Media

Media Studies is taught at GCSE and BTEC level in the Innes Building. We offer a great range of resources within two friendly classrooms, which provide a range of ICT equipment and software. Pupils can choose between studying for a GCSE in Media Studies or a BTEC Level 2 Qualification in Creative Media Production.

The department staff consists of three specialist teachers who also teach English due to the close relationship between the two subjects. The teaching staff have a working knowledge of media, marketing and public relations, have years of experience teaching the subject and have been consistently judged as outstanding.

At both GCSE and BTEC, work is focused around four key media concepts: representation, audiences, industry and the language of the media. For GCSE, pupils will undertake one non-exam assessment (coursework) which will allow them to improve their skills in independent study, research and planning, and then two examinations at the end of Year 11. For the BTEC, students will produce an extensive portfolio of work that exhibits their research, planning, organisational and production skills, followed by an examination which will test their knowledge of the industry.

Revision classes and after school support is regularly provided in our Wednesday ‘Media Clinic’ and resources are continually available on Fronter to access from home. Students are encouraged to extend their work beyond the classroom through reading and using a range of media sources to gather research. Students are given the opportunity to use high tech equipment such as HD cameras, PhotoShop and editing suites to perform tasks and display their work.

The aim of the Media department is not only to allow students to reach and exceed their potential in academic attainment, but also to broaden their knowledge of the media, learn to work both independently and within a team, and understand how to communicate through a variety of platforms.  Furthermore, in a world where we are constantly bombarded with Media; where concepts such as ‘Fake News’ and targeted advertising have become an increasingly large part of the dialogue of our society and where individuals and groups use so many different platforms to further the courses, be they political, personal or otherwise; we believe that a knowledge of different Media and their workings is vital to understanding the world and one’s individual place in it.

Mr D Neesham
Head of Department