4 Media and Communication A-level Programs

This course is ideal for learners who have an interest in the media or advertising industry. Within the course students will study topics such as media representations, media language, audiences, and the media industry. There is a focus on analytical skills (understanding how media products create meanings) and a theoretical understanding of how the media impacts on individuals and groups, exploring issues of identity and power. There are opportunities for you to take part in trips and enter your creative work into competitions.

By studying Media Studies A level, you will develop the knowledge and skills needed to analyse the products of the media. You will look at all aspects of their design from their audio-visual presentation to the rhetorical devices and connotations of the language they use. You will examine a wide range of material and media forms, ranging from television and film to online media, music, print and advertising. Case studies on a selection of products will be used to support essay answers in the exams.

An A level in Graphic Communication is an excellent complement for other art courses at A level. It is also an excellent basis on which to apply to study the subject further at art college or university as, along with the skills, it will provide you with the portfolio you will need for your application. It is also very useful if you wish to work or study in areas relating to design, fashion and architecture. The course will develop your skills in drawing and visualisation and these have value far beyond courses such as those mentioned already.

The College has chosen the AQA Music A Level Music programme as it follows on seamlessly from the AQA GCSE course we offer. It is also possible to take AS Level Music and is a perfect accompaniment to other A Level Subjects. The AS Level can be taken on its own, but can then be developed into the full A Level Music by a further year at the College, as both the AS and A Level courses follow the same curriculum.