Media and Film Studies

Intent
Media and Film Studies are two exciting option subjects offered at KS4 and 5. They are analytical, reflective and creative subjects that encourage critical and discriminatory thinking – both skills highly valued by universities and employers.  Both Media and Film Studies are intellectually and conceptually demanding subjects that can make significant demands of students, but at the same time they are highly accessible and great fun to study.  Media and Film Studies encourage students to become more confident and critical in their digital consumption; teaching them how to deconstruct and decode media and film texts and appreciate how they affect viewers and audiences.  Media and Film Studies fit particularly well alongside subjects like English, Drama, Art, Business, Psychology, Sociology and Humanities, but also offer breadth and contrast next to subjects like Maths, P.E., ICT the Sciences.  If you have an interest in technology, news, popular culture, film and literature then Media and Film Studies is for you.   Media and Film Team Staff  Lead Teacher for Film & Media Studies – Mrs S Mayer & Ms G Cross  Film and Media Teachers – Miss Cross, Mrs J Lovell, Mrs S Mayer, Mrs M Brooker, Mrs Pledger and Mr Mitchell.

Intent

Media and Film Studies are two exciting option subjects offered at KS4 and 5. They are analytical, reflective and creative subjects that encourage critical and discriminatory thinking – both skills highly valued by universities and employers.  Both Media and Film Studies are intellectually and conceptually demanding subjects that can make significant demands of students, but at the same time they are highly accessible and great fun to study. 

Media and Film Studies encourage students to become more confident and critical in their digital consumption; teaching them how to deconstruct and decode media and film texts and appreciate how they affect viewers and audiences. 

Media and Film Studies fit particularly well alongside subjects like English, Drama, Art, Business, Psychology, Sociology and Humanities, but also offer breadth and contrast next to subjects like Maths, P.E., ICT the Sciences.  If you have an interest in technology, news, popular culture, film and literature then Media and Film Studies is for you.  

Media and Film Team Staff 
Lead Teacher for Film & Media Studies – Mrs S Mayer & Ms G Cross

Film and Media Teachers – Miss Cross, Mrs J Lovell, Mrs S Mayer, Mrs M Brooker, Mrs Pledger and Mr Mitchell.

Further Information

Facilities
Media Studies is taught in a specialist ICT suite within the English Department.  Students have access to classroom computers and the school’s additional ICT resources, including laptops, camcorders and access to iPads along with software for editing photos and film.  Students are encouraged to take photos and record films outside of school to use for classwork and coursework.    The department has an extensive stock of film and visual media resources, from classic movies through to the latest releases.  Additional media and film resources are placed on Microsoft Teams, for students to access at any time. Set films and further viewing can be accessed through ClickView.

Facilities

Media Studies is taught in a specialist ICT suite within the English Department.  Students have access to classroom computers and the school’s additional ICT resources, including laptops, camcorders and access to iPads along with software for editing photos and film.  Students are encouraged to take photos and record films outside of school to use for classwork and coursework.   

The department has an extensive stock of film and visual media resources, from classic movies through to the latest releases. 

Additional media and film resources are placed on Microsoft Teams, for students to access at any time. Set films and further viewing can be accessed through ClickView. 

Key Stage 4
MEDIA STUDIES – YEAR 9  The Year 9 Media Studies course offers students an introduction into the world of media education.   Students complete scaled-down versions of the GCSE content whilst being encouraged to be creative and explore a range of media forms, including:  Television drama, TV production and the TV industry  The world of advertising  Online, printed and broadcast journalism  Digital photography  Websites  MEDIA STUDIES – YEARS 10 AND 11  Following their introductory year, students in Years 10 and 11 follow the Eduqas Media Studies GCSE specification. This is a two-year, linear GCSE course with two, 90 minute exams at the end of Year 11 and a practical coursework project to complete in Year 10.  The coursework brief is prescribed each year by the exam board and will be different each year.  The coursework is worth 30% of the students’ total mark, whilst the exams are worth 70%.   Students will study a range of interesting topics for their exams, including:  The world of television – with a case study on crime drama  The music industry – including the use of music videos and online media  Print media such as adverts, newspapers, magazines, film posters.  FILMS STUDIES – YEAR 9  The Year 9 Film Studies course offers students an introduction into film analysis and production.    Students complete scaled-down versions of the GCSE content whilst being encouraged to be creative and explore a range of enjoyable and challenging films. Such as:  Mainstream and Indie Cinema  Hollywood film Industry  British and World Cinema  FILM STUDIES - YEAR 10 AND 11  Following their introductory year, students in Years 10 and 11 follow the Eduqas Film Studies GCSE specification. This is a two-year, linear GCSE course with two, 90 minute exams at the end of Year 11 and a coursework project to complete in Year 10.  The coursework is worth 30% of the students’ total mark and students complete either a screenplay or short film. The exams are worth 70%.   Students will study a range of interesting topics for their exams, including:  Mainstream Classic and Modern Hollywood Film  US Indie Film  Global film in English and in other languages  Contemporary UK films

Key Stage 4

MEDIA STUDIES – YEAR 9 

The Year 9 Media Studies course offers students an introduction into the world of media education.  

