Media Studies at Abbeydale Grange School

My name is Joe Gradwell (Lead teacher for Media Arts) and I am responsible for Media Studies at AGS. There are currently two groups in Y11 who will take the final two and a half hour exam in the Summer 2007. I am currently an examiner for the Media Studies exam board, the WJEC. I am able to use my expertise to help inform students about how they can raise their attainment.

Media Studies has been largely replaced by the DiDA course (Diploma in Digital Applications) in Multimedia web design and there is no independent Media Studies course in the current Y10. We are however running a pilot scheme with my English class whereby the group have been able to drop English Literature. This means they will gain an English Language and Media Studies GCSE qualification over the course of Y10 and Y11. Hopefully in the future this course will be offered as an option to Y9s.

The Media Studies course has very close ties with the school’s Specialist Status and we make effective use of the school’s cutting edge facilities for film editing, animation, photography, digital imaging and desk-top publishing. Students produce 3 major pieces of coursework, an essay, planning a new media product and producing a new media product. In the past students have produced all sorts of media texts, including documentaries, music videos and animations. I am happy to show you these if you wish to make an appointment to visit me in school.

Media Studies is an exciting subject to teach and students are able to use the knowledge they already have of the media, to great effect. Our current Year 10s are producing some excellent coursework. If your child wishes to find extra support at home on the internet, then www.mediaknowall.com is a fantastic place to start.