Students : Curriculum : English : Media Studies

Key areas of study

Studying Media involves 7 key conceptual areas:

• Language – ways media texts communicate – pictures, sound, colour
• Audience – who the text is aimed at
• Representation – how the text portrays groups, places ideas and why
• Values and Ideology – ideas about life and life style within a text
• Institution – who makes and regulates media texts
• Narrative – how media texts tell stories
• Genre – types of text and specific features which shape texts

At all levels students have the opportunity to explore these concepts theoretically, analytically and practically. A major strength of the subject is its mixture of the practical and the theoretical: doing as well as thinking.

We run regular trips and are developing a programme of visits by experts and media professionals. We attend courses and conferences at The BFI in London and The Watershed Media Centre in Bristol among others.

Each year in September and October we organise showcases of our sixth form students’ films and print media. We hold a school event but also organise and take part in The North Somerset Schools’ Media Showcase at The Curzon Cinema in Clevedon.