United Kingdom · National Curriculum Attainment Targets
Year 11 Media Studies.
This Year 11 Media Studies curriculum equips pupils with the critical tools to analyse media language, representation, industries, and audiences. Pupils will engage with diverse media forms, complete their Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) production, and prepare rigorously for their GCSE examinations. The course fosters a deep understanding of how media shapes and reflects contemporary British society.
01Media Language and Representation in Print and Advertising
Pupils will deconstruct print media, advertising, and marketing campaigns to understand how meaning is constructed. They will critically evaluate how different social groups, issues, and events are represented.
Analyse historical and contemporary print adverts to identify visual codes and conventions. Pupils will explore how media language creates meaning for specific target audiences.
Investigate how gender and ethnicity are portrayed across various media texts. Pupils will apply theories of representation to evaluate stereotypes and countertypes.
Examine the construction of news through newspaper front pages, focusing on layout, language, and ideological bias. Pupils will compare tabloid and broadsheet conventions.
02Media Industries and Audiences
This unit explores the commercial nature of media, focusing on production, distribution, and regulation. Pupils will also investigate how audiences consume, interpret, and interact with media products.
Explore the structure of media industries, including monopolies, oligopolies, and independent producers. Pupils will assess how ownership impacts the variety and quality of media products.
Investigate the role of regulatory bodies such as Ofcom, IPSO, and the BBFC. Pupils will debate the balance between freedom of speech and protecting audiences from harm.
Analyse how media producers target specific demographics and psychographics. Pupils will apply audience theories, such as Uses and Gratifications, to understand consumption habits.
03Television and Film Marketing
Pupils will conduct in-depth studies of television programmes and film marketing campaigns. They will explore genre conventions, narrative structures, and global distribution strategies.
Study the conventions of the television crime drama genre, focusing on narrative arcs, character types, and setting. Pupils will analyse a specific set episode in detail.
Examine the situation comedy genre, exploring how humour is generated through character dynamics and narrative situations. Pupils will consider the genre's role in social commentary.
Investigate how blockbuster films are marketed to global audiences using trailers, posters, and social media. Pupils will analyse the concept of synergy in film promotion.
04Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) - Media Production
Pupils will apply their theoretical knowledge to create an original media product for a specified target audience. This unit focuses on research, planning, production, and evaluation.
Deconstruct the exam board's NEA brief and conduct primary and secondary research. Pupils will analyse similar products to inform their own creative decisions.
Develop comprehensive pre-production materials, including storyboards, script drafts, flat plans, and risk assessments. Pupils will ensure all planning aligns with their target audience.
Execute the planned media product using appropriate hardware and software. Pupils will refine their work through editing, layout design, and peer feedback.
05Contemporary Media Issues and Exam Preparation
A comprehensive review of the theoretical framework and set products in preparation for the GCSE exams. Pupils will practice exam techniques and engage with contemporary media debates.
Evaluate how the rise of digital platforms and social media has transformed media production, distribution, and consumption. Pupils will discuss issues like fake news and online identity.
Revisit and compare the exam board's set media products across different forms. Pupils will draw connections between media language, representation, industries, and audiences.
Focus on structuring exam responses, managing time, and applying theoretical knowledge to unseen texts. Pupils will complete mock assessments and review mark schemes.