Media Studies A Level

Exam Board: WJEC Fast Track: No Daytime: Cheltenham and RFD Evening: No Exams: AS Unit 1 Media Representations & Responses 2½ hours 25% Unit 2 Media Production Processes coursework 25% A2 Unit 3 Media Investigation & Production coursework 25% Unit 4 Media - Text, Industry and Audience 2½ hours 25% Where will this qualification take me? Media Studies is a stimulating, creative subject that helps you to develop skills and attitudes that are valuable for employment in any career. You will develop analytical, research and practical production skills, so this course offers an excellent foundation for a wide range of careers in media industries such as advertising, journalism, graphic design, film and television production, marketing and promotion or for those who wish to pursue further study. What will I be doing on the course? You will draw on your own existing experience of the media and develop your abilities to respond critically, through analysing, evaluating and writing about the media, in particular television, film, newspapers, magazines, advertising and the music industry, providing a wide choice that will offer ‘something for everyone’! Exploring a wide variety of media, you will draw on the fundamental concepts, ideas and theories informing the study of the media: texts, industry and audiences. This course focuses on contemporary media, as such you will be expected to keep up-to-date with what is happening in the media. Because the media is constantly changing there isn't any one textbook that covers the course. This course is about you developing your own views and interpretations and exploring how and why we interact with the media. You will also engage in creative work to enable you to gain a greater appreciation of the media through your own production work and to develop your own production skills. At A2 in particular, you will research a topic which will then form the basis for your production, thus encouraging you to create productions informed by an awareness of contemporary media issues.

For full time students the course will form part of a larger programme of study which consists of timetabled sessions, enrichment activities, work experience and private study time. To achieve this a student will normally be asked to select from columns of the 6th Form matrix in each year of study. If a student falls below this programme requirement they may be classed as part time by some external agencies and may be required to pay fees for their tuition and/or exams. Please check with the tutor at interview that the subjects you have selected form a full-time programme. Every full time 6th Form student will have a personal tutor and will study a tutorial programme. The tutor will be responsible for the pastoral care of the student and for the tracking and monitoring of their progress on the course. This subject can be selected on its own for part time study for which tuition fees may be payable (please consult Student Services for fee concessions). Part time students may also be required to pay exam fees. You may have the opportunity to go on trips during the year. A small charge will be payable for these visits.

AS - 5 x GCSEs at Grade A* to C in different subjects to include English Language and maths A2 - successful completion of AS Media Studies at Grade A to C plus a good reference

Progression from GCSEs will normally be to AS Level (or equivalent vocational course) or to employment. Progression from AS Level will normally be to A2, and then on to employment or Higher Education

97.1% pass rate A* - E at A2 in June 2012, with 100% pass in 18 subjects

Lorna Studied A2 Media, Geography and English and AS Psychology Lorna left Gloucestershire College after achieving three B’s at A Level. She is currently carrying out work experience at The Forester newspaper and also working part-time as a sales assistant in a bakery. “I am currently carrying out work experience at The Forester and developing the skills I learnt at college. I interview people in order to write stories for the paper and am really interested in building a career as a journalist” All my A Level courses at Gloucestershire College were really enjoyable and interesting. I also got to take part in lots of enrichment activities including playing Hamlet in Shakespeare’s last play and being part of the ‘Active Young Citizens’ European project. In the future I would like to find a full-time job. I really enjoy the work I am doing at The Forester and am looking for full time role in journalism. Every day is different. I am learning new skills all the time; developing my writing styles and how to interview people. It’s a really enjoyable and I get to find out what’s happening in the Royal Forest of Dean before anyone else.” Elliott A Levels: Media Studies, Psychology Elliott, 18 from Cheltenham achieved a B and D in his A Level exams. He is now studying a HNC Diploma in Art and Design with Gloucestershire College and hopes this will lead him on to a career in media. “I chose to study at Gloucestershire College as it is close to where I live and because a number of my friends recommended it as a great place to study. Prior to coming here, I didn’t have a job and wasn’t very good at exams. Now I have a job and I have passed all of my exams! I am really pleased. Gloucestershire College sixth form is great as it is not like a school and everyone is treated equally. I am now studying a HNC Diploma in Art and Design with the college.”

Please contact the College on 0845 155 2020 for further details