Media Studies - A Level

Student entry into our Sixth Form requires 5 grade 4 GCSE's or above including English and Maths.

If you studied the applied subject at GCSE we are asking for a grade 5 in that subjects (Grade 6 in Maths)

Throughout this two-year course you will study set texts from a variety of media industries including film, television, radio, newspapers, magazines, advertising, video games, music videos and websites.

THE COURSE

Year 12 – Preparatory Practical Production: You will begin the course by carrying out a number of discrete practical tasks where you will be able to learn how to use all the relevant software that is required for your major practical production.

Year 13 -Major Practical Production: (30% of qualification) With this production you must work independently, taking on the role of director and producer to create a cross-media production in response to one of the briefs set by the exam board. The areas on offer are television, music marketing, film marketing and magazines. The choice is yours. You will be able to ‘employ’ other students to work as your production team. Once you have completed the production you will evaluate your outcome.

Exam and theory work: (70 % of qualification) In both year 12 and year 13 you will undertake in depth case studies into specific areas of the media in preparation for the two theory exams in year 13. The case examples include the Sci-Fi TV shows ‘Humans’ and ‘The Returned’, the lifestyle magazines ‘Vogue’ and ‘The Big Issue’, the marketing websites for ‘Zoella’ and ‘Attitude Magazine’, The music artists ‘Beyonce’ and ‘Vance Joy’, the films ‘I Daniel Blake’ and ‘ Black Panther’ and the video game ‘Assassins Creed.’

Within these case studies you will examine critical theory, audience demographics, the representation of social groups and the business practices of the companies who make the products.

Through debate and analysis you will learn how to express opinions articulately. You will also be taught how to present this information in a way that ensures that you achieve the highest possible grade in the written exam.

LIFE SKILLS

If you want to study a subject that is contemporary, fast paced and involved with technology, requires commitment and a passion to learn and where critical theory, literacy and creativity are balanced with you constructing original media productions, this is the subject for you. You will be equipped to cope with the onslaught of the mass media, able to work virtually in a cloud-based software and have learned skills in adaptability, co-operation, planning and time and resource management. You will be digitally and media literate in a global employment market that demands those skills. Media Studies is also suitable for arts students who wish to see how their skills could be used in media, and students wanting a rigorous, challenging and modern course as well as those wishing to make a career in any aspect of the media.

Student entry into our Sixth Form requires 5 grade 4 GCSE's or above including English and Maths.

Grade 5 or higher in Media Studies GCSE is preferred. Students without Media or a 4 in another digitally creative subject such as Photography, ICT or a design-based subject may be interviewed by the Head of Media.

In addition to following degree routes in television, radio, film, journalism, web and games design, past students also work for ITV, Channel 4, the BBC and various graphic industries. Some have become teachers. Others are free-lance in the media, television and web design industries or they run their own businesses. Several have won animation prizes and set up their own free-lance animation companies. We have ex-students who come back as visiting speakers who have a great range of careers and many keep in touch, sharing their career paths and the media-based work they produce. We also have strong links with Norwich University of the Arts and the Norwich Film Festival. These two organisations offer enrichment activities and careers advice for our students.