journalistic piece of work. iMovie is used by Year 11 students in their trailer production. A2 students use it to edit and produce a Pop Video. Students are able to produce work of a very high standard by using the Mac computers.
Curriculum
Key Stage 4
In Years 10/11 students follow GCSE Media Studies
Pupils will study two units during Year 10. The first is the study of magazines, their purpose and their target audience. Pupils will analyse a variety of magazines before producing their own, using a digital camera for their chosen image.
The second unit is the study of the music industry. It is a cross media study which means that pupils will be looking at how the same media products appear in a number of different media forms and across different media platforms.
For this unit, pupils will study the history of music, various musical artists and bands and how the industry promotes itself. Pupils will be required to analyse websites, music videos and produce a case study on their chosen artiste. In addition, pupils will be required to invent their own band. They will design and produce a promotional homepage and a storyboard for a music video.
In Year 11, pupils will work in groups of four analysing film trailers, before venturing out with video cameras and filming their own trailer. The footage will then need to be edited so that it follows the conventions of a real movie trailer.
Following on from the production, pupils will revise for the GCSE exam which is a topic set by the exam board every year. Part of the exam is seen so pupils will receive this usually four weeks before their exam is due to take place. This allows for independent study on the board’s chosen topic.
Key Stage 5
Media Studies GCE : WJEC AS (2 units)
Unit 1: Media Representations and Responses (MS1)
This unit focuses on the way in which all media industries construct ‘representation’ within a wide range of media texts, and the range of ways in which audiences respond to these texts.
Unit 2 : Media Production Processes (MS2)
This unit focuses on the research into one media production, leading to the pre-production, production and evaluation of a completed media text.
A Level (the above plus a further 2 units.)
Unit 3: Media Investigation and Production
This unit focuses on detailed research into one specific aspect of the media, which informs a media production leading to a final evaluation.
Unit 4: Media – Text, Industry and Audience
This unit will focus on three different media industries. Candidates will study three main texts, at least two will be contemporary and one will be British. Candidates will focus on media text, industry and audience to develop their understanding of the debates and relationship between each aspect.
Parent Booklets
