MEDIA STUDIES

Course summary

WHY STUDY MEDIA? This subject meets you and your tastes in media, and then develops understanding to the point of mastery and production. Get to explore your consumption, interests and enjoy the production process. The 2019 Summer pass rate of 100% A-B was outstanding according to a national comparison of all centres with coursework scores in the top 5% of the national range. Media Studies has the highest ALPS score at present (value added from point of entry to course completion). The course is varied and androgynous: psychologic of audiences, sociologic in contextual explanation, linguistic in constructions and analysis and historic in context of trends and patterns, whilst artistic in appreciation of response and mode. It is perhaps the most exploratory of A levels. WHAT’S COVERED? There are nine industries studied over the two years of the course. There is a parcel of set Close Study Products, which highlight Media theories, issues/debates and types. The coursework brief changes each year to keep the subject fresh– at AS there is a choice of three briefs, at A2, six to choose from. The exam has been updated to be more student friendly– with guided mini-questions that develop the themes of an unseen text. We are pleased to offer the full A level taught by summer series examiners. The course is theoretical and critical, but also has hands on production elements, covering the range of Media platforms. This course will improve your analytical skills as you investigate media texts and the application of Media Concepts in a high level of detail. FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES It might lead to work in the second largest growth field within the UK: 49,000 jobs were created in media between 2016 and 2017. It develops screenwriting, web design, digital publishing and marketing skills. There is psychology and sociology work in this subject.  It is suitable for work in the fields of journalism, film making and the high tech industry such as the e-media.