Why Choose Media Studies?

Studying Media Studies gives you the opportunity to study a course that is contemporary, academic and creative.  You will be studying the media in an academic context and applying your knowledge and understanding to produce your own media productions.  The course will foster your critical thinking skills, whilst thoroughly encouraging you to engage in critical debates surrounding contemporary media.  You will have to be creative with an enthusiasm for all aspects of the media: print, moving image and new technologies. The course will inspire you to learn and research the role of the media and its role within our society, whether it be historically, politically culturally or economically.

What will you learn?
During the first year of the course, you will be introduced to the four key areas of focus in media: audience, representation, industries and language.  This then leads on to you studying and applying this knowledge to a variety of set media texts, which includes: a comparison on The Guardian and The Daily Mail; The Big Issue Magazine; Music Videos and a variety of print adverts. The year concludes with the beginning of your cross-media practical project (coursework) which is worth 30%. From a set brief given by the examination board, you create and produce two media products.

During the second year, you will continue to analyse and apply the four key media areas of focus to other set texts. This will include: Radio 1’s Breakfast Show; The Jungle Book; a variety of video games and a long running television drama.

Why study Media Studies at Ashmole Sixth Form?
The Media Studies department have a wide range of facilities to ensure that you are given the best opportunities.  There is an ICT room with three editing suites with Adobe Premier Pro software, which you can use in and outside of lesson time.  We also have a wide range of media equipment that you can borrow when you are completing your practical project, which includes a variety of cameras, tripods, a dolly, steadicam, voice recorder, green screen and light reflectors.  You will also have an opportunity to speak to the teachers and the department technician who can provide advice and guidance on your projects.

The variety of set texts that we study in preparation for the examination is also highly varied, current and engaging. We also have a variety of visiting speakers and visits that will support your learning.  

Visiting Speakers/Visits
As well as your studies, you will also have an opportunity to speak with visiting speakers, many of which are former students of Ashmole who are now working within the Media Industry:

• Andriani Scordellis
• Seila Laloui

We have numerous visits, such as going to see The One Show broadcast live with a visit of BBC Broadcasting House and The Mill, which is respected for high-end visual effects, award-winning moving image, design and digital projects for the advertising, games and music industries.

Which subjects go well with Media Studies?
Most subjects go well with Media Studies however; the following subjects are particularly useful: Sociology, English Literature, Drama, Graphics, History, Science and Mathematics.

Where it will lead you?
There are a vast number of employment opportunities in Media within cultural and creative industries. Areas of work include television and radio, film and video, digital media, computer games, journalism, writing and publishing, PR and media practice.

For more information on subject content structure please click here for the Sixth Form Information Booklet.

For admissions criteria for each subject please click here for the Sixth Form Prospectus

 

Subject Ambassadors

"Media is an incredibly interesting subject, which truly allows you to open your mind and broaden your horizons. I initially chose Media Studies as it went well with my already decided subjects (Drama and English Literature). However, I was not prepared for the delightful surprise of new perspectives on my daily life and information on modern theories, as opposed to traditional theories we are often met with in other subjects.

We started with a focus on all types of media, the language and theories used; this meant watching clips from movies and analysing posters, seemingly a dream subject! Analysing a selection of movies was no chore. This has helped my perspective to grow not only academically, as I have taken other essay subjects, but also personally, as I feel more rounded as a person.

I would absolutely recommend Media Studies as a subject for A-levels as it is enjoyable, current, will help with your skills for essay writing and debate, but also your perspective as a person. Gaining more knowledge of the media and producer’s intentions will not only give you a new perspective, but also a choice over how you perceive our heavily mediated world."

 

"A -levels can get extremely difficult, so I would recommend that you choose one that you enjoy and can see yourself doing in the future. For me, media has always been a subject that I was very intrigued by. From studying media for only a few months, I have become so fascinated about how the media shapes who we are as people, our identities and controls how we live our daily lives. It is a subject that people can value learning about.

Media Studies has opened my eyes and has shown me that there is so much work and thinking put into things we see in our daily life. From only a few months of studying this subject, I have learnt vital skills that will help me in the future, for example: a developed understanding of production and thinking skills.

In the subject itself, it is extremely productive, many debates take place which help us with our understanding of the topic itself, whilst at the same time teaching us the relevance it has in society. A majority of the topics that are taught helps our understanding of other subjects also, examples include: the Humanities, English and Science. The subject is a genuinely vocational subject, as it involves pupils creating a cross-media product, making their own short films and creating their own music videos. We are able to interact with modern technology in many different ways, using many programs from word processing and presentation software to video and sound editing software."

To hear from our former students click here