Time Allocation
Media Studies is a GCSE option; therefore, during KS4, 2 hrs per week are allocated to its study.
Exam Board: Eduqas
Course Content
GCSE Media Studies is an interesting, challenging and creative course that attracts an increasingly large number of students every year. It offers rigorous but accessible learning on a subject of key importance for young people’s understanding of the world they experience. The course will enable students to develop media literacy through an exploration of contemporary media products, including advertisements, films, TV programmes, newspapers, magazines, and websites. These will be studied focusing on the key conceptual areas of: forms and conventions, audiences, institutions, genre and representation.
In Year 9, students will be introduced to the main themes involved in Media Studies, including media analysis and media production. This year helps students to build up the skills and competencies necessary to access GCSE level material in this subject. A summary outline of the course is as follows:
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Year 9 |
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
Autumn |
Topic: Introduction to the Key concepts
Areas of study: - Institutions - Representation - Audience - Media Language - Genre Production Task:
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Component 1 (Advertising & Marketing) First Half Term Set products studied:
OBJECTIVES:
Second half term Component 1 (Film Industry & Radio) Set products studied:
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Component 1 (Newspapers) First Half Term Set product studied:
OBJECTIVES
Second half term Component 2 (TV Crime Drama) Set products studied:
OBJECTIVES
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Spring |
Topic: Film/Advertising and Marketing Areas of study: - Marketing - Advertising - Cross-media advertising & marketing - Public relations - Online advertising & marketing Production Task:
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Component 1 (Magazines & Video Games) Set products studied:
OBJECTIVES
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Component 2: (TV Crime Drama and Music Videos) Set product studied:
OBJECTIVES
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Summer |
Topic: Advertising/ News and Magazines Areas of study: - Newspapers - The selection process - Categorising & analysing magazines - Magazine audiences - values & lifestyles - Online news/magazines - Publishing houses Production Task: · Produce three pages for a magazine or newspaper aimed at a specific audience. · Produce an advertising campaign consisting of three print advertisements. |
Component 3 - NEA
Create a production portfolio from one of the following areas:
Students will create a media product from the media form above based on a brief set by the exam board, which will stipulate the intended target audience or theme. |
Component 2 (Music Videos) Set product studied:
OBJECTIVES
REVISION
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Formative Assessment
Students will be assessed throughout the course. This may take the form of written assessments or the monitoring of coursework progress. Homework will also be set once a week. This may include preparation for coursework tasks, research or answering exam-style questions.
Summative Assessment
There are two elements to the final assessment of this course:
Component 1 (40%): Exploring the Media. A 1 ½ hour exam. This assessment will take place at the end of Year 11.
Component 2 (30%): Understanding Media Forms and Products. A 1 ½ hour exam. This assessment will take place at the end of Year 11.
Component 3 (30%): Creating Media Products. Non-exam assessment. This component is completed in Year 10.
Why you should consider studying Media Studies
The subject will give you the opportunity to develop a range of multidisciplinary skills:
- Ability to communicate clearly through good written English (including the ability to apply subject specific terminology).
- Ability to analyse media texts, using textual evidence to support points.
- Ability to create media products, using practical media equipment and ICT
What skills profile a GCSE Media Studies student should have
You should consider studying Media if you have developed skills in:
- Communicating clearly through good written English
- Analysing and backing up ideas with textual evidence
- Using media related ICT to create your own practical work
What opportunities will a GCSE in Media Studies lead to
The skills in analysis, communicating, and using ICT that students will develop are transferable to a wide variety of different professions. There are numerous career paths one can follow as a result of studying Media, including: advertising, journalism, DTP, film/TV production, web design and graphic design. The GCSE course offers a solid foundation, upon which students can build with more specialised study of media in further and higher education.
Famous Media professionals include: Mark Zuckerberg, Danny Boyle, Simon Cowell, Nick Robinson, Rupert Murdoch, Sam Mendes, Idris Elba.
For more information, contact Ms Akindayini - Curriculum Leader for Media.