Media Studies
The Curriculum
Curriculum Intent
As educators, our ambition is to prepare young people for a 21st century where it is more important than ever that they are skilled analysts and creators of media. In an era of 24 hour global communication, fake news and limitless choice students need to be able to choose, question, critique and produce the media that have such an impact on our attitudes, lifestyles and beliefs.
To this end, the Media Studies curriculum at SHSG aims to provide our students with these skills whilst expanding their cultural competency. Working within and beyond the parameters of the examination specification, we encourage our students to be critical consumers of the media by equipping them with the specific media terminology and skills to effectively analyse chosen examples of the media.
As their skills develop, academic rigour is reinforced by the exploration and application of media theory. The combination of these skills provides students with an enriched appreciation of how the media industry and producers operate.
Within each unit, opportunities are provided to enable students to combine their theoretical understanding with practical activities that develop and embed their understanding of codes and conventions. With access to Apple Mac computers and industry standard software such as Photoshop, students can produce practical work of the highest quality. Practical work is shared and celebrated, and the students can reach their potential in an enjoyable and stimulating manner.
The fact that the vast majority of A level students go on to study media/marketing or journalism type degrees is testament to the enthusiasm and passion they have for the subject.
It is our ambition to support Media students to develop coherent lines of original thought, to question the role of global institutions and audiences. To enable them to innovate, create and present their ideas in high quality products across convergent media platforms.
What does it feel like to be a student in the Media Studies Department?
Never before has Media literacy been more important. You have chosen a subject that is arguably one of the most relevant studies of the century. An industry that is constantly evolving and that has global reach needs to be studied.
The ideal Media student is curious, creative, self motivated, excited by innovation, enlightened in attitude and ready to embrace all the opportunities the Media department offers.
The BBC School News report has informed students career choices, alumni offer advice and in some cases work experience. Our students consistently win national competitions for their production work.
We will give you every opportunity to exceed your ambitions in academic and creative realms, do you accept the challenge?
Please click on the button below to download the assessment policy for Media Studies.
Journey
Media Studies Curriculum
At Southend High School for Girls we teach a curriculum that is ambitious and takes students on a learning journey that expands their horizons and ambitions.
Indeed we are the only grammar school in the area to offer GCSE and A level Media Studies.
We have chosen to offer the Eduqas specification at GCSE as we believe it offers a clear but challenging combination of texts that will be stimulating to our students. Unusually perhaps we deliver the OCR specification at A level. OCR encourages students to study the media in an academic context and to develop critical thinking skills as they study the media in both global and historical contexts. Again, this approach is suitable to stretch and challenge our students and gives them a taste of undergraduate level analysis.
Beyond the remit of the specifications we aim to plan and deliver the content using the intellectual framework of the classical education model, the Trivium:
- Grammar (Knowledge and skills) knowledge, learning by heart, subject terminology, cultural capital
- Dialectic (Enquiry and exploration) debate, question, challenge, analyse, evaluate
- Rhetoric (Communication) essays, speeches, performances, presentations
Pre-requisite or helpful knowledge from Year 9 English ready to study in Year 10 if applicable
- Non-fiction and the concept of representation is taught via multi modal texts in Year 9. These aspects will enhance students’ introduction to the key concepts in Media Studies.
The topics and concepts have been carefully sequenced in this order to build a student’s learning journey to achieve the aims of our Media Studies intent.
Some of the units are delivered by different teachers and the class splits have been carefully sequenced to ensure the skills and units taught are complementary.
Much of the delivery of concepts, skills and analysis are delivered in a spiral, constantly re visiting, developing and consolidating skills and understanding.
Year 10
Term 1
Topic 1.
Introduction to Media Studies.
Analysis skills.
Denotation and annotation of unseen texts.
Recall and retention skills.
Media theory booklet test. 15marks.
Practical skills.
‘All about me’ Photoshop collage. 10 marks.
Topic 2.
C1 Exploring the Media.
Print Adverts..
Analysis skills.
Textual analysis of print adverts. Eduqas examination criteria assessing knowledge and understanding of the use of media language and representation within the text.. 15 marks.
Recall and retention skills.
Use of media specific terminology
Practical skills.
Create own advert using Photoshop. 10 marks.
Topic 3.
C1 Exploring the Media.
The Film Industry.
Analysis skills.
Film Industry question assessing knowledge and understanding of the set text in terms of industry production and regulation of ‘No Time to Die’. 17 marks.
Recall and retention skills.
Media language of film. Statistics of ownership and regulation of film, embedded in analysis.
Topic 4.
C1 Exploring the Media.
Film Posters.
Analysis skills.
Textual Analysis of Film Posters.
Eduqas examination criteria assessing knowledge and understanding of the use of media language and representation within the text. Use of media specific terminology. 15 marks
Practical skills.
