Media Studies

Faculty of: 

Media Studies                                                                                                 

Head of Department:

Ms A. Maharaj

Vision

The Media Studies Department aims to give students the skills and knowledge which will equip them for life through a high quality education, where students develop conceptual thinking and creativity through a contemporary and relevant curriculum.

An Accessible​ ​Course​

Media Studies is an accessible​ ​course​ ​which​ ​support students ​to study​ ​the​ ​media​ ​in​ ​an​ ​academic​ ​context​ ​and​ ​apply​ ​the​ ​knowledge​ ​and understanding​ ​gained​ ​​to ​the​ ​process​ ​of​ ​creating​ ​their ​own​ ​​media products. The Media Studies Course​ ​enable​ ​students​ ​to​ ​engage​ ​confidently​ ​with​ ​critical​ ​and​ ​theoretical approaches​ ​from​ ​the​ ​perspectives​ ​of​ ​being​ ​a​ ​consumer​ ​and​ ​producer​ ​of​ ​media products. They will learn about technology and its influence on the media; how online and offline platforms are influenced by contexts: social, political, historical and cultural. Whilst students progress through their Media Studies Course from Key stage 4 to Key Stage 5, it allows​ ​them to widen their ​intellectual horizons. ​​Throughout​ ​the course​ ​they​ ​will​ ​develop​ ​skills​ ​in​ ​critical​ ​and​ ​reflective​ ​thinking​ ​and​ participate​ ​in the​ ​critical​ ​debates​ ​surrounding​ ​contemporary​ ​media.

Career Opportunities

At Stepney Green School, we offer a curriculum that allow students to develop transferable skills and knowledge for life. Media​ ​Studies​​ ​inspires​ ​students ​to​ ​continue​ ​learning​ ​beyond​ ​the confines​ ​of​ ​the​ ​classroom​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​developing​ ​employability​ ​skills​ ​that​ ​will serve​ ​them ​​well, ​both, ​to make informed decisions about further study and progression to A level, higher education or employment.

Media Studies provides all our students with many desirable skills attractive to future employers such as organisation, communication and working with peers collaboratively or independently. Furthermore, the media is an ever expanding global industry (which is constantly evolving in the United Kingdom) offering numerous career opportunities within areas such as advertising, digital marketing, journalism, scriptwriting, publishing, technical production, television, gaming, film and web design.   ​

​Develop subject mastery

We aim to ensure our curriculum provides students with intellectual incentive in the subject, through high quality teaching in order for deeper learning to take place. Students will develop a set of skills and knowledge at the end of each year which will work as a building block to the following year. To enable deep learning to take place, links will be made between the units of work (from Key Stage 4 to Key Stage 5) as well to national curriculum objectives.  This will reinforce awareness and understanding of Media Studies and see the relevance of the course as a whole. This will develop subject mastery and will challenge and stretch all learners with lessons and assessments that are fit for purpose. Ultimately, we provide a curriculum which promotes academic scholarship and ambition to excel, regardless of any challenge.

Year 9

In year 9, students are introduced to key concepts and are given plenty of time to harness their creativity, practical and compositional skills.  Alongside this, the media theoretical framework and specialist vocabulary is introduced to them through this induction year.


GCSE CurriculumDownload

Examination board: OCR

Year 10

In Year 10, the curriculum is sequenced to give students coverage of media language, representation and audiences for media forms – covering print, online and audio-visual products. It also reviews and revises the work covered in Year 9. This will also form a basis for further learning of the media forms in Year 11 as well as prepare students for their practical coursework – NEA. 

Year 11

In Year 11, students add finishing touches to their coursework – NEA, continue with the curriculum coverage: analysis and evaluation of their set products as well as embark on a highly structured revision programme to get them examination ready by reviewing and revising the work covered in Year 9 and 10.

The Media Studies curriculum is sequenced to give students coverage of media language, representation and audiences for media forms plus the contexts this year- covering print, online and audio-visual products.


KS5 CurriculumDownload

We offer A Level Media Studies.

Examination board: OCR

Year 12

Students are introduced to academic ideas, the theoretical framework and practical production. They begin case studies of set media products, prepare towards the first component News. Media Language and representation. In the summer term, from a set of briefs issued by the examination board, students will create an original cross media production for their coursework.

Year 13

Students finalise their coursework, continue with curriculum coverage: prepare towards the second component: Media Industries and Audiences plus Television with academic ideas and theories covered in greater depth.  They then embark on a rigorous revision programme to prepare them for their examinations.

Extra- curricular

Clubs and trips are run by staff to enhance creativity and critical thinking. In order to provide opportunities for students to experience the world of media, directors from the television and film industries are invited to give talks or workshops to our students.

Electronic Learning

  • BBC bite size for Media Studies
  • Analysis of online, social and participatory websites
  • Online tutorials
  • YouTube