Media Studies

Why do we study Media Studies?

Media Studies is an interesting and enlightening subject that aims to teach students about the power of the media and the major role it plays in our culture and society. Whether we are aware of it or not, the media is constantly influencing the way we see the world and the people in it. At Mangotsfield, we encourage students to understand the values and motivations of media industries. We want our students to question the versions of reality presented to them through the media and to become conscious, astute and independent learners who can interpret the media in an intelligent and judicious way. 

Students will study newspapers, magazines, video games, advertising and TV shows, as well as demonstrating their media skill and creative flair through creating their own media products. We want students to develop understanding of how the media industry works as well as the confidence to become producers of media themselves. 

Media Studies…  “Whoever controls the media, controls the mind.”

- Jim Morrison

Meet the team

• Miss Cain - Principal teacher of Media - I love teaching both English and Media. Both allow students to gain so many more experiences of the world through both written and visual forms. I this day and age where the news and social media is becoming an increasingly common way of sharing the news I think it is so important to make sure students have the tools to make informed decisions about what they read or watch.

Course: Media Studies Eduqas

Students sit two exams in Media studies and complete a piece of NEA coursework. The first exam, component 1, is 1 hour and 30 minutes long and accounts for 40% of the GCSE. It is entitled ‘Exploring the Media’ and students analyse media language, considering how the selection and combination of elements of media language influence and communicate meanings in media products. 

The second exam, component 2, is 1 hour and 30 minutes long and accounts for 30% of the GCSE. It is entitled ‘Understanding Media Forms and Products’. This component builds on the introduction to key areas of the theoretical framework provided in Component 1. In Component 2, learners will gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of media language and representation, as well as extending their appreciation of these areas through the study of media industries and audiences.

The non-exam assessed coursework entitled ‘Creating Media Products’ makes up the final 30% of the GCSE and students are required to create a set product using one of the following media forms: Television, Advertising and Marketing - Music, Advertising and Marketing - Film, Magazines.

Media Studies Programme of Study

Year 10

In Year 10 students will complete their GCSE Coursework and begin to study some of the set products they will be questioned on in their GCSE exams. They will be able to draw upon the more universal base knowledge they have acquired in GCSE

Term 1 – Print Adverts – Lays the foundation of knowledge required for them to start completing their NEA coursework. It also prepares them for the advertising element of the component 1 exam

Curriculum links: Coursework

Term 1 – Film James Bond TMWTGG – Study of GCSE set product required for Component 1

Term 2 – Film James Bond Spectre - Study of GCSE set product required for Component 1

Term 2 – Magazines GQ and Pride – Continues the focus on print media and advertising they will require to complete the Component 3 NEA coursework. It also prepares them for the magazine element of the component 1 exam by exploring the set product.

Term 3 – Newspapers The Sun and The Guardian  - Continues the focus on print media and advertising they will require to complete the Component 3 NEA coursework. They look at the Sun as a set product for their Component 1 exam. Learners should have knowledge and understanding of The Sun as an evolving media product in terms of the relevant newspaper industry and audience issues it illustrates.

Term 4 – Sitcoms – Students study in depth the set product required to answer the Component 2 Exam

Term 5 – Coursework – Students prepare their component 3 non-externally assessed coursework

Term 6 –Coursework - Students prepare their component 3 non-externally assessed coursework

Year 11

Term 1 – Pokemon Go – This term prepares students by having them focus on the video game set product for their component 1 exam. Learners should have knowledge and understanding of Pokémon Go as a contemporary augmented reality game in terms of the relevant video games industry and audience issues it illustrates. I

Term 1 – Music Industry – Component 2 requires a detailed study of music through focusing on two contemporary music videos and the online, social and participatory media surrounding the artists. Learners will also be able to explore how the music industry uses conventional online forms such as websites as well as social and participatory media. This will enable learners to explore a range of industry and audience issues.

Term 2 – Music Industry – See above

Term 3 – The Archers - Learners should have knowledge and understanding of The Archers as an evolving media product in terms of the relevant radio industry and audience issues it illustrates. To inform their understanding of The Archers as an example of the contemporary radio industry and contemporary radio audiences, learners should have an awareness of the historical significance of the programme in terms of its evolution within the radio soap opera genre and how it has changed in response to industry and audience demands

Resource

WJEC/EDUQAS GCSE Media Studies Revision Guide by Hayley Shear

Homework

Key Stage 4 Media: Students sit a two part homework designed to build their knowledge of the GCSE Literature set texts and the Media Studies Component 1 and 2 content. The first part of this homework is to complete an assignment on the online revision platform www.senecalearning.com. The area of the GCSE they are quizzed on is carefully set in order to ensure all the content of the set texts is covered and revisited across the key stage. We then set a memory and recall written exercise to further build this knowledge of the set texts.

Enrichment Opportunities

We aim to have either a trip or an extracurricular experience day in each year group which supports our thematic curriculum and which also offers them a chance to broaden their cultural horizons.