Media Studies

Head of Department: Mrs C Stokes

Department Introduction

Media Studies is a highly popular A-Level option which enables students to develop an understanding of the role of the media in today’s society, developing an informed understanding of media concepts and theories along with key issues and debates.

Media Studies is taught by three specialist Media teachers and is housed in a purpose-built block that contains its own cinema. The cinema allows for detailed analysis of film in its correct environment and for previewing the students’ own work. The suited rooms connected to the cinema contain 20 Apple iMac’s allowing students to produce their own high-quality films using professional editing software. Students work independently to create their own cross-media productions which are showcased at the end of the year at our very own Oscar ceremony.

Course Information

During the two-year course students will analyse a range of media products from nine media forms- Advertising and Marketing, Music Videos, Radio, Newspapers, Magazines, Film, Television, Video Games and Online Participatory media.

Students will engage with a variety of texts studying and applying the four areas of the theoretical framework: 

  1. Media Language- a study of genre codes and conventions, exploring how meaning is created.
  2. Media Representation- the way events, issues and individuals are represented in the media.
  3. Media Industries- a study into the institutions creating texts- ownership, production, distribution and circulation.
  4. Media Audiences- looking at how audiences are grouped and categorised and the changing role of audiences.

Students will explore wider contexts through the study of texts from different historical periods and global settings whilst gaining an understanding of emerging and future developments of the media.

Course Structure and Weighting

Component 1- Media Products, Industries and Audiences 35% In Section A students analyse Media Language and Representation in both set and unseen texts. In Section B students investigate Media Industries and Audiences considering context and critical debates whilst applying their knowledge of the theoretical framework.

Component 2- Media Forms and Products in Depth 35% This paper focuses on the in-depth study of ‘Television in the Global Age’, ‘Magazines- Mainstream and Alternative Media’ and ‘Media in the Online Age’.

Component 3- Creating Cross Media Productions non-exam assessment 30% 

Students respond to a choice of media production briefs, applying their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework in the creation of a media product made for an intended audience.

Click here for exam board information on EDUQAS.

 

Enrichment

A-Level students are provided with a range of advertised experiences in order to gain industry experience. Over the last year our students have filmed and edited a TEDex event held at the Turner Contemporary and created YouTube match highlight videos for Margate Football Club, along with filming events within school.

Students are also supported with their applications to join the BFI Film Academy. Such opportunities enable students to gain QCF recognised qualifications including ‘NCFE Level 2- Preparing to Working in the Film Industry’, as well as taking part in animation and script writing workshops.

We also offer a number of opportunities to KS3 and KS4 students including the BBC School News Report Day and our own Sports Day reporting, whereby students gain the opportunity to use our equipment and learn how to edit using iMovie and Final Cut Pro.