Media Studies

Media studies is an exciting, challenging, and creative course which helps to build a critical understanding of the role of media in our daily lives. The course combines practical and theoretical knowledge and skills through topics such as advertising, film, music, gaming, television and many more. In a world saturated with media, it is important to understand its purpose, how it is developed and how it is meant to be received. We aim to develop the personal opinions of our students and develop their knowledge of the links between their lives and the media that exists alongside them.

Students can opt into Media Studies when they chose their options in Year 8, and will begin studying the subject (if chosen) from Year 9.

Key stage 4 curriculum information

Year 9:

The Year 9 Media Studies curriculum follows a programme that mirrors the topics and expectations of the GCSE course that begins in Year 10. Students will explore a range of media forms and platforms.

Please see a more in-depth overview of the Year 9 course below:

Term

Topic title

Autumn 1

Advertising and Marketing

This unit introduces students to how media texts, especially adverts and film marketing, create meaning using images, language and design. Students explore how these techniques target audiences and represent social groups, such as gender. They finish by applying their knowledge to create their own media marketing campaign.

Autumn 2

Newspapers and Magazines

This unit explores how newspapers and magazines are produced to target different audiences and convey meaning. Students analyse layout, language and images, while considering political bias, representation and audience appeal. Students then apply their knowledge by designing their own front pages and magazine covers to communicate a clear message to a chosen audience.

Spring 1

Music – Videos, Industry and Websites

This unit explores the purpose of music videos and how they represent artists, audiences and social issues. Students analyse key examples to understand how meaning is created through visuals, narratives and media techniques. Students also examine how artists use online media to promote themselves and connect with audiences, before creating their own digital content for a musician of their choice.

Spring 2

Radio and Video Games

This unit explores how radio and video games engage audiences in a modern media landscape. First, students study how various radio stations target different categories of audiences and how contrasting modes of funding shapes the content that is produced by a range of radio providers. Then, students explore the video game form by analysing game genres, audiences and industry practices.

Summer 1

TV – Crime Dramas

This unit explores how TV content and viewership has changed over time. Students look at various examples of TV crime dramas, exploring how they are crafted to appeal to specific audiences. Students also study how techniques such as camera work, sound and representation are used to create meaning in AV media products.

Summer 2

Mock NEA – Creative Media Skills

This unit gives students the opportunity to further develop their creative skills by producing a film marketing campaign for a chosen genre. The structure and process of the unit provides students with an insight into how the NEA is produced in the GCSE course (Y10-11). Students will learn how to apply media techniques and conventions to design effective posters and marketing materials, while targeting a specific audience. The unit concludes with students pitching their own original film concept, allowing them to apply their understanding of media language, narrative, and promotion, and to see how these skills connect to real-life careers in the media industry.

Year 10:

In Year 10, students are introduced to the full GCSE Media Studies course, developing their understanding of how media products are created, analysed and evaluated. They study a range of Eduqas set texts, including advertising, film marketing, newspapers, magazines, radio, music media and video games, using key concepts such as language, audience, representation, industry and context.

Across the year, students build strong analytical skills by applying media theories and terminology to real products, while also developing practical skills by creating their own media work. This prepares them for both the NEA coursework (which we begin to plan at the end of Year 10) and the demands of the final GCSE examinations.

Please see a more detailed overview of the Year 10 course below:

Term

Topic title

Autumn 1

Advertising and Marketing

This unit introduces the core GCSE Media Studies framework, focusing on how media uses codes, conventions and context to create meaning. Students analyse Eduqas set texts such as the Quality Street advert and the NHS 111 campaign, alongside James Bond film posters (No Time to Die; The Man with the Golden Gun), to explore audience, representation and key media theories. Students also apply their understanding by producing their own media texts, evaluating how effectively they use conventions to meet the expectations of a chosen genre.