Creating a Bond film advert-assessing creative and technical skills- Photography and Photoshop design and layout. 10 marks
Term 2
Topic 5.
C1 Exploring the Media.
Magazines
Analysis skills.
Textual Analysis of the front pages of magazines. Eduqas examination criteria assessing knowledge and understanding of the use of media language and representation within the text. Use of media specific terminology. 15 marks.
Topic 6.
C1 Exploring the Media.
The News Industry.
Analysis skills.
Textual Analysis of newspapers in print and online. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the news industry the context within which they are constructed and the representations they convey. 15 marks.
Recall and retention skills.
Test on news print terminology 15 marks.
Topic 7.
C3 Non Examined Assessment (coursework).
Statement of intent. Explanation of how the student intends to incorporate codes and conventions of their chosen form into their own production. 10 marks
Analysis skills.
Generic, industry and audience research presented as a powerpoint. 30 marks.
Term 3
Topic 8.
C2 Understanding the Media.
The Music Industry
Analysis and knowledge and understanding skills.
Analysis and comparison of language and representation in music videos and online platforms.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of music video and online platform conventions and the context within which they are constructed. Apply media theory to structure response. 15 marks.
Recall and retention skills.
Terminology test on language and theory of music videos. 15 marks.
Topic 9.
C2 Understanding the Media.
Television Sitcom.
Analysis and knowledge and understanding skills.
Textual analysis of Friends.
Recall and retention skills.
Terminology test on language of television Sitcom conventions. 15 marks.
Assessment of context in which Sitcom television is produced. 10 marks.
Revision for examinations
Year 11
Term 1
Topic 10.
C3 Non Examined Assessment (coursework)
Practical Skills.
Knowledge and understanding of codes and conventions of the form.
How effectively the representation engages the target audience and how effectively the brief has been met. 60 marks
Topic 11.
C1 Exploring the Media.
Video Games-Fortnite
Analysis and knowledge and understanding skills.
Knowledge and understanding of industry and audience.
Who owns and regulates the video games industry.
Who the target audience is and how they are targeted. 17 marks
Revision for Pre public mock examinations.
Term 2
Pre public mock examinations.
Topic 12.
C1 Exploring the Media. Radio.
The Archers
Analysis and knowledge and understanding skills. Knowledge and understanding of industry and audience.
Who owns and regulates the radio industry.
Who the target audience is for The Archers and how they are targeted. 17 marks
Term 3
Revision and examination.
Assessment
Past papers.
Sample questions, examination techniques.
Achieving outstanding outcomes in Media Studies knowing and remembering even more that what is expected of a grammar school KS4 curriculum.
In KS4 we assess student against the core content and assessment objectives as outlined by the relevant GCSE examination board specification. For Media Studies this is Eduqas 603/1115/0. To go beyond what is expected of a Media Studies student at GCSE and achieve outstanding outcomes in Media Studies. The ideal Media student should be curious, creative, self motivated, excited by innovation, enlightened in attitude and ready to embrace all the opportunities the Media department offers. The Media Studies curriculum at SHSG aims to provide our students with these skills whilst expanding their cultural competency. Working within and beyond the parameters of the examination specification, we encourage our students to be critical consumers of the media by equipping them with the specific media terminology and skills to effectively analyse chosen examples of the media.
As their skills develop, academic rigour is reinforced by the exploration and application of media theory. The combination of these skills provides students with an enriched appreciation of how the media industry and producers operate.
Within each unit, opportunities are provided to enable students to combine their theoretical understanding with practical activities that develop and embed their understanding of codes and conventions. With access to Apple Mac computers and industry standard software such as Photoshop, students can produce practical work of the highest quality. Practical work is shared and celebrated, and the students can reach their potential in an enjoyable and stimulating manner. Students will be signposted to opportunities for extension work and stretching resources via the Supercurricular site on Teams. In addition to this they are encouraged to engage with the following resources:
Seneca- an excellent tool that covers the Eduqas specification.
Recommended reading in Media Studies for GCSE
Text Book ‘WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Media Studies by Hayley Sheard is provided.
Eduqas fact sheets for the set texts (provided).
Glossary of terminology (provided and added to).
The Media Magazine (in school library)
Useful websites
Seneca- an excellent tool that covers the Eduqas specficiation.
BBC Bitesize https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/ztnygk7
Mrs Fisher’s You Tube videos https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Mrs.+Fisher+Media+YouTube&FORM=VDMHRS
Media Know all https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYGZgPuIyGw
At Southend High School for Girls we teach a curriculum that is ambitious, academic and takes students on a learning journey that expands their horizons and ambitions.
Indeed we are the only grammar school in the area to offer GCSE and A level Media Studies.
We have chosen to offer the OCR specification at A level as we believe it offers a clear but challenging combination of texts that will be stimulating to our students. OCR encourages students to study the media in an academic context and to develop critical thinking skills as they study the media in both global and historical contexts. Again, this approach is suitable to stretch and challenge our students and gives them a taste of undergraduate level analysis.
