Media
"In the 21st Century, the century our children will live in, the century they will in fact shape, media literacy will not be a luxury; it will be a necessity." Linda Ellerbee, journalist and television producer.
To be proficient in Media studies is to truly understand how society communicates with itself. In 2018, the English faculty was pleased to begin offering a GCSE course in Media Studies to Key Stage 4 students using the new AQA specification. This course is proving extremely popular with students who enjoy studying film, television, newspapers, magazines, e-media, and journalism. The course is designed to encourage students to fully appreciate how these media products are constructed; how we use and understand them and the effects they can have upon the world.
Year 10 and 11 Media
Students will be assessed through linear exams at the end of a two year GCSE course. There are two terminal exams for GCSE Media Studies. In these papers, students will be expected to analyse and deconstruct a range of unseen media products as well as several of 15 pre-scripted close study products (CSPs) which they will have studied closely with their teacher throughout Years 10 and 11.
These currently include:
- TV: His Dark Material (2020) BBC (Series 2, Episode 1)
- TV: Dr Who (1963) BBC (Episode 1)
- Online: Marcus Rashford's social media presence
- Video Game: Kim Kardashian Hollywood
- Video Game: Lara Croft Go
- Newspaper: Daily Mirror
- Newspaper: The Times
- Advertising and Marketing: Galaxy advert
- Advertising and Marketing: OMO 1955
- Advertising and Marketing: NHS Represent advert
- Radio: Radio 1 Launch Day with Tony Blackburn, 1967
- Radio: Kiss Breakfast on KISS Radio
- Film: Black Widow (industry only)
- Print: Magazine Tatler
- Print: Magazine Heat
- Music Video: Arctic Monkeys – I Bet That You Look Good
- Music Video: Blackpink - How You Like That
Media 1
- Exam 35%
- 1 hr 30 minutes
- 84 marks
In both sections students will answer short and extended response questions on unseen and Close Study Products studied in lessons.
Section A
Focus on using Media Language and Media Representations.
Questions will test any two of the following forms:
- Magazines
- Advertising and marketing
- Newspapers
- Online, social and participatory media and video games
Section B
Focus on Media Industries and Media Audiences.
Questions will test any two of the following forms:
- Radio
- Music video
- Newspapers
- Online, social and participatory media and video games
- Film (industries only)
Media 2
- Exam 35%
- 1 hr 30 minutes
- 84 marks
In both sections students will answer short, medium and extended response questions assessing depth of knowledge and understanding of the course.
Section ABased on a screening from an extract of one of the television Close Study Products and can test any area of the theoretical framework.
Section B
Based on either newspapers or online, social and participatory media and video games and can test any area of the framework.
As well as linear exams, students will be assessed for 30% of their overall grade in a NEA unit as per below in which they will create their own Media product to a specific brief.
Non-Exam Assessment: Creating a Media Product
- 30%
- 60 marks
A choice of one of five annually changing briefs, set by AQA. Click here for an example brief.
Assessed by the teacher and moderated by AQA.
Students are to produce:
- A statement of intent
- A media product for an intended audience
More information can be found here.
Last Updated: October 2022
