Intent
Across RET schools the Media Studies curriculum is both academic and ambitious. Our curriculum is designed to widen the intellectual horizons of the learner through the analysis of a wide range of media forms and contexts and enable learners to develop a wider understanding and appreciation of the media in both a historical and contemporary context. It allows learners to engage confidently with critical and theoretical approaches from the perspectives of both analytical consumers and producers of media products. Our intent is to inspire learners to continue learning beyond the confines of the classroom as well as developing personal and interpersonal skills which will serve them well both in Higher Education and in the workplace.
Schools follow either the OCR or Eduqas specifications and it is taught mostly in KS5 although one of our schools has KS4 cohorts.
Implementation
All students will be taught to:
- demonstrate skills of enquiry, critical thinking, decision-making and analysis;
- acquire knowledge and understanding of a range of important media issues;
- develop appreciation and critical understanding of the media and their role both historically and currently in society, culture and politics;
- understand and apply specialist subject-specific terminology to analyse and compare media products and the contexts in which they are produced and consumed in order to make informed arguments, reach substantiated judgements and draw conclusions about media issues;
- appreciate how theoretical understanding supports practice and practice supports theoretical understanding;
- develop practical skills by providing opportunities for creative media production;
- develop an understanding of the dynamic and changing relationships between media forms, products, media industries and audiences;
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the global nature of the media;
- apply theoretical knowledge and specialist subject specific terminology to analyse and compare media products and the contexts in which they are produced and consumed in order to make informed arguments, reach substantial judgements and draw conclusions about media issues;
- engage in debate about theories used in media studies.
Key concepts
- Media Forms: television; advertising and marketing; film; video games; magazines; music video; radio; online, social and participatory media; newspapers;
- Media Language: how the media through their forms, codes and conventions communicate meanings;
- Media Representations: how the media portray events, issues, individuals and social groups;
- Media Industries: how the media industries’ processes of production, distribution, circulation and ownership affect media forms and platforms
- Media Industries: how the media industries’ processes of production, distribution, circulation and ownership affect media forms and platforms
- Media Audiences: how media forms target, reach and address audiences, how audiences interpret and respond to them, and how members of audiences become producers themselves;
- Contexts of media:
- Social Context – how media products reflect the society in which they are produced and that of their target audience.
- Cultural Context – how media products reflect the arts and culture, including popular culture, of their time.
- Historical Context – how media products reflect historical events and social changes.
- Political Context – how media products reflect political viewpoints, messages, values and beliefs.
Extra-Curricular Experience
RET schools have had trips related to NEA for Media.
Key Stage 3
Media is not taught as a discrete subject at KS3, but there are schemes of work in KS3 subjects that reference media; for example: English and PSHE.
Links to Key Stage 2
N/A as Media is not a national curriculum subject. However, all primaries should teach students elements of what the media is so they become literate for the digital age.