Beyond the remit of the specifications we aim to plan and deliver the content using the intellectual framework of the classical education model, the Trivium:
- Grammar(Knowledge and skills) knowledge, learning by heart, subject terminology, cultural capital
- Dialectic (Enquiry and exploration) debate, question, challenge, analyse, evaluate
- Rhetoric (Communication) essays, speeches, performances, presentations
A Level
- It is not a prerequisite to have studied GCSE in order to embark on an A level in the subject. We begin the course with a fast track ‘Introduction to Media’ unit designed to equip new comers with the key skills whilst consolidating the knowledge and understanding of those with previous experience.
The topics and concepts have been carefully sequenced in this order to build a student’s learning journey to achieve the aims of our Media Studies intent.
Some of the units are delivered by different teachers and the class splits have been carefully considered and sequenced to ensure the skills and units taught are complementary.
Much of the delivery of concepts, theories and knowledge are delivered in a spiral, constantly re visiting, developing and consolidating skills and understanding.
Year 12
Term 1
Topic 1
Introduction to media.
The key concepts. LIAR. CARLING.
Assessment
Analysis skills
Denotation and connotation of seen and unseen texts.
Recall and retention skills
Tests on the main theorists and terminology.
Practical skills.
Photography and photoshop.
Topic 2
C1 Media Messages.
Section B: Advertising and Marketing
Analysis and knowledge and understanding skills.
Dove-Too Many Cooks
10 mark written assessment on language/representation.
River Island & Dove
15 mark written assessment on comparison of language/representation.
Shelter
10 mark written assessment on language/representation.
Practical skills.
Presentation of advert. 10 marks.
Pitch of brand value transference. 10 marks.
Topic 3a
C1 Media Messages
Section A: News in Print and online.
Analysis skills
Denotation and connotation of seen and unseen texts. 10 marks
Recall and retention skills
Tests on the ideology/ownership of the news industry. 20 marks
Practical skills.
Photography and photoshop.
Layout and design of front covers. 10 marks.
Topic 4
C1 Media Messages.
Section B: Magazines.
The Big Issue
Analysis skills
Denotation and connotation of seen and unseen texts. 10 marks
Recall and retention skills
Tests on the ideology/ownership of the Big Issue. 20 marks
Practical skills.
Photography and photoshop.
Layout and design of front covers. 10 marks.
Term 2
Topic 5
C1 Media Messages.
Section B: Music Videos.
Lil Nas X: Sun Goes Down
Radiohead: Burn the Witch.
Analysis skills
Denotation and connotation of music videos. 10 marks.
Written assessment of language/representation in the set videos. 10 marks.
Comparison of music videos. 15 marks.
Recall and retention skills
Test on the terminology of the language of music videos. 20 marks.
Practical skills.
Storyboarding music video sequences. 10 marks.
Topic 3b
C1 Media Messages
Section A: News in Print and online.
Analysis skills
Denotation and connotation of seen and unseen texts. In print and online.
Application of theory in analysis. 10 marks
Recall and retention skills
Tests on the ideology/ownership of the news industry. 20 marks
Use of theory in analysis of news in print and online. 10 marks.
Practical skills.
Photography and photoshop.
Layout and design of articles in print and online. 10 marks.
Topic 6a
C3 Introduction to Non Examined Assessment.
Research and analysis skills.
Generic research-Textual analysis of existing products.
Research examples of intertextuality to incorporate.
Industry research.
Audience research and feedback.
Practical skills.
Using a blog to present findings of generic, industry and audience research
Term 3
Topic 7
Examination preparation.
Revision and recall skills.
Analysis and demonstration of knowledge and understading skills to prepare for pre-public examinations.
Topic 6b
C3 Non Examined Assessment.
Research and analysis skills continued.
Generic research-Textual analysis of existing products.
Research examples of intertextuality to incorporate.
Industry research.
Audience research and feedback.
Statement of Intent. 10 marks.
Practical skills.
Using a blog to present findings of generic, industry and audience research.
Track the planning process of flatplanning, storyboarding, scripting for production.
Oral feedback provided.
Topic 7a
C2 Evolving Media.
Long Form Television Drama.
Stranger Things and Deutschland 83.
Analysis skills
Denotation and connotation of moving image texts. 10 marks
Recall and retention skills
Tests on the language of television. 20 marks.
Year 13
Term 1
Topic 6c Pre-public examinations.
C3 Non Examined Assessment.
Research and analysis skills continued.
Generic research-Textual analysis of existing products.
Research examples of intertextuality to incorporate.
Industry research.
Audience research and feedback.
Practical skills.
Production of chosen brief, either music video, magazine or radio.
Peer assessment.
