Media Studies

Staffing In Media Studies
Media Studies is taught by two members of staff; Mr Rowat and Mr Thomas.

Aims Of The Department
The vision of the department remains consistent to last year: to empower students with an understanding of an evolving media industry, its place in their lives, through creatively engaging tasks which challenge and inspire all students inclusively.

This year the Media Studies department sought feedback of Year 10 as well as Year 11 pupils through a pupil voice questionnaire. Year 10 pupils were asked for their interests relating to the media and their expectations from the course. Comparing these to the YR11 Questionnaires, we were able to see a clear preference for practical, creative and independent-based activities and projects. The OCR curriculum changes similarly reflected the students’ wishes, are constantly being adapted to meet their needs.

The Media Studies department arranged a GCSE film project to take place in Canary Wharf last year. This allowed students to engage in the wider community, one they would normally not easily recognise as local to them. Furthermore, the Film Club has enabled many Key Stage 3 pupils to see and engage in the community in imaginative and thought-provoking ways.

As a department we use data to understand the various religions, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds of the pupils we teach. This knowledge and understanding is the basis for promoting community cohesion. This is further built upon when communicating with parents because cultural awareness promotes effective communications.
We fully support and encourage Diversity Day. We see this as a fantastic opportunity to promote and encourage community cohesion. Members of the department actively take part to support the pupils and school.

This year the Media Studies department is focussing on developing an effective, consistent and sustainable structure for professional development, in order to build more dynamic and reflective practitioners to ensure high quality teaching and learning.  We are engaging with the school’s programme of continuing professional development as well as training on offer from the examination board.

The Media Studies Curriculum
The Media Studies Curriculum in Year 10
Pupils follow OCR GCSE Media Studies.  In Year 10 pupils study Media Studies for 2 hours a week and undertake 5 units of work. 

• Research-based essay into the representation of teenagers in the British media
• Production exercise: plan and produce a magazine cover and contents page
• Evaluation: reflect on the research process and critically evaluate your contribution
• Prepare for an exam on media institutions and ‘comedy pleasures’
• Prepare for an exam on codes and conventions in the action-adventure genre 

The Media Studies Curriculum in Year 11
Pupils follow OCR GCSE Media Studies.  In Year 10 pupils study Media Studies for 3 hours a week and undertake 5 units of work. 

• Plan and prepare collaboratively for a three minute introduction to a genre-specific film
• Film and edit your three minute introduction in group work
• Evaluation: reflect on the research and filming process and critically evaluate your contribution
• Revisit media institutions and ‘comedy pleasures’
• Revisit codes and conventions in the action-adventure genre 

Assessment For Learning
Each teacher understands and uses Assessment for Learning (AfL) techniques to benefit pupils and inform future lessons. The use of assessment in Media Studies to aid teaching and learning is of great importance to all. It is one of the guiding philosophies of the department. This starts from ongoing assessment in the lessons to summative assessments after Year 10 and Year 11 assignments.

All teachers differentiate questioning in lessons to challenge and include all pupils. Teachers reshape tasks and explanations to improve learning. We use pupil data to differentiate lesson content to ensure it is accessible for each pupil.
Coursework is moderated within the department prior to external assessment in order to ensure consistency.  


Attainment In Our Department

Results at end of Key Stage 4 (A*-C)