Students complete scaled-down versions of the GCSE content whilst being encouraged to be creative and explore a range of media forms, including: 

Television drama, TV production and the TV industry 
The world of advertising 
Online, printed and broadcast journalism 
Digital photography 
Websites

MEDIA STUDIES – YEARS 10 AND 11 

Following their introductory year, students in Years 10 and 11 follow the Eduqas Media Studies GCSE specification. This is a two-year, linear GCSE course with two, 90 minute exams at the end of Year 11 and a practical coursework project to complete in Year 10.  The coursework brief is prescribed each year by the exam board and will be different each year.  The coursework is worth 30% of the students’ total mark, whilst the exams are worth 70%.  

Students will study a range of interesting topics for their exams, including: 

The world of television – with a case study on crime drama 
The music industry – including the use of music videos and online media 
Print media such as adverts, newspapers, magazines, film posters.

FILMS STUDIES – YEAR 9 

The Year 9 Film Studies course offers students an introduction into film analysis and production.   

Students complete scaled-down versions of the GCSE content whilst being encouraged to be creative and explore a range of enjoyable and challenging films. Such as: 

Mainstream and Indie Cinema 
Hollywood film Industry 
British and World Cinema

FILM STUDIES - YEAR 10 AND 11 

Following their introductory year, students in Years 10 and 11 follow the Eduqas Film Studies GCSE specification. This is a two-year, linear GCSE course with two, 90 minute exams at the end of Year 11 and a coursework project to complete in Year 10.  The coursework is worth 30% of the students’ total mark and students complete either a screenplay or short film. The exams are worth 70%.  

Students will study a range of interesting topics for their exams, including: 

Mainstream Classic and Modern Hollywood Film 
US Indie Film 
Global film in English and in other languages 
Contemporary UK films

Sixth Form
FILM STUDIES  Students study the Eduqas A level Film Studies specification.  Students are required to sit two exams at the end of the year worth 70% of the total mark and submit a film production worth the remaining 30%.  Film studied include:  Two Mainstream films from the Classic and New Hollywood eras  Contemporary American independent film and American mainstream– produced after 2010  Two recent British films  A European, foreign-language film and a global foreign-language film  Documentary film  Silent cinema  Experimental cinema  Assessment  Students sit two final exams.   Students make a short film of between four and five minutes Or Write a screenplay for a short film of 1600-1800 words, accompanied by a digitally photographed storyboard to reflect two minutes of screen time. Both are accompanied by an evaluative analysis (1600 - 1800 words).  MEDIA STUDIES  Students study the Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in Digital Media (equivalent to one A level Film).  Students are required to sit two external exams and complete a variety of creative and practical work which is assessed internally.  Students cover the following units:  Unit 1 Media Products and Audiences   Unit 2 Pre-production and planning  (For these units there is an exam taken in January or June of year 1 or 2)  Unit 3 Create a media product (Assessed internally, similar to GCSE coursework)   Unit 20- Advertising  Unit 6- Social media and Globalisation

Sixth Form

FILM STUDIES 

Students study the Eduqas A level Film Studies specification.  Students are required to sit two exams at the end of the year worth 70% of the total mark and submit a film production worth the remaining 30%. 

Film studied include: 

Two Mainstream films from the Classic and New Hollywood eras 
Contemporary American independent film and American mainstream– produced after 2010 
Two recent British films 
A European, foreign-language film and a global foreign-language film 
Documentary film 
Silent cinema 
Experimental cinema

Assessment 

Students sit two final exams.  

Students make a short film of between four and five minutes Or Write a screenplay for a short film of 1600-1800 words, accompanied by a digitally photographed storyboard to reflect two minutes of screen time. Both are accompanied by an evaluative analysis (1600 - 1800 words). 

MEDIA STUDIES 

Students study the Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in Digital Media (equivalent to one A level Film).  Students are required to sit two external exams and complete a variety of creative and practical work which is assessed internally. 

Students cover the following units: 

Unit 1 Media Products and Audiences  
Unit 2 Pre-production and planning 
(For these units there is an exam taken in January or June of year 1 or 2) 
Unit 3 Create a media product (Assessed internally, similar to GCSE coursework)  
Unit 20- Advertising 
Unit 6- Social media and Globalisation

Extended Learning
Students enjoy wide range of film and media as part of the curriculum and are encouraged engage with extended viewing and research outside of school. Viewing and reading lists are provided for students, compete with individual recommendations to help them broaden their film and media knowledge.  Students are encouraged to share their film and media experiences and discuss their critical viewpoints with their peers.  New developments and trends in the film and media industries are also discussed in lessons, to keep students’ fingers on the pulse.

Extended Learning

Students enjoy wide range of film and media as part of the curriculum and are encouraged engage with extended viewing and research outside of school. Viewing and reading lists are provided for students, compete with individual recommendations to help them broaden their film and media knowledge.  Students are encouraged to share their film and media experiences and discuss their critical viewpoints with their peers.  New developments and trends in the film and media industries are also discussed in lessons, to keep students’ fingers on the pulse. 

Shenley Brook End School

Media and Film Studies

Further Information

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