Film Studies A Level

Paston Sixth Form College

Grammar School Road, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9JL

GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent

Level 3

Available start dates

Tuesday, 01 September 2026

Paston Sixth Form College

2 Year(s)

Full time

Daytime/working hours

Application Instructions

Step 1: Apply

Step 2: An account will be set up for you by us, on our Learner Hub portal. You will receive a message and link via Help You Choose when this is ready for you to access.

Step 3: On our Learner Hub portal, set your first choice course (ie 'A Level Programme', 'Early Years Practitioner Level 2', 'Creative Media Level 3') and book your interview from the choices displayed

Step 4: Interview (Course discussion) You will meet with an academic tutor from your chosen area of study for an informal discussion about your course choices, to ensure you have chosen the best course for your future ambitions.

Step 5: Offer Offers are given verbally at interview but you will also receive an email confirmation. All offers are provisional until the point of enrolment and most of our course offers are conditional, meaning there is an entry criteria you need to meet before enrolling. This will be outlined in your written offer. Sometimes we are unable to offer you a place on your chosen course. If this happens the reasons will be discussed with you at your appointment and we will look at alternative options with you. We will be in contact to confirm the outcome and what to do next. We also have a team of specialist Course Advisers who are more than happy to look at alternative options with you and answer any questions you may have.

Step 4: Enrolment Enrolment is the final stage before starting your course with us and takes place within the last two weeks of August. We require you to be available to attend your appointment in person at college, so we can complete all the required steps to enrolling you on your chosen course. We may ask you to bring some documents with you so please read your enrolment invitation carefully.

NB Our main communication with our applicants is via their personal email addresses - please remember to check your inbox for messages from us!

Course Details

This course is a fantastic oppurtunity for you to engage with film in a critical and analystical way and provides an introduction to film analysis, filmmaking and the film industry in Hollywood, Europe and across the world. You will analyse camerawork, editing, sound and performance to explore how processes of meaning-making and emotional manipulation come to light. We will also consider how films reflect the attitudes and ideologies of a particular time, place and culture.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN?

During this two year course, you will develop theoretical and practical skills by studying a range of films and case studies, exploring film analysis techniques, the film industry and film audiences.
You will focus on a variety of topics and themes including how a film constructs meaning through the use of film language conventions to provoke a variety of responses from the audience and how analysing a film can enable you to explore personal, social, cultural, political and ethical issues.

You will also learn practical filmmaking techniques such as storyboarding and screenwriting and study a wide range of films including; Pan’s Labyrinth (Spain, 2006), Pulp Fiction (US, 1994), No Country for Old Men (US,2007), Blade Runner (US,1981), Vertigo (US,1954), This is England (UK, 2006), City of God (Brazil, 2002), and many more.

IS IT SUITABLE FOR YOU?

This course is suitable for film fans who are looking to gain a better understanding of filmmaking both practically and through analysis of film form. It is also suitable for those who are curious, creative and enjoy critical debates on how film generates meaning.

HOW YOU ARE ASSESSED?

This course is assessed through two examinations focusing on varieties of film, film making and global film making perspectives. You will also complete one piece of course work that focuses on production.

THIS COURSE GOES WELL WITH…

English, History, Psychology and Sociology as well as creative subjects such as Photography, Performance and Art. There are also obvious crossovers with Media Studies that some students may find beneficial.

Entry requirements

3 A Level Programme

Minimum of 66444 at GCSE

You must also study English/Maths GCSE if you have not already achieved grade 4 in these subjects.

If you achieve a minimum of 3 GCSE's at grade 8 plus 5 at grade 7 and your English Language and Maths are at minimum grade 4, you will have the option to join the A Plus programme.

Please note that A Plus is designed for applicants to academic courses at Oxford, Cambridge or Russel Group.

Your next steps...

YOU CAN GO ON TO DO...

Film related subjects at university with the potential to lead to careers within the area of film production. There are also strong links with careers in journalism due to the critical and analytical element of the course.

For more courses like this, check our courses page.