Media Studies

Intent

Media studies brings about the study of many culturally diverse and intellectually stimulating texts. At the core of the department is the pursuit of the highest standards in education.  As part of English faculty, we aim to inspire and educate through the motto of the three Cs:

Culture: Expose students to a wide range of cultural capital, while not ignoring their own. Develop a culture of intellectual curiosity.

Creativity: Encourage a range of creative approaches. Creatively explore language, considering a range of interpretations.

Confidence: Students leave confidently able to understand how language is used around them. Students are confidently able to articulate themselves verbally and in writing.

 Media is all around us and recent developments in technology enables people to be more interconnected than ever before! We live in an age where media is integrated in almost every part of our lives; whether that be how we learn about the world’s events or how we gain entertainment through video games.

Media Studies is a contemporary and relevant subject in an ever-changing media landscape. In an era of fake news and political propaganda, it is important to be media literate to distinguish the vast methods of communication the society uses to influence our day-to-day activities. Through the GCSE and ‘A’ level course, the curriculum will aim to develop learners' approach to critically evaluate the media around us through the study of contextually relevant set products.

The Media Studies curriculum is underpinned by the four areas of the theoretical framework; Media Language, Representation, Industry and Audience however, learners will explore how underpinning contextual factors affect the ways meanings are created and subsequently received by an audience member. Media theory from sociological and psychological studies as well as political fields will be integrated to stimulate debates about the contemporary media landscape.

Please note that whilst we are transitioning to the new exam board, Year 11 and 13 are on the Eduqas specification whilst Year 10 and 12 are on the new OCR specification.

Year 9 Curriculum

In Year 9 Media Studies at Barnwell School, students explore the exciting world of media, developing essential analytical and creative skills. They study a variety of media forms, including film, television, advertising, and social media, learning how messages are constructed and their impact on audiences.

Through practical projects, students create their own media products, such as magazine covers or video clips, using industry-standard software. They also develop critical thinking by analyzing media representations and ethical issues. This engaging course prepares students for further study in media and related fields, fostering creativity, communication, and digital literacy.

Year 9 students specifically look at Percy Jackson and Marvel through the platforms of TV and film.

KS4/5 Learning Journey

The learning journey may be downloaded by clicking the image.

Curriculum Map

GCSE Media Studies - OCR (J200)

At GCSE level, we follow the OCR (J200) specification. The course offers a broad, engaging and stimulating introduction to Media Studies through a variety of set products, covered either holistically to understand how a media product functions in-depth or more broadly through a number of smaller products. Throughout the course, learners are exposed to a wide range of media forms and make sense of them through the use of the theoretical framework of Media Studies.

 ‘A’ Level Media Studies - OCR (H409)

At ‘A’ Level, we follow the OCR H409 specification. Through a diverse range of contemporary and contextually relevant set products, learners will deconstruct the messages and deeper meanings using the theoretical framework of Media Studies. There are two in-depth case studies (News and Television Drama) in which students will apply a range of academic arguments and media theory from a number of research fields to construct succinct discussion of media issues and debates.

Extended Independent Reading

Extended reading for Media may be downloaded here.