| Media Studies |
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General Aims of the Subject: |
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At GCSE the aim of the subject is to provide pupils with a knowledge and understanding of the media, to be able to analyse a range of media texts and also to be able to produce their own media texts.
At AS and at A2 the broad aims of the subject are to enable pupils to analyse the media using several Key Concepts (Genre, Representation, Audience, Narrative, Values and Ideologies, Institutions and Media Language) and also to understand important theories and debates as well as contextual factors, that shape media texts.
At this advanced level pupils will also be expected to produce and evaluate a high quality media text. |
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K.S. 4 GCSE Media Studies |
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Pupils complete four pieces of coursework (Section A is three pieces covering three different types of media, Section B is one large practical project covering another media). Altogether this is worth 50% of the course.
They also sit a three hour exam based on pre-release materials. This makes up the other 50% of the marks. The topic for the exam is different each year.
Overall pupils must cover three skill areas; knowledge and understanding, analysis and production. At least three different types of media must be covered, none of which addressing the same subject area as the exam |
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| KS 5 AS Media |
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This contains three units: |
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- Reading the Media (15%) – preparation for analysing an unseen media extract (exam)
- Textual Topics in the Media (15%) – Advertising and Marketing study and Film and Broadcast Fiction study (exam)
- Practical Project (20%) – producing a text based on the areas of study in preceding unit (coursework)
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| KS5 A2 Media |
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- Texts and Context in the Media (15%) – study of Genre and Representation in the media. Examination of contextual factors and theory relevant to each topic.
- Independent Study(20%) – extended coursework on a contemporary issue in the media
- Comparative Critical Analysis (15%) – preparation for the comparison of two unseen media texts.
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| GCSE |
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We follow the AQA syllabus. As indicated above the final mark is taken from the combination of 50% coursework and 50% exam. Depending on the number of lessons timetabled a week (currently two per week at Year 10 and three per week Year11) Year 10 is dedicated to Section A of the coursework where three pieces of coursework are marked holistically out of 60 in line with the syllabus grade descriptors. The first term of Year 11 is dedicated to Section B of the coursework, again this is marked out of 60 in line with the syllabus descriptors.
With three lessons a week in Year 11 the Section B coursework takes priority and all lesson time up until the first half term. After that, until Christmas, two lessons a week are spent on projects and one on exam topic preparation. On returning to school in January all coursework should be completed allowing all lessons to focus on the exam topic (no exam preparation is started in Year 10 as materials are not yet available). |
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| AS |
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Both Med 1 and Med 2 are exam based topics, so ultimately the results from this area are an indictor of performance (see percentages of marks available above). However both these areas are assessed internally on a regular basis and marks fed-back to Year 12 progress reports on the school’s central system. The internal assessment is integral as the topic areas are wide and pupils need to be prepared for a range of possible questions. Internal assessment also allows the subject teacher to see what progression is being made in conjunction with available pupil data.
Med 3 is coursework started in January and continually monitored until internally moderated by media teachers in April. Marks and coursework are sent to exam board and moderator at the start of May. |
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| A2 |
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Med 4 and 6 are exam topics (respective percentage worth is indicated above). Much like the AS, exam based units are assessed internally. Internal assessments are fed back via the Year12/13 progress reports as stated above. All internal work is assessed against the grade descriptors in the AQA syllabus.
Med 5 is an extended piece of coursework started in January and finally handed in before Easter break. The worth of this work is 20% of the overall A level. It is continually drafted before being handed in for moderation and sent to the moderator early May. |
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| All coursework is assessed against the criteria laid down in the AQA syllabi for GCSE and AS/A2 Media Studies. |
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| Any significant subject events in any of the years |
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The Exam topic for 2007 GCSE will be The Music Press. |
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| Any specific whole school activities: |
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| The subject incorporates ICT extensively. GCSE projects are completed using Macromedia Fireworks and Microsoft Publisher. ICT suites are bloc-booked from the start to the end of the Autumn Term. |
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| Any particular clubs you run |
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In Year 11, after Section A of the coursework has been handed in, pupils with missing or substandard coursework (identified by utilising STAMP data) are given the option of attending lunch or after-school sessions to enable them to meet their targets. |
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| Current development priorities and any success in these |
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At AS/A2 level a blogspot web-site has been set up to provide pupils with more guidance and extra web resources to supplement their learning.
Moodle has been set up for AS Media for the start of next year (Sept 2007), and will eventually help resource all media Key Stages. This development will also help guide the e-learning in this subject area with more links to guidance, files and folders. |
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Links to useful web sites. |
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www.rushmedstuds.blogspot.com - This link contains links to other sites of importance for media b pupils |
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| Staff |
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| Curriculum Leader: Mr David Salter |
Staff: Helen Chatwin |
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