The media affects us all on a daily basis. It entertains us in the evenings and informs us with rolling 24-hour news. It aims to persuade us with a barrage of adverts and leaflets or helps us to stay in touch online. Love it or hate it, very few of us will escape the influence of the media and for many of us it is present from the moment we wake to our radio alarm to the moment we turn off the television at night.

We study a variety of different forms ranging from movies to newspapers, television to advertising, radio to websites, games design to magazines and in each case we delve into how the creators of different media products foster success. We attempt to mimic these media outlets – for instance, the record companies marketing a new band or the games designers sniffing out trends that they can exploit – and in the process learn how to manipulate audiences and engender beliefs and desires in the general public. The skills we inculcate would help our students towards any career where creativity, independence of thought and a questioning mind are valued.

Media Studies GCSE has two distinct courses:

The Single Award offers students the chance to achieve a GCSE grade in Media Studies at the end of Year 11. Students will complete two individual Controlled Assessments and one that can be tackled either individually or in small groups. They will then sit one 90 minute exam at the end of Year 11. Controlled Assessments - 60%: Exam - 40%.

The Double Award  offers students the chance to achieve two GCSE grades in Media Studies at the end of Year 11. Students will complete two individual Controlled Assessments and two that can be tackled either individually or in small groups. They will then sit two 90 minute exams at the end of Year 11. Controlled Assessments - 60%: Exams - 40%.

Dave Fouracre, BA Hons, PGCE, has been an English teacher for 21 years and a Media Studies teacher for the last 13 years. His interests include cinematography, contemporary literature and blogging.

Stop Motion Animation Enrichment week, trips organised to Harry Potter World at Warner Bros. 

Stop Motion Animation Club, iMovie exploration club. See the school calendar for details.