Media Studies
Students who take A Level Media Studies find that they are challenged in different ways to other subjects. We study areas of representation including gender, sexuality, age and ethnicity in a range of cultures and how audiences are manipulated by the makers of media products (an important skill in the age of social media!).
We also study the effect of colonialism on African American, British and African cultures, and consider the historical impact of patriarchy on advertising, film and TV using a number of engaging set products such as American hip hop music videos and film. Teachers on the A Level Media Studies course are also examiners with Eduqas, so quality delivery of content and support for our students is assured. The A Level in Media Studies works well in conjunction with other subjects such as Sociology, Business, Politics and History as there is a similar skill- set and range of topic matter, as well as Film Studies, Art and Graphic Design.
The practical component of the course consists of a main product and a linked supporting product that must be created individually. In previous years students have had to make parts of an original magazine, advertising for a film or a music video, with an accompanying website and a short video. There is always a target audience for these briefs which brings the coursework in line with client briefs offered on the BTEC and offers real life experience for students wanting to pursue advertising or business-based media routes after college.
Due to the excellent technician support and facilities here, our students create some of the strongest practical work in the North West.
The Eduqas A Level Media Studies at Aquinas College is 30% coursework and 70% exam, over two years.
2 exams will be sat at the end of the second year with the coursework being completed towards the end of the first year.
Component 1: (Products, Industries and Audiences: 35%)
- Analysis of an unseen print or audio visual text
- Analysis of set texts. These may be advertising campaigns, music videos such as Riptide by Vance Joy, radio programming or films like ‘Straight Outta Compton’.
Component 2: (Media Forms and Products in Depth: 35%)
- Apply and evaluate media theories to set texts
- Television in the Global Age (Humans and The Returned)
- Magazines: Mainstream and Alternative Media
(Woman’s Realm and Huck)
Media in the Online Age: (Zoella and Attitude)
Component 3: (Non- examined assessment: 30%)
Set briefs will be released every March, covering a range of practical and academic bases e.g:
- Music video
- Film advertising and website
- Magazine and accompanying blog
Media Studies offers a variety of pathways such as apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships and degrees. For example, some students have progressed onto Salford University for its close proximity to Media City. There is an increasing number of students who choose to go straight into employment at advertising and design agencies such as McCann. Students also choose practical film making courses from all over the country, journalism, advertising and marketing degrees.
During their first year Media students have visited Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio, in London.
In the second year students have the opportunity to visit New York. For more information about this trip please see the Trips and Travel page
Media students go on cinema trips as well as university and library visits
We have the annual Aquinas Film and TV Awards ceremony (AFTAS) for outstanding students and the Media Conference where industry professionals speak to our students
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