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Media Studies

The Department of Media Studies at Wath Academy was established in 2014. It gives students the chance to engage with the increasingly important world of media by both analysing and creating a variety of media products. The Department aims to develop students into competent and critical readers and producers of media. These skills are excellent preparation for a wide range of careers and further study.

We offer A Level Media Studies in the sixth form.

A Level Media Studies

A Level Media Studies (following the WJEC Eduqas specification) is available to students on the sixth form’s academic pathway. No previous qualifications in Media Studies are required to study this course, though an existing interest in the area is vital.

Students opting for A Level Media Studies study a range of media forms, including television, film, music videos, newspapers, magazines, radio, videogames, online media, and advertising/marketing.

The set media products are analysed through four main areas: media language (the way in which meanings are encoded into media products), representations (such as how gender, age and issues are portrayed in media products), audiences and the media industry.

Through this framework, students of Media Studies become confident and independent learners. All media forms are studied, though three (television, magazines and online media) are tackled in greater depth. As students’ skills develop, a wider view is taken, with older products, products from different parts of the world and non-mainstream products being analysed.

Practical work, where students create their own media products, makes up 30% of the course and is assessed through non-exam assessment.

For more information on the A Level Media Studies course, please download the flyer below.

Facilities

Media Studies has its own ICT suite. When completing practical work, students make use of a range media hardware, including video cameras, tripods, lights, reflectors, microphones, green screen equipment and green screen equipment. Work is edited on industry-standard Adobe software, including Premiere Pro (video editing), InDesign (desktop publishing), Photoshop (photo/image editing), Illustrator (graphics editing) and Audition (sound editing). The Department also has a range of other resources, including academic textbooks, a print and online subscription toMediaMagazine and an ever-growing range of media products for study.