Autumn 2

Newspapers and Magazines

This unit explores how newspapers and magazines are designed to target different audiences and communicate meaning. Students analyse Eduqas set texts such as The Sun and The Guardian front covers, alongside magazine covers including GQ (Raheem Sterling) and Vogue (Malala), to examine representation, bias and media language. Students also apply their understanding by creating and evaluating their own media products, considering how effectively they use conventions to engage a chosen audience.

Spring 1

Music – Videos, Industry and Websites

This unit explores the purpose of music videos and how they represent artists, audiences and social issues. Students analyse Eduqas set texts including Taylor Swift’s The Man, TLC’s Waterfalls and Stormzy’s Superheroes, to understand how meaning is created through visuals, narratives and media techniques. Students also examine how artists use online media to promote themselves and connect with audiences, studying the online presence of Taylor Swift and Stormzy.

Spring 2

Radio and Video Games

This unit explores how media industries use digital platforms, radio and video games to reach and engage audiences. Students analyse Eduqas set texts such as music artist websites, Desert Island Discs (BBC Radio 4), and Fortnite, to examine audience appeal, industry practices, regulation and theory. Students also apply their understanding by creating their own online media products, evaluating how effectively they use conventions, convergence and promotional strategies to target a specific audience.

Summer 1

TV – Crime Dramas

This unit explores how television crime dramas are constructed and how they appeal to audiences. Students analyse Eduqas set texts Trigger Point and The Sweeney to understand how meaning is created through media language, representation and genre conventions. Students also examine how context and industry influence these texts, as well as the impact of evolving digital technologies and context on the on-screen content.

Summer 2

GCSE NEA – Creative Media Skills for Component 3

In the second half of the summer term, students begin preparation for their GCSE NEA coursework, focusing on research, planning and idea development. They explore set briefs, analyse relevant media products, and develop detailed plans to ensure their final production meets the required conventions and targets a specific audience effectively.

Year 11:

In Year 11, students build on their Year 10 knowledge to complete their NEA coursework and prepare for their final GCSE exams. In the first half term of this year, students produce their final NEA media products, applying their understanding of media language, audience and conventions.

Across the year, students revisit key set texts and theories, developing their exam techniques through structured revision and practice. This ensures they are confident in analysing media products and are fully prepared for success in their final examinations.

Please see a more comprehensive overview of the Year 11 course below:

Term

Topic title

Autumn 1

Finalising NEA Projects and General Revision

Students complete their NEA coursework by producing their final media products, applying the skills and conventions developed throughout the course. Alongside this, they also revisit key content and practise exam skills in preparation for their upcoming mock examinations.

Autumn 2

Component 1 Revision

Students revisit key theories, ideas and concepts required for success in the first Media examination paper, revising with tasks tailored to the individual needs of the students based on previous examination and in-class attainment.

Spring 1

Component 2 Revision

Students revisit key theories, ideas and concepts required for success in the second Media examination paper, revising with tasks tailored to the individual needs of the students based on previous examination and in-class attainment.

Spring 2

Exam Preparation

In this half term, students will consolidate their understanding of key content while developing their exam technique. Through structured revision and regular practice of exam-style questions, they will refine their ability to apply knowledge effectively and improve their performance in the final GCSE examinations.

Summer 1

Exam Preparation

Summer 2

End of Course

Required knowledge for topics found in knowledge organisers: https://www.ashmanorschool.com/knowledge-organisers.html

Please find details of the GCSE Specification for our chosen exam board, Eduqas, here: https://www.eduqas.co.uk/media/x3wbjgp1/eduqas-gcse-media-studies-spec-from-2017-e.pdf

If you would like any further, detailed knowledge you can contact Miss G Lindsey, the Head of Department, via this email: GLindsey@ashmanorschool.com

Careers in the media
Journalism, tv production, film production, tv direction, film direction, social media manager, advertising account manager, copywriter, editor, media buyer, campaign planner, scheduler, digital editor.