Our intention in Media Studies at Key Stage 5 is to ignite a lasting curiosity about how media texts shape, and are shaped by, the world around us, and to inspire students to explore the dynamic relationship between media production and lived experience. We aim to develop curious, perceptive and analytical learners who can move confidently across print, broadcast, digital and online media, noticing how meaning is constructed, how identities and ideologies are represented, and how industries and audiences interact to produce the media-saturated culture of the 21st century.

Our curriculum fosters students who are both critically aware and creatively capable producers. Through studying a rich range of media forms and products – from television drama, film and radio to newspapers, magazines, music videos, advertising, video games and social media – students learn to apply the theoretical framework of media language, representation, media industries and audiences with rigour and insight. They will examine diverse and contested perspectives, interrogate the political, economic and technological contexts behind media production, and reflect on how identity, culture and power shape the ways media texts are made, distributed and understood.

We aim to enable students not only to deconstruct and interpret media texts with precision and critical distance, but also to contribute to the media landscape with technical skill and creative ambition. By nurturing their analytical skills, their practical production abilities, and their capacity to create purposeful, original media products across a range of forms, we equip students with the confidence to become discerning, informed and creative media practitioners. Our ambition is for every student to leave the course prepared to engage critically, ethically and creatively with the fast-evolving, globally connected media of the 21st century.

Mrs. D. Jeffery

KS5 English and Media Studies Coordinator and Teacher of English

d.jeffery@derbycathedralschool.org.uk

 

Mrs. V. Lynch

Head of Year and Teacher of English

v.lynch@derbycathedralschool.org.uk

 

Ms. N. Palmer-Wilson

Enrichment & Extra-Curricular Lead and Teacher of English and Media Studies

n.palmer-wilson@derbycathedralschool.org.uk

Homework

Students are expected to complete 2-3 hours of homework per week. This is set on Class Charts so that all staff, students and parents have access to the tasks and resources. Set tasks vary but will include pre-reading of set texts, wider reading of relevant material, written responses, revision quizzes, planning activities etc. Students are encouraged to complete work well in advance of the deadline so that they can contact their teachers to request support and guidance on an issue they may experience in completing a task.

Assessment

Students will complete a range of assessment activities including:

•    Key knowledge quizzes 
•    Question and answer within group and whole class discussion
•    Formative written responses 
•    Summative assessments in the form of PPEs

This range of assessment strategies allows staff to assess knowledge gaps, development of skills and share important feedback and data with students and parents. 

Independent study

Students should spend an additional 2-3 hours per week completing independent study and revision, on top of their contact time (time spent in the classroom with their teachers) and time spent on set homework. 

Examples include:

  • Pre-watch/pre-read the next set text
  • Use the Cornell method to make notes on a set media product, applying the four areas of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industry, audiences) to structure your key points and questions
  • Read some media theory or academic commentary on a set text or topic and make notes on different critical perspectives (e.g. feminist theory, postcolonial theory, hegemonic theory, or a theorist such as Gauntlett, Gerbner or Curran & Seaton) and how they might be applied to your set products

Revision

It is crucial for students to re-read or re-watch each of their set texts several times, in order to maintain their knowledge and understanding throughout this linear two-year course. Specific revision materials will be provided by class teachers, who will tailor to the needs of students and the requirements of the exam board, Eduqas.

Students of Media Studies can participate in a number of Endeavour programmes to complement and bolster their curriculum learning and provide valuable experience. For example, being on the Social Media and Communications Team led by Miss Palmer-Wilson.

As part of our commitment to bringing the study of Media to life beyond the classroom, we are delighted to be developing an enrichment programme for A Level Media Studies students, including visits to professional media organisations and production studios. These visits will provide students with invaluable insight into the practical realities of media production, journalism and industry practice, complementing their academic study with direct exposure to the sector.

As this is a newly introduced A Level subject at Derby Cathedral School, we are actively building relationships with media organisations to secure these opportunities and will provide further details, including confirmed dates and venues, in due course.

We encourage students studying A Level Media Studies to extend their learning beyond the classroom through the following activities:

Reading and Listening

  • Subscribe to industry publications such as Broadcast, Campaign, Press Gazette or The Media Guardian to stay informed of current developments in the media industry
  • Read media theory texts by key theorists such as David Gauntlett, George Gerbner, Stuart Hall, James Curran and Jean Seaton
  • Listen to industry-focused podcasts such as The Media Podcast (BBC Radio 4), Media Voices or The Guardian's Media Confidential

Viewing and Analysis

  • Watch a wide range of film, television, and online media beyond personal taste, paying close attention to media language, representation and audience positioning
  • Follow the output of a range of news providers across the political spectrum to compare editorial stance, agenda-setting and framing
  • Engage critically with social media platforms and algorithms, reflecting on how content is curated, targeted and monetised

Independent Research and Production

  • Research a media organisation's ownership structure and consider how this may influence editorial content and output
  • Create and maintain a personal media production project (e.g. a blog, podcast, short film or social media campaign), reflecting on the practical and creative decision-making involved
  • Investigate a current media debate or controversy (e.g. regulation, misinformation, representation, or the impact of AI on media production) and consider multiple critical perspectives

Wider Engagement

  • Attend talks, lectures or open events run by universities offering Media, Film or Journalism degrees
  • Follow media regulators and industry bodies such as Ofcom, the BBC Trust, or the National Union of Journalists to understand the legal and ethical frameworks governing media production
  • Consider work experience or shadowing opportunities with local newspapers, radio stations or production companies