Curriculum Leader: Keith McManus
Our Vision
The Media Studies course is designed to enhance students’ enjoyment and appreciation of the media and its role in our daily lives. Students will develop a critical understanding of the media landscape by engaging with a variety of media products and key concepts. Research skills are an important aspect of the subject with students encouraged to develop their own views and interpretations. This approach not only builds their analytical abilities but also empowers them to become more discerning consumers and creators of media.
The practical element of the course equips students with the skills and knowledge to evaluate how genre, media conventions, and technical and symbolic elements are used to create representations and meaning. By working in a range of media forms, students develop products that demonstrate their technical proficiency and understanding of the codes and conventions employed by media producers.
A Level Specification and Summary
AQA Media Studies is a linear A Level. You will study a range of media products and complete two examination papers.
Media One
Media One has sections on Media Language and Representations (Section A) and Media Industries and Audiences (Section B). Section A features questions on the following forms: advertising/marketing, music videos. Section B features questions on any two of radio, newspapers and film.
The questions themselves will focus on the theoretical framework and contexts of the media, but you will be expected to answer by reference to the relevant Close Study Products. Section A will also feature an unseen media product to be analysed.
It is a written exam lasting 2 hours and is worth 35% of the A-Level.
Media Two
The second exam, Media Two, features questions based on all the in depth studies (Magazines, Video games and Online, social and participatory media, Television).
The questions will focus on the theoretical framework and contexts of the media, but you will be expected to answer by reference to the relevant Close Study Products. There is also one unseen product on this paper.
It is also a 2 hour paper and is worth 35% of the A-Level.
Non-Examined Assessment
You will also need to deliver your own cross-media product. AQA specify the media form and intended audience for the briefs which change every year.
Statement of Intent
Students must complete a Statement of Intent that outlines how they have applied their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework to their media product. This must be submitted to AQA with the media product.
This Statement of Intent should be a maximum of 500 (A Level) words long and it should be submitted to the teacher no later than 1 April in the year of assessment. The template for the Statement of Intent will be supplied by AQA in the NEA Student Booklet along with the briefs.
Independent Learning Opportunities
- Resources for independent study are available on MS Teams and OneDrive.
- media-studies.com
- Mrs Fisher Revision Channel
- The Media Insider