Media

Intent

Our aim is to encourage and involve pupils in a vocational subject which offers a broad, coherent and rigorous course of study. This will prepare pupils to make informed decisions about further study and progression to GCSE, NQV or employment. As media is brand new at Derby Pride Academy, it’s of great importance that we provide a fully functioning scheme of work that stretches and challenges the pupils’ existing media knowledge, whilst ensuring it incorporates English, Maths and British values.

We wish pupils to be able to:-

• demonstrate skills of enquiry, critical thinking, decision-making and analysis
• acquire knowledge and understanding of a range of important media issues
• develop appreciation and critical understanding of the media and their role both historically and currently in society, culture and politics
• understand and apply specialist subject-specific terminology to analyse and compare media products and the contexts in which they are produced and consumed in order to make informed arguments, reach substantiated judgements and draw conclusions about media issues
• develop practical skills by providing opportunities for creative media production

Content 

Our GCSE specification in media studies recognises the fundamental relationship between theory and practice. Pupils are required to develop and apply their understanding of the media through both analysing and producing media products.

Implementation

Media will be delivered across the academic year split into 4 units during the first year of KS4 and further units in the second year. At the end of Year 11, pupils will be entered into external exam papers in order to gain a GCSE in Media Studies.

Pupils will be looking at media language and representation through the music industry as a commercial industry and advertising in the television industry concentrating on codes and conventions and how the media industry communicates meanings to its audience. Pupils will also be looking at the film, radio and again music industries, focusing on the industries themselves in relation to funding models, regulation and digital technologies. In addition to this, pupils will also be looking at online, social and participatory media alongside print media. Pupils focus on representation, theoretical perspectives on gender viewpoints, social, cultural and political significance within the media platforms.

Throughout the year, pupils will view a range of media texts for which they will research context to consider the impact on the audience. They will develop their understanding of how meaning is conveyed, which also supports their own media products. Pupils will be taught the fundamentals of how to create their own media products across the different media industries in our practical sessions.

Pupils have high quality media and ICT equipment on hand throughout the year to use to broaden the practical side of GCSE Media Studies.

Assessment

Assessment of work is in accordance with the 9-1 grading scheme. Pupils create GCSE level controlled assessment half-termly using the knowledge and skills they have gained during the course units.

The qualified media teaching staff and support have vast Media backgrounds both in theoretical and practical aspects of media which provides high levels of marking and teacher feedback for the pupils assessed work. We also offer 1:1 interventions - the results of these highlight any areas for development which can be focused on in future lessons.

Impact

Initial baseline tests (mock exams) are held in order to enable pupils to understand the level of expectations, particularly length of text extracts and time restrictions, whilst assessing pupils' ability to perform under restrictions. This initial baseline test, designed by our qualified media teaching staff, also gives us the chance to see the level the pupils are already performing at upon arrival to the course, and measure progress throughout the academic year.

The results of this highlight any areas for development which can be focused on in future lessons or as part of 1:1 intervention. It is important to our teaching staff and additional cohort that the pupils understand the vast amount of useful media knowledge on hand available to them. Our staff are not only trained in the theoretical practice surrounding moving image, television, photography, radio and print media, but also have a vast amount of practical and industry based experience. This means we can cater our teaching to individuals and ensure each pupil creates work they are not only interested in, but also proud of.

Cross Curricular links

Career links