Oral feedback from teacher.
Using the blog to track the production process.
Topic 8
C2 Evolving Media
Film.
The Jungle Book 1967 and 2016.
Knowledge and understanding skills
Written responses on the evolving nature of ownership, production, regulation, content and reception of film from 1967-2016. 10 marks
Recall and retention skills
Tests on the ideology / ownership / funding / regulation of the film industry. 20 marks.
Topic 9
C2 Evolving Media
Video Games.
Minecraft.
Knowledge and understanding skills
Written responses on the evolving nature of ownership, production, regulation, content and reception of video games. 10 marks
Recall and retention skills
Tests on the ideology / ownership / funding / regulation of the video game industry. 20 marks.
Topic 10
Examination preparation.
Revision and recall skills.
Analysis and demonstration of knowledge and understanding skills to prepare for pre-public examinations.
Term 2
Pre-public examinations.
Topic 11
C2 Evolving Media
Radio.
The Radio 1 Breakfast show
Knowledge and understanding skills
Written responses on the evolving nature of ownership, production, regulation, content and reception of radio. 10 marks
Recall and retention skills
Tests on the ideology / ownership / funding / regulation of the radio industry. 20 marks.
Topic 7b
C2 Evolving Media.
Long Form Television Drama.
Stranger Things and Deutschland 83.
Knowledge and understanding skills
Written responses on the evolving nature of ownership, production, regulation, content and reception of Long form Television Drama, incorporating theory. 30 marks.
Recall and retention skills
Written responses applying the set theories directly to the texts. 10 marks.
Topic 3c
C1 Media Messages
Section A: News in Print and online.
Analysis skills
Language and representation analysis of news in print and online. 10 marks.
Application of theory in analysis. 10 marks
Term 3
Topic 12
Examination preparation.
Revision and recall skills.
Analysis and demonstration of knowledge and understanding skills to prepare for pre-public examinations.
Achieving outstanding outcomes in Media Studies knowing and remembering even more that what is expected of a grammar school KS5 curriculum.
In KS5 we assess student against the core content and assessment objectives as outlined by the relevant A Level examination board specification. For Media Studies this is OCR H409. To go beyond what is expected of a Media Studies student at A Level and achieve outstanding outcomes in Media Studies students should s educators, our ambition is to prepare young people for a 21st century where it is more important than ever that they are skilled analysts and creators of media. In an era of 24 hour global communication, fake news and limitless choice students need to be able to choose, question, critique and produce the media that have such an impact on our attitudes, lifestyles and beliefs.
To this end, the Media Studies curriculum at SHSG aims to provide our students with these skills whilst expanding their cultural competency. Working within and beyond the parameters of the examination specification, we encourage our students to be critical consumers of the media by equipping them with the specific media terminology and skills to effectively analyse chosen examples of the media.
As their skills develop, academic rigour is reinforced by the exploration and application of media theory. The combination of these skills provides students with an enriched appreciation of how the media industry and producers operate.
Within each unit, opportunities are provided to enable students to combine their theoretical understanding with practical activities that develop and embed their understanding of codes and conventions. With access to Apple Mac computers and industry standard software such as Photoshop, students can produce practical work of the highest quality. Practical work is shared and celebrated, and the students can reach their potential in an enjoyable and stimulating manner.
The fact that the vast majority of A level students go on to study media/marketing or journalism type degrees is testament to the enthusiasm and passion they have for the subject.
It is our ambition to support Media students to develop coherent lines of original thought, to question the role of global institutions and audiences. To enable them to innovate, create and present their ideas in high quality products across convergent media platforms.
The ideal Media student is curious, creative, self motivated, excited by innovation, enlightened in attitude and ready to embrace all the opportunities the Media department offers.
At Southend High School for Girls we teach a curriculum that is ambitious, academic and takes students on a learning journey that expands their horizons and ambitions.
Indeed we are the only grammar school in the area to offer GCSE and A level Media Studies.
We have chosen to offer the OCR specification at A level as we believe it offers a clear but challenging combination of texts that will be stimulating to our students. OCR encourages students to study the media in an academic context and to develop critical thinking skills as they study the media in both global and historical contexts. Again, this approach is suitable to stretch and challenge our students and gives them a taste of undergraduate level analysis.
Recommended reading in Media Studies for GCSE
OCR My revision notes text book (provided).
OCR fact sheets for the set texts (provided).
Glossary of theorists (provided and added to).
Essential Theory Mark Dixon (recommended purchase).
The Media Magazine (in school library)
Key texts from prominent theorists in Media Studio to borrow.
SHSG Media Studies from GCSE to A level (shsggcsetoalevel.blogspot.com) (click here)
Useful websites
Mrs Fisher’s You Tube videos https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Mrs.+Fisher+Media+YouTube&FORM=VDMHRS
Media Know all https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYGZgPuIyGw