Â鶹ÊÓƵ

ICT permeates all aspects of life, providing newer, better, and quicker ways for people to interact, network, seek help, gain access to information, and learn.

Purpose

We believe that students deserve an ICT curriculum which prepares them for the digital and fast paced world they live in.ÌýÌý

ICT gives young people the skills and abilities to engage positively with the digital and global world. They learn how products and systems work, the skills that businesses require, with the ICT skills to use a variety of resources including traditional and digital technologies, and how these all help improve the world around them and for them to become a valued member of a digital society.Ìý

We thrive to provide opportunities which allow students to develop a knowledge of a range of Information Communication Technology and software. Students will grow in confidence through dedicated teaching environments, the latest ICT equipment and software, and specialist teaching.Ìý

At KS4 the choice of ICT enables students to study the Creative Media Production course. The subject allows for deeper study of the digital world they live in, potential career opportunities and with the skills developed at KS3 the confidence to take risks, become resourceful, innovative and capable IT practitioners. The subjects encourage students to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems, within a variety of contexts, while considering their own and other’s needs, wants and values.Ìý

The Creative Media Production course equips learners with the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to work in the IT, Creative Digital and Media sectors.

Curriculum Features

Key Stage 3:Ìý

Students go through a whole programme of units to develop their basic knowledge and understanding in this key stage.Ìý

In Year 7 students develop their research and presentation skills through investigating future technology.Ìý Basic programming skills are covered through the Algorithms unit followed by an eSafety unit looking at online safety measures. Students also develop some understanding of creating a website for a given real-life scenario. This is followed by exploring 3D design by using another software to create 3D objects.Ìý

In Year 8 students build on their skills development from the previous year. Students investigate the impact of social media and the associated risks along with how to stay safe.Ìý They will explore the use of spreadsheets to do various actions and develop their confidence in understanding computer hardware & software essentials.Ìý They expand on their web design skills from Year 7 to meet the user requirements for another real-life scenario.Ìý This is followed up by exploring simple programming software through the creation of a game.Ìý

These units create a good secure foundation for students to excel in ICT at key stage 4.Ìý

Key Stage 4:Ìý

The Level 2 BTEC Tech Award in Creative Media Production is designed to enable our learners to experience ICT in a vocational context. The course, which is broken down into three linear components, allows students to contextualise their understanding of the ICT and creative media sector taught in lessons by actively studying real life scenarios. Students will study digitalÌý

technology and how it continues to evolve as media techniques have become more sophisticatedÌý

and media products are becoming more advanced.Ìý

Assessment of the Level 2 Tech Award in Creative Media Production is completed through a series of Pearson Set Assignments (PSA’s) which are written in a vocational context and released by the exam board at given points of the year. The two coursework components are worth 30% each of student’s final grade alongside an external practical examination worth 40% of the final grade.ÌýÌý

Students work will go through a moderation process whereby their coursework grades will be agreed upon through a standardisation process. Following moderation there is no further opportunity to improve upon work submitted. Failure to complete coursework in the given window will result in students having to re-sit the component with a new PSA.ÌýÌý

The two internal coursework components consist of:Ìý

• Component 1 – Exploring Media Products (30%). In this unit students will develop their understanding of how media products are created for specific audiences and purposes in each of these sectors: audio/moving image, print and interactive media. Students will explore the relationship between genre, narrative and representation in media products, and develop their understanding of how they are interpreted by audiences. Students will learn how media production techniques are used to create different effects to communicate meaning to audiences.Ìý
• Component 2 – Developing Digital Media Production Skills (30%). In this unit students will develop practical media production skills and techniques.Ìý They will have the opportunity to specialise in one of the following media sectors: audio/moving image, print or interactive media. Students will develop their practical skills and techniques in creative media production. They will apply these skills and techniques to relevant pre-production, production and post-production processes when developing a media product. Throughout this development, students will review their progress and consider how they can make improvements to their techniques and practical outcomes.Ìý
  

Students will be awarded points for their coursework tasks. These points will accumulate towards their final grade overall. Points awarded are based on students’ application of knowledge throughout their work. Awarding mark band 1 for instance shows the student had limited knowledge, mark band 2 shows adequate knowledge, mark band 3 shows good knowledge and mark band 4 shows comprehensive knowledge.Ìý

External Practical Exam unit:Ìý

• Component 3 – Create a Media Product in Response to a Brief (40%).ÌýÌý

This external practical exam component builds on knowledge, understanding and skills acquired and developed in Components 1 and 2. Students will apply their practical skills to the creation of a media product in response to a brief set by the exam board. Students will submit their ideas, pre-production planning and final media product in a portfolio of evidence.ÌýÌý

This is a synoptic unit and the final grade counts. This will be sat in a 10 hour window in Year 2 of the course (usually from February to May).ÌýÌý

Enrichment

We enrich our curriculum by:      Ìý

• Enable learners to think creatively, innovatively, analytically, logically and critically Ìý
• Understand the components that make up the digital world & systems and how they communicate with one another Ìý
• Understand the impacts of digital technology to the individual and wider societyÌý
• To give students the opportunity to develop skills using a wide range of software         Establishing cross curricular linksÌýÌý
• Encouraging students to contribute to the life of the school and the communityÌýÌý
• Developing partnerships with external providers that extend children’s opportunities for learningÌý
• Create an environment of confidence where students feel they can experiment, make mistakes and develop their skills in an independent mannerÌýÌý
• Regular use of teacher led live modelling to demonstrate knowledge & skills both theoretically & practicallyÌýÌý