Exam Board: AQA
Level: 2 

Course Overview

This course consists of a controlled assessment (30%) and examinations (70%), both of which take place in the final year of study. GCSE Media Studies offers an extensive and meaningful coverage of media theory and practice with practical work which integrates theories and concepts across a broad range of media including television, film, internet and advertising. It gives pupils opportunities to learn about real media products and industries and impact on audiences and consumers.

Assessment: 70% examination, 30% controlled assessment.

Exam Board: AQA
Level: 3

Course Overview

An excellent choice for pupils wishing to continue their study of media from GCSE level, or for pupils who are interested in the subject and possibly pursuing a career in the media industry. This two-year course will include a controlled assessment in which pupils will create a media product (30%) and two exams which will assess their knowledge and understanding of media language, audiences, industries and representation within a set of close study products (70%).

Assessment:70% examination, 30% controlled assessment.

Exam Board: Eduqas/WJEC
Level: 3

Course Overview

This course is an excellent choice for students who are academic, analytical and fascinated by the world around them. Film Studies enables students to apply a wide range of academic, specialist, and cultural theories to a pre-set selection of films ranging from Hollywood classics to silent film and documentary. In addition to two exams, students will also complete a film production unit to assess their creative and technical film knowledge. 

AO1 – Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of elements of film.

AO2 – Apply knowledge and understanding of film to:

     AO2/1 – Analyse and compare films: including through use of critical approaches.         

     AO2/2 – Evaluate the significance of critical approaches.

     AO2/3 – Analyse and evaluate your own work in relation to other professionally produced work.

AO3 – Apply knowledge and understanding of elements of film to the production of a film or screenplay.

Assessment: 70% examination, 30% controlled assessment.

Exam Board: OCR
Level: 2

The Cambridge Technical qualification can help you take your first steps towards a career in the media industry. You’ll learn essential skills such as audio/visual production, digital publishing and gain essential knowledge of media industries and audiences.

Assessment: 100% coursework.

• How are meanings communicated to audiences in television?
• How do online, social and participatory media influence audiences?
• How do representations impact audiences in video games?
• How do newspapers shape audiences' understanding of the world?
• What impact do production factors have on films?
• How are representations constructed in advertising?
• How do magazines represent people, places and events?
• How have radio industries evolved over time to meet audience demands?
• How do music videos meet the needs of audiences?
• What do media producers need to consider when constructing a media product?
• How are representations constructed in media products?
• How are media products constructed to appeal to a specific audience?

Year One

Year one will be focused on covering the A Level CSPs and apply the theoretical framework of Media Studies alongside relevant contextual areas of study. This will involve in-depth analysis of television, online and social media, video games and magazines. In addition there will be more focused studies of music videos, newspapers, advertising, radio and film. 

• How do audience psychographics impact reception and gratifications of online, social and participatory media?
• How are wider social, cultural, historical and political contexts communicated in television?
• How can a synoptic approach be applied to the deconstruction of video games?
• How can a variety of representational approaches support analysis of music videos? 
• How does advertising shape and reflect the changes in contemporary media landscapes?

Year Two

In year two, students will complete their non-examined assessment which contributes to 30% of the A Level grade. This unit of work requires students to create linked productions across different media platforms in response to a pre-set brief. In year two, students will also revise the CSPs and be taught a range of critical theory to complement and extend  existing knowledge. 

• How has the industrial and technological context of the newspaper industry adapted to changing audiences?
• How does cultivation theory explain the impact of radio?
• How does the economic context of the film industry impact production, distribution and exhibition?
• How does the magazine industry shape audiences' identities and position them ideologically?
• NEA: How is technological convergence used in the production of media products to appeal to shifting audiences and industry demands?

Year One

In year one, students will be introduced to the core areas of study and how filmmakers generate meanings through technical codes and contextual understanding. Students will then complete component one which explores the changing face of Hollywood, independent and mainstream film and British films. Towards the end of year one, we will begin looking at documentary and silent film for component two.

• How are the key elements of film used to make meanings and generate responses? 

• How and why has the style of the Hollywood auteur evolved over time?

• How do independent and mainstream films present different ideologies to the spectator? 

• How do the narratives in British films present social and national identities?

• How do documentary makers use cinematic techniques to tell factual stories? 

Year Two 

Much of year two will be spent completing the non-examined assessment which takes the form of a film production. Students will also be taught the remaining films for component two which comprise of global, silent and experimental films. Year two will also involve ample exam practice, revision and application of high level theory.

• How can I apply knowledge and understanding of elements of film to the production of a short?

• How did silent film makers use visual techniques to communicate meanings?

• How is the geographical, social and cultural world represented in global films? 

• How can some films be described as experimental and post-modern?

Unit 1: Introducing Media Products and Audiences – in this unit, learners will gain an understanding of media institutions, how they work and the products they produce. Learners will understand production processes, target audiences, and distribution and marketing through the analysis of media products. 

Unit 10: Audio-Visual Media Skills – In this unit, learners will expand upon the knowledge acquired in Unit 1. They will also develop and showcase their practical audio-visual media production skills. This will involve creating pre-production documentation, proficiently operating equipment, and adhering to safe work practices.

Unit 12: Print Media Skills – Continuing to develop their knowledge gained in Unit 1,  learners will gain and demonstrate practical skills in developing and producing print media products. This includes print-based pre-production documentation, proficiently operating equipment, developing skills in desktop publishing software and adhering to safe work practices.

Unit 30: Print Media Production - Students will continue to develop skills acquired in both Unit 1 and Unit 12. Learners will understand print media organisations and their products and audiences. Learners will then plan a new print media product, and produce materials for it. 

• How are digitally published products created and used?
• How is digitally published material acquired and modified?
• How can I apply knowledge and understanding of media production to create a media product to a specified brief?

GCSE | Media Studies - AQA home 

GCSE Media Studies - BBC Bitesize 

Mrs Fisher - YouTube

A Level | Media Studies - AQA home

A Level Film Studies - Eduqas home

Welcome to A Level Media Studies! - Excellent blog hosted by MediaMacguffin

A Level film resources

Mr Gardner's Film Studies Channel - YouTube

Due to the consistently dynamic nature of the subjects, revision guides and books are often obsolete with new additions and revisions to the courses occurring nearly every year since the new specifications’ inception in 2016.

Extra support for coursework and revision sessions for all media and film pupils will be available after school on Thursdays and Fridays until 4pm.

Film Club - KS3 Wednesday lunchtimes S16

Anime Club - KS3 Thursday lunchtimes S16