Why study A-Level Media Studies? (Year 11)

This is one of three lesson plans designed for Year 11 Media Studies teachers:

• Jobs that use Media Studies (Year 11)
• Skills you learn from Media Studies (Year 11)
• Why study A-Level Media Studies? (Year 11)

These lesson plans will help you show students how Media Studies connects to their future careers.

We recommend using this lesson plan at the beginning of the spring term, as students approach their post-16 choices. It builds on the two earlier lesson plans and draws them together to help students make an informed decision. A-Level Media Studies is one post-16 route among several - this lesson plan helps students decide whether it's the right one for them, or whether Media Studies fits their future better through another route.

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Learning objectives

• Students will understand what studying A-Level Media Studies involves.
• Students will recognise how Media Studies fits different post-16 routes, not just A-Level.
• Students will be able to say whether A-Level Media Studies is right for them and why.

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Before the lesson

• You will need a computer connected to the internet and a classroom screen.
• Open the What can you do with Media Studies? page and have it ready on the screen.
• Review the page in full so you know what's in each section.
• Be ready to describe your school's A-Level Media Studies syllabus.

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During the lesson

1. Recap: jobs and skills (5 mins)

• Ask students to recall what they discussed in the earlier Year 11 lessons:
  • What jobs use Media Studies?
  • What skills does Media Studies build?
• Write their answers on the board as a quick recap.

2. Walking through the page (15 mins)

• Bring up the What can you do with Media Studies? page on the classroom screen.
• Show students the table of contents so they see the shape of what's on the page.
• Walk through the key sections together, unpacking why each one matters for their post-16 decisions:
  • Media Studies at A-Level - What the course covers and how it differs from GCSE.
  • Subjects that pair with Media Studies - Which other A-Level choices work well alongside it.
  • Where Media Studies can take you next - The range of routes after A-Level. Be sure to flag that apprenticeships in journalism, marketing, and content production have grown sharply, and are worth looking at seriously alongside university.
• Briefly outline your school or college's A-Level syllabus, exam board, and assessment methods.

3. Is A-Level Media Studies right for you? (10 mins)

• Ask students to think about whether A-Level Media Studies fits their post-16 plan.
• Prompt them with questions:
  • Did you enjoy studying GCSE Media Studies enough to spend two more years on it?
  • Are you up for a longer, more independent production project across several linked media?
  • Do the skills Media Studies builds matter for the career or route you're leaning towards?
  • Do the jobs Media Studies leads to appeal to you? How are they reached?
  • Does A-Level Media Studies pair well with your other post-16 choices?
  • Would a T-Level, apprenticeship, or college course work better for you?
• Close by reminding students that the best post-16 choice is the one they'll engage with - whether that's A-Levels, a T-Level, an apprenticeship, or going straight into work. Interest and effort are what lead to good results, and good results open doors.

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After the lesson

• Share the What can you do with Media Studies? page with students and their parents/carers:
  • www.coffeewith.xyz/subjects/what-can-you-do-with-media-studies
• Encourage parents/carers to explore the page with their child and to discuss the contents.
• Encourage parents/carers to also explore related videos and careers with their child.
• Use the School Tools / Activities feature to record the lesson activity:
  • Activity name: Year 11 - Why study A-Level Media Studies?
  • Activity type: Linking curriculum learning to careers