Teachers of Media:

Mr E Jukes (Head of Department)

Mr A Shaikh

Course content at Key Stage 3

Media Studies is not currently taught at Key Stage 3

Course content at Key Stage 4

Exam Board: OCR Media Studies GCSE (9-1)

Timetable: 5 lessons per fortnight

Coursework (worth 30% of the final grade):

• Produced in the Summer of Year 10.
• Students research, plan and create two pieces of original practical media.
• The production tasks culminate in professionally made elements of a hobbyist magazine: a Front Cover and a Double Page Spread.
• Practical skills learned include photography, editing, image editing, journalism and other writing.
• Equipment used by most students in their work includes HD still cameras, DSLRs, and Photoshop editing software on our department Apple Macs.

Exam 1 (worth 35% of the final grade):

• Taken in the Summer of Year 11.
• Explore the TV industry, with exam case studies of Cuffs (BBC, 2015) and The Avengers (ITV, 1965): students will learn about the media language used in TV dramas; the influence of changing contexts on TV content, media language and representations; the regulation of the industry in general.
• Explore the marketing industry, with exam case studies on The Lego Movie (Warner Brothers, 2014): students will learn about how large media companies are organised to maximise profit; how audiences are targeted through cross media campaigns; the regulation of the industry in general.

Exam 2 (worth 35% of the final grade):

• Taken in the Summer of Year 11.
• Explore the music industry, with exam case studies of two music videos; various music magazine titles; the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge; the regulation of the industry in general.
• Explore the news industry, with exam case studies of The Observer: students will learn about the influence of changing contexts on newspapers content, media language and representations; the regulation of the industry in general.

Course content at Key Stage 5

OCR A Level Media Studies

Timetable: 9 lessons per fortnight

Coursework (worth 30% of the final grade):

• Produced in the Summer of Year 12.

• Students research, plan and create two linked pieces of original practical media.
• The production tasks culminate in a professional standard 3 minute music video and an accompanying online & social media presence.
• Practical skills learned include still and video photography, editing, image editing, video editing, journalism and other writing, web design, social media and PR management.
• Equipment used by most students in their work includes HD still cameras, DSLRs, HD video cameras; steadicam apparatus, tripods, dollys, and tracks; our department green screen studio; Photoshop image editing software and Final Cut video editing software on our department Apple Macs.

Exam 1 (worth 35% of the final grade):

• Taken in the Summer of Year 13.
• Explore the media messages in the Newspaper, Online News and Social News industries, with case studies of The Daily Mail, The Guardian and their online & social media products.
• Explore the media messages in the Magazine and Advertising industries, with case studies of The Big Issue, .
• Explore the media messages in the Music industry

Exam 2 (worth 35% of the final grade):

• Taken in the Summer of Year 13.
• Explore the evolution of the Film, Radio and Video Game industries with case studies of The Jungle Book (Disney 1967, 2016), BBC Radio 1’s Breakfast Show, and Minecraft (Mojang/Microsoft 2009).
• Explore the evolution of the Long Form TV Drama genre, with case studies of Homeland (Showtime, 2011) and The Killing (DR/ZDF 2007).

Department Resources Available:  Apple Mac suites equipped with Adobe Photoshop and Final Cut Pro; imaging equipment including DSLRS, digital compact cameras, GoPros, HD video cameras, tripods, steadicams, and a green screen studio; sound and recording equipment including midi keyboards and samplers.

Extra-Curricular Activities Offered: Lunchtime drop-ins every day to work on extended media projects and coursework.