Media studies
Media studies enables students to view the modern world with a critical eye, and is an essential grounding for many careers, from television to advertising, journalism, and film. How are messages communicated? What hidden messages lie beneath the surface of apparently simple images? As a mixture of lively debate and practical exercises, our media studies course aims to excite, educate, and teach students to think critically and independently about the world around them.
Outside the classroom, students can join our weekly ‘Media Munch’, a place where students and teachers get together over lunch to discuss and analyse a different media text each week in an informal environment.
Our Media Studies programme is supplemented by a regular series of lectures and workshops from guest speakers. Recent guests have included:
- Victoria Hollins: BBC 1 Journalist (and ex BSB student)
- Nicholas Lewis: Editor of 'The Word' lifestyle magazine (and ex BSB student)
- David T Lynch: Winner of 'The Big Pitch' film competition with 'Shades of Graham'
- James Costerton: Technical Director with Bright Spark Digital agency
- Alison Pettit: A new media specialist and web designer with Public Life marketing agency
Curriculum
Although the subject is examined at AS and A2 level, students are taught Media Studies as a discrete subject from Year 7 onwards. In Years 7 to 9 students will learn about newspapers, advertising, and film-making. In Years 10 and 11, students are required to submit a technical analysis or provide work from media publications as part of the GCSE programme.
Years 12 and 13 are able to take Media Studies as an AS and A2 level option. Students analyse media and produce their own. They are taught to think critically and demonstrate a practical ability to use technology to produce a range of media, from websites to film projects.