Head of Department: Mr J Stephens
Teachers: Above plus Mrs M Wood
Technician: Mr J Tidy
The Media Studies department currently offers Eduqas GCSE and A Level Media Studies courses.
Media Studies (as an academic subject) encompasses texts from television, online, social and print media – including advertising and magazines. The aim of the subject is to be able to critically consider the media that saturates modern life, both old and new.
Students learn to analyse a wide range of texts, looking at audiovisual and written language, encouraging them to develop their own opinions on how the media represents the world. These skills are then brought together in their own practical production work.
The Media Studies department is consistently very successful at both GCSE and A Level. The course is delivered in two Apple Macintosh-equipped computer suites, and students have access to equipment and digital video editing facilities such as the Adobe Creative Cloud suite (including Premiere Pro and Photoshop). We also have a dedicated technician who supports the students through the practical coursework.
Our strength is in providing students with the support needed to produce outstanding media production work, as well as providing an opportunity for challenging discussion, debate and written reflection on issues facing contemporary media audiences and institutions.
We believe in providing opportunities to learn outside the classroom. We run visits and host external speakers, giving students the chance to engage with the media in a professional context. [Updated 2024/2025]
Co-curricular activities
The department runs a number of extra-curricular learning opportunities, including the Film Makers Club, a filming trip, courses at the BFI and attendance to a national Media conference for A Level students, as well as an Oscars Award ceremony celebrating the work of Year 11–13 students.
Year 10 & 11 Media curriculum
What might we do in a Media Studies lesson?
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Watch a range of TV adverts and analyse camera shots, angles, sound, editing techniques and special effects; write an essay for homework commenting on how the product or brand is represented through these techniques.
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Research the production process behind films such as No Time To Die. Students find out the budget for the film, how it was marketed to the audience and how merchandise tie-ins were used in its promotion.
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Analyse music videos to consider how a band projects its image, and what pleasure the video offers the music video audience.
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Create a magazine in a genre of your choice (typically sport, video gaming, film or music), taking on the roles of journalist, editor, sub-editor and photojournalist.
What skills do I need to be successful?
- Interest in the media and current affairs
- Good written communication skills
- Creativity in responding to a brief
- Teamwork
- Effective research and organisation skills
- Self-motivated and committed
- Confident in use of ICT (although we will train you on all necessary software)
Allocation of marks at GCSE
Course objectives
The EDUQAS GCSE in Media Studies offers a broad, coherent and engaging course of study which enables learners to:
- Demonstrate skills of enquiry, critical thinking, decision-making and analysis
- Acquire knowledge and understanding of a range of important media issues
- Develop appreciation and critical understanding of the media and their role both historically and currently in society, culture and politics
- Understand and apply specialist subject-specific terminology to analyse and compare media products and the contexts in which they are produced and consumed in order to make informed arguments, reach substantiated judgements and draw conclusions about media issues
- Appreciate how theoretical understanding supports practice and how practice supports theoretical understanding
- Develop practical skills by providing opportunities for creative media production.
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Component 1: Exploring the Media
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
40% of qualification
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Section A: Exploring Media Language and Representation
This section assesses media language and representation in relation to two of the following print media forms: magazines, marketing (film posters), newspapers, or print advertisements. There are two questions in this section:
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One question assessing media language in relation to one set product (reference to relevant contexts may be required)
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One two-part question assessing representation in relation to one set product and one unseen resource in the same media form. Part (a) is based on media contexts. Part (b) requires comparison through an extended response.
Section B: Exploring Media Industries and Audiences
This section assesses two of the following media forms: film, newspapers, radio, video games. It includes:
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Component 2: Understanding Media Forms and Products
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
30% of qualification
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This component assesses all areas of the theoretical framework and contexts of the media in relation to television and music.
Section A: Television (crime drama or sitcom)
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One question on either media language or representation, which will be based on an extract from one of the set television programme episodes to be viewed in the examination (reference to relevant contexts may be required)
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One question on media industries, audiences or media contexts.
Section B: Music (music videos and online media)
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One question on either media language or representation (reference to relevant contexts may be required)
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One question on media industries, audiences or media contexts.
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Component 3: Creating Media Products
Non-exam assessment
30% of qualification
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An individual media production for an intended audience in response to a choice of briefs set by WJEC, applying knowledge and understanding of media language and representation.
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Exam board: Eduqas
Course specification
Year 12 & 13 Media curriculum
The course offers the in-depth study of media products in relation to the four areas of the theoretical framework: language, representation, industries and audiences.
Students are required to study products from the following media forms: televison, the film industry, radio, newspapers, magazines, advertising and marketing, online, social and participatory media, video games and music video. Students have the opportunity to learn Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro to create their own media texts – typically magazines, podcasts, television dramas and music videos. Creative, independent learning skills are essential, as is the desire to engage in lively discussion and debate in class. An interest in contemporary media forms such as news, social media and music is useful to the course.
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Unit
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What is assessed?
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Assessment outline
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Component 1: Media Products, Industries and Audiences
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The examination assesses media language, representation, media industries, audiences and media contexts. It consists of two sections:
Section A: Analysing Media Language and Representation
This section assesses media language and representation in relation to two of the following media forms: advertising, marketing, music video or newspapers. There are two questions in this section:
- one question assessing media language in relation to an unseen audio-visual or print resource
- one extended response comparison question assessing representation in one set product, plus an unseen audiovisual or print resource in relation to media contexts.
Section B: Understanding Media Industries and Audiences
This section assesses two of the following media forms – advertising, marketing, film, newspapers, radio, video games – and media contexts.
It includes: one stepped question on media industries and one stepped question on audiences.
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35%
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Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes
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Component 2: Media Forms and Products in Depth
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The examination assesses media language, representation, media industries, audiences and media contexts. It consists of three sections:
Section A – Television in the Global Age
There will be one two-part question or one extended response question.
Section B – Magazines: Mainstream and Alternative Media
There will be one two-part question or one extended response question.
Section C – Media in the Online Age
There will be one two-part question or one extended response question.
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35%
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Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes
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Component 3: Cross-Media Production
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An individual cross-media production based on two forms in response to a choice of briefs set by WJEC, applying knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework and digital convergence.
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30%
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Non exam assessment
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- We have a lot of resources in the department to encourage students to widen their knowledge and expertise of the subject.
- We have guest speakers from the industry coming in to speak about their specific roles and possible pathways into their work.
Exam board: Eduqas
Course specification
- The department has a successful track record of students proceeding to study Film Production, Animation, Journalism, Advertising and Marketing at University. Many of those have then gone on to secure jobs in the industry.
- We are able to offer advice on different courses and universities related to the subject through visits and feedback from students. We encourage students to expand their portfolios by participating in independent projects and external competitions.
- We have a lot of resources in the department to encourage students to widen their knowledge and expertise of the subject such as films on our youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/twgsbmediastudies), examples of past work, student media magazines and books.
- We have guest speakers from the industry coming in to speak about their specific roles and possible pathways into their work.
