“People will come to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.”
– Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death (1985)
Powerful knowledge in Media Studies
Powerful knowledge in Media Studies starts from the understanding that everything presented in the Media is a construction. From this understanding, Media Studies takes students beyond passive consumption and empowers them to become critical receivers. Students are equipped with the digital literacy skills to enable them to thrive and critique products of the 21st Century world. Whilst there are a wide range of different debates within this subject – such as the advantages and limitations of media regulation, the dangers of the post-truth era and the hyper-reality of social media – we ultimately aim for students to understand these general principles:
- Behind every media product is an agenda or intention carefully shaped by the producer
- All media is influenced by the social, cultural, historical and political context in which it was created
- In this digital age, active audiences have the power to shape media through their responses and interactivity.
Students will also understand that they too are consumers, and they can use their ‘voice’ to influence change in the media.
Curriculum Features
Our curriculum teaches beyond what is simply required by the exams. Through the lens of several theoretical perspectives, learners develop their superficial understanding of the media to discover how the industry operates, innovates and engages target audiences. Learners analyse a wide range of media forms from print and audio-visual to online and participatory media. Product analysis is always underpinned by a conceptual framework which includes media language, representations audience and industry, enabling students to apply their knowledge to new or emerging productions in the future.
The Media curriculum is built around a model of self-testing and interleaving that is later developed into a comparative, thematic approach, where purposeful analysis and connections can be made between products.
The practical component of the curriculum gives learners valuable experience of using industry standard software and equipment, providing them with transferable skills for both further study and employment. This creative element of the subject involves the research, planning and production of a convincing Media product that utilises appropriate product conventions.
Our curriculum also seeks to reflect the diversity of the students within our schools and communities, ensuring that students are able to recognise themselves in the products under study. By combining both British and diverse, international products our curriculum exceeds the scope of the exam board specification.
Co-curricular Enrichment
- KS3 Electives / co-curricular
- Lunchtime workshops for practical media skills
- Visits and guest speakers
- House competitions
- Equipment Loaning: students can borrow equipment for their own creative productions