Key Stage 4

What will I study?
Year 10- Students begin the GCSE course through an introduction to the four key concepts: Media Language, Representation, Institution and Audience. This will give them a solid foundation on which to develop their understanding of the subject. The students then apply the key concepts when completing their three Controlled Assessments. Each assessment explores various areas of the Media and requires both
written and practical elements to be completed. Additionally each assessment increases in difficulty and the marks also increase to reflect the level of work expected from the students.

Year 11- The students begin Year 11 by competing their final production assessment:
the creation of a magazine. Once completed they will then begin their study for the
examination topic. The examination topic changes on a yearly cycle and ranges
from Action and Adventure films to Video Game Promotion.
 

How will I be assessed?
60% Controlled Assessment, 40% Examination
Three controlled assessments:

• Introduction to Media
• Cross-media Promotion
• Practical and Evaluation

You will also be given summative assessments on the key concepts early in Year 10 and again in Year 11. There will be a public examination taken at the end of Year 11 on a controlled topic.
Career Opportunities
Media is a central part to all of our lives. From newspapers and magazines to the cinema and television, we come into contact with some form of the media every single day. As an integral part of contemporary society students can take up careers in journalism, film making, publishing, teaching and public relations. However the skills developed within the subject offer so much more and can be applied to many other subjects and career paths.