What is our curriculum intent?

Students follow the AQA specification for GCSE Media Studies, analysing a wide range of media including both print and moving image texts. They investigate the techniques used to produce modern media and use the knowledge they acquire to produce pieces of media of their own.

How do we implement our curriculum?

The course requires students to develop an understanding of four areas, which make up the 'theoretical framework':

Media Language

This looks at how media texts are put together, both in terms of their technical features and the way the texts are organised. Students identify the ways in which different media are constructed.

Audiences

Students identify the ways in which different texts are designed to appeal to different groups of people, and how we respond to and influence the media. They also look at the way audiences are ‘segmented’ in order to target them with different products and services, and realise that they are the most important part of the process – after all, without an audience there is no point in creating media!

Industries

Who makes the media? Who regulates it? These are the questions students ask (and find the answers to) when they study this key concept, as well as investigating how the various industries influence the texts that are produced.

Representation

Students analyse how people and social groups are portrayed in the media, including celebrities and media-created social groups such as the ‘chav’. They analyse the ways in which these representations are constructed, and comment upon whether they feel that these representations are fair and accurate. To what extent are our opinions of people influenced by what we see in the media?

How do we measure the impact of the course?

Smaller tasks are regularly set throughout the course to help students consolidate their understanding of the key concepts and allow regular teacher assessment. It is essential that all these tasks are completed as they will greatly assist students’ understanding of what is, for all of them, a brand new subject.

The subject is assessed via two examinations and one piece of non-examined work.

Examination – Paper One (35%)

• What's assessed: Questions will focus on three areas of the theoretical framework: industries, audiences and representation. There will be a balanced approach to these three areas of the theoretical framework in that Section A will focus on industries and audiences whilst Section B will deal with the representations.
  
• How it's assessed: Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
  84 marks
  35% of GCSE

• Questions: Multiple choice questions assessing breadth of knowledge.
  Short answer questions assessing in depth knowledge.
  An extended response question assessing in depth knowledge.

Examination – Paper Two (35%)

• What's assessed: Questions will focus on media language and contexts of the media.
  Students will be expected to analyse media products both in relation to the theoretical framework and their contexts.
  Section A will focus on language and Section B will focus on contexts.
• How it's assessed: Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
  84 marks
  35% of GCSE
• Questions: Multiple choice questions assessing breadth of knowledge of language.
  Short answer questions assessing in depth knowledge of language.
  Stepped response questions assessing breadth of knowledge of language.
  Extended response questions assessing in depth knowledge of all elements of the media studies course.

NEA Assessed component (30%)

• What's assessed: Application of knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework.
  A piece of practical work relating to a media format of the student's choice.
• How it's assessed: A choice of topics related to the over-arching (annually changing) theme
  72 marks
  30% of GCSE
  Assessed by teacher, moderated by AQA.

What we teach when

Year 10

Year 11

How are students grouped?

Students are taught in mixed ability classes.

How can students be supported through learning at home?

It is extremely beneficial if parents and carers can encourage students to engage with as wide a variety of media as possible and talk about the ideas we are investigating in class. Simply encouraging a student to read a national newspaper once a week, or watch different genres of film or TV programme can actually help, as this encourages them to broaden their own media experience.

What extra opportunities to learn are available?

Students are encouraged to take part in projects which promote activities taking place in school within the local media; for example, students contribute regularly to the Wilmslow.co.uk website with photos and articles.

Contact

Miss C Howell - chowell@wilmslowhigh.com