Teachers of Media & Film
- Mr J Sharp (Joint Head of Department)
- Mr C Wall (Joint Head of Department)
Our Vision for Media & Film
The Media is powerful. It is persuasive in shaping the views of society. SJB students will learn to interrogate what has become so easily consumed in the media landscape. We aim to equip the students with essential 21st century skills and knowledge – media literacy, creativity, critical thinking, and employability.
Key Stage 4
Exam Board: Eduqas
Coursework: Component 3: Creating Media Products (Non-exam assessment) 30% of qualification. Students respond to a set brief from the exam board. To plan and construct their own media products such as a print advert, music video or opening to a TV drama.
Exams: 2 written exams at the end of year 11
Exam structure:
- 1. Component 1 Exam: Exploring the Media: Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes = 40% of qualification
- 2. Component 2 Exam: Understanding Media Forms and Products: Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes = 30% of qualification
Course Overview:
GCSE students study a range of past and present media texts selected by the exam board. Students will also study a range of unseen media texts selected by the school. They will explore and will learn to analyse the media texts in relation to 4 areas: representation, media language, industry and audience. Students focus on applying media theory to support their exploration and analysis. They will develop their practical skills (lighting, camera, sound and editing) during a series of workshops to support the construction of their own products for Component 3.
Link to specification: GCSE Media Studies Specification
Qualification: BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Creative Media Production
Exam Board: Pearson
Component 1 Coursework (33%): Exploring Media Products. Students will learn to explore and analyse a range of past and present media texts, for example, newspapers, print adverts, films, music videos and video games. They will document their own written analysis in a portfolio. This exploration and analysis will be assessed as part of the qualification.
Component 2 Coursework (33%): Developing Digital Media Production Skills. Students will develop their own media production skills by undertaking a series of practical workshops in lighting, camerawork, sound recording and editing. The students will then apply their skills to construct their own media products, such as a magazine front cover and double page spread, or may construct a section of a music video. These projects will be assessed as part of the qualification.
Component 3 Exam (33%): Create a Media Product in Response to a Brief: Students will be assessed over a 2/3 month period where they will develop their own ideas to meet the demands of a brief set by the exam board. They will learn to generate ideas and plan their own media product e.g. a print marketing campaign or a promotional video. They will select and produce all their own materials including photos, graphics, and moving images to finally construct a media text using Abobe Photoshop or Abode Premiere. This project will be assessed externally by the exam board.
Link to specification: BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Creative Media Production specification
Key Stage 5
Exam Board: Eduqas
Coursework: Component 3: Cross-Media Production: Non-exam assessment = 30% of qualification. Students develop creative ideas in relation to a set brief from the exam board. They will construct their own media products such as a film marketing campaign, music video package, or the opening to a TV drama with linked web pages.
Exam: 2 written exams at the end of year 13
Exam Structure:
- 1. Component 1 Exam: Media Products, Industries and Audiences: Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes = 35% of qualification
- 2. Component 2 Exam: Media Forms and Products in Depth: Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes = 35% of qualification
Course Overview:
A Level students study a wide range of past and present media texts selected by the exam board. Students will also study a range of unseen media texts selected by the school. They will explore and will learn how to analyse and evaluate the media texts in relation to 4 areas: representation, media language, industry and audience. Students will focus on applying a wide range of complex media theories to support their analysis and evaluation in the form of essay writing. They will develop and refine their practical skills (lighting, camera, sound and editing) during a series of in-depth workshops to support the construction of their own products for Component 3.
Link to specification: A Level Media Studies Specification
Qualification: A Film Studies
Exam Board: Eduqas
Coursework: Component 3: Cross-Media Production: Non-exam assessment = 30% of qualification. Students develop a set brief from the exam board. To construct their own short film as either a moving image product or screenplay accompanied by storyboard.
Exam: 2 written exams at the end of year 13
Exam Structure:
- Component 1 Exam: Varieties of Film and Film-Making: Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes = 35% of qualification
- Component 2 Exam: Global Filmmaking Perspectives: Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes = 35% of qualification
Course Overview:
A Level students study a wide range of films from past and present selected by the exam board. They will explore and learn how to analyse and evaluate films in relation to 4 areas: key film elements, meaning and audience response and context. Students focus on applying a wide range of concepts and theories to support their analysis and evaluation in the form of essay writing. They will develop and refine their practical skills (lighting, camera, sound and editing) during a series of in-depth workshops to support the construction of their own products for Component 3.
Link to specification: A Level Film Studies Exam Specification