This document provides an overview of the Media Studies course at a school. It describes the practical work students complete, including creating film openings, trailers, magazines, and posters. It outlines the department resources available, such as editing software and iMacs. Students learn skills in writing, technical codes, and representation. They analyze films, complete presentations, and go on trips related to media. Exam results have been strong, with value added of 1.5 grades at AS level and nearly a grade at A2 level. Many students go on to study media-related fields at university.

1. Media Studies

2. Media Studies
What kind of work do we do?

3. Practical Work
Foundation
Portfolio in
Media
Two minute
opening to a film
Advanced Portfolio
in Media
One minute film
teaser trailer,
magazine & poster
+ Research, planning and evaluation…

6. Media Studies
Where do we do it?

7. Department Resources
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Specially designed main teaching room in the Edward Alleyn Building;
Full digital sound and projection facilities;
8 brand new iMacs with 21inch screens
Film editing is done using the industry standard software Final Cut Pro X;
Production work at A2 level learning to use the powerful, but highly intuitive,
software packages Dreamweaver, Photoshop and InDesign CS5 all by Adobe;
Both Media Studies teachers are trained in the use of this software and the
department has a full-time media technician who is available to help students
outside of class time.

8. Media Studies
What other skills will you learn?

9. Writing skills
AS Media
Concepts (TV
Drama)
Analytical essay on a previously
unseen 5 minute extract from a
British TV drama; applying case
studies completed in class on the
production, distribution and
exhibition of films to an exam
question.
A2 Critical
Perspectives in
Media
Reflective essay on the process of
production; discursive essay on Postmodern film, videogames and TV

10. Technical Codes
• Camera Shot,
Angle,
Movement & Composition
• Mise-en-Scène
• Editing
• Sound

11. Representation
• Gender
• Age
• Ethnicity
• Sexuality
• Class and status
• Physical ability/disability
• Regional identity

12. Writing at A2 Level
• At A2 the discussion gets more detailed, more interesting and more
expansive. You will focus on how the TV, videogame and film industries
help create ‘postmodern identities’ and ‘hyperconscious texts’…

13. Media Studies
Other Written Work

14. • As well as timed essays, students keep an individual blog and are
expected to update it weekly as a diary that reflects on their class and
production work, as well as posting rough cuts of their films and trailers.
Students are encouraged to comment critically on each others’ work.
• Students are also expected to analyse and prepare presentations on
contemporary films and film companies. For example, this year we are
studying ‘Monsters’, ‘Looper’ & ‘Skyfall’ alongside Working Title Films,
BBC Films and Film Four.

15. Media Studies
Media Department Trips

16. The Ritzy,
Brixton
The IMAX,
Waterloo

18. Course Overview
AS Level
Unit G321
Foundation
Portfolio in
Media
Two minute
opening to a
film
A2 Level
Unit G322 Key
Unit G324
Media
Advanced
Concepts (TV
Portfolio in
Drama)
Media
Textual analysis
60 second film
of TV drama and
teaser trailer,
representation; website homepage
detailed study of and main poster
the film industry
Unit G325
Critical
Perspectives
in Media
Reflective essay
on the process of
production;
analysis of
representation in
British film and
TV
Coursework
2 hr Exam
Coursework
2 hr Exam
25%
25%
25%
25%

19. Media Studies
Exam Results

20. AS Exam Results
Year of Class
exam
size
A
B
2013
2012
10
4
5
4
5
-
2011
2010
2009
9
4
4
6
4
3
3
1
2008
2007
2006
2005
14
8
13
9
13
7
9
3
1
1
4
6
2004
12
10
2

21. Value Added
• At AS level the department improves students’ results
by one and a half grades.
• At A2 level the department improves students’ results
by just under a grade.
• Put them together and if your GCSE results suggest
that you should be getting a C in Media Studies by the
time you take your A2 level, if you listen to us and do
what you’re told, we’ll get you an A…

22. University
Destinations
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Film Studies and French at Exeter
Film and Television Production at York
Film Studies at Sussex
English Literature at Manchester, Cardiff, Liverpool, Sussex and Durham
Italian Studies at Warwick
Politics at Newcastle
Broadcast Journalism and French & Media at Nottingham
Law at Bristol
Engineering at Oxford Brookes
Art Foundation at Camberwell, Chelsea and Central St. Martins
Television Production at Bournemouth
Geography at Leeds and Sussex…

23. Subject
Combinations
• Anything really but particularly…
• English Literature
• Other Humanities like History, Politics and
Geography
• Art, Theatre Studies and Photography
• IT and Computing

24. Good Places to
Study Media
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Depends what you want to focus on but…
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Leeds – Institute of Communication Studies - excellent journalism school
Cardiff – School of Journalism
Aberystwyth – centre of excellence for Media & Communication Studies
Birmingham – the original Centre for Cultural Studies – it began what we now know
as Media Studies back in the 60s
Westminster – popular TV and Film Production courses
Bournemouth – the Media School
Sussex , Exeter & Surrey – good general courses on film theory and practice…
London – King’s – Centre for Cultural, Media & Creative Industries & Goldsmiths or
Royal Holloway…
University of the Arts – practical courses with an unsurprising Fine Arts bias.
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25. Any Questions?