• In this section
• Art and Design
• Additional Educational Needs
• Business Studies
• Child Development
• Food Technology
• English
• Geography
• Hairdressing
• Health & Social Care
• History
• ICT
• Key Skills
• Languages
• Mathematics
• Media Studies
  • Introduction
  • Curriculum
• Performing Arts
• Science
• Sport/PE Studies
• Religious Studies
• Travel and Tourism

Key Stage 4 GCSE

Examination Board – OCR. The course is examined by two external exams and an internally assessed coursework portfolio. This two year course is made up of three units:

1. Textual Analysis
   Students study and analyse how different types of media texts are made. This includes film, magazines, newspapers, pop music and television.
2. Cross Media Topics
   This unit concentrates on the techniques that the different media types use to attract audiences and the institutions and finance behind them.
3. Course WorkEach student will be expected to produce two written assignments on aspects of the media they have studied. They also must produce a media text of their own from set briefs given by the examination board. These include:

• Produce the opening of a thriller film
• Produce the opening titles for a children’s TV show
• Make an example magazine for a target audience of your choice (to include front page, contents and articles.)
• Make a website for a new band including homepage, biography and two other linked pages.

Post-16 AS and A2 Level

Examination Board – OCR.

This two year course is composed of 6 units. These allow students to develop basic skills attained at GCSE (although no previous experience of Media Studies is required.)

AS Level Course (Year One)

1. Foundation ProductionStudents produce their own media text based on set briefs given by the board. These are in the areas of Moving Image, Print, Sound and ICT.
2. Textual AnalysisStudents learn the skills of analysing media texts in detail, deconstructing them in order to gain understanding. Key ideas and concepts of narrative, representation and technical codes are also dealt with.
3. Audience and InstitutionsThe purpose of this unit is to enable students to critically assess the production process, ownership and the audience consumption of media texts. Areas of study include new media technologies and cross media ownership alliances.

Assessed by two external exams and the internally assessed production.

A2 Media Studies

The second year of the course allows students to build on the knowledge and skills developed in year one. Students are encouraged to focus personal interests with independent study to develop research and analytical skills. Again two units are assessed by examination and one by coursework.

The units are:

1. Advanced ProductionWorking individually or in groups students produce their own media text based on sound academic and market research as well as demonstrating technical skills.
2. Critical Research
   From a choice of eight set topics students devise their own area of research to prepare for the examination. Set topics include Women and Film, Crime and the Media and Pop Music and Youth Culture.
3. Media Issues and Debates
   The purpose of this unit is to engage students with current issues, debates and controversies within the media. Areas of study include Contemporary British Cinema, Radio and Television News and Magazines and Gender.