English and Media
English
English is a vibrant and dynamic subject which reflects and responds to the society in which we live. Learning in English creates pupils who are confident, literate, articulate and empathetic. Therefore learning in English contributes to learning in all subjects and to life beyond school because once these skills are acquired they have universal use and value. Opportunities in English at Swanmore include access to study and the creation of a range of up to date and relevant texts including those produced via the mass media and ICT. Pupils are invited to participate in a range of competitions which develop their reading, writing and communication
skills and they are supported in this via liaison with the Library/Media Area. Other extra curricular activities include
theatre and cinema visits and opportunities to work with children from our feeder schools. English skills are valued by all employers. Specifically English can lead to careers in journalism, the media, publishing and teaching - to name but a few. Most importantly, success in English can lead to success in life.
Media Studies
There are a number of reasons why the English Department offers a Media Studies course as an alternative to the English Literature course for some pupils. Despite some pupils being of ‘good’ ability in English their needs are not always best addressed by the separate study of Literature. The English GCSE course already contains a high proportion of Literature study in the form of the Different Cultures poetry examination component, and the requirements of the Shakespeare coursework; thus ensuring that pupils enrolling on the Media Studies course will not lose touch with Literature entirely. However, it is understood that not all pupils are as engaged by the study of Literature as we would wish and their needs are therefore better suited to the Media Studies course. The Media is an integral part of our lives and in order to appreciate the effect it has on us we need to be media literate. The Media Studies GCSE offers the chance to develop the skills necessary to analyse media texts, understand how and by whom they are produced, explore issues of media ownership and to appreciate how new technologies are changing the way in which we consume the media. It also helps pupils to develop an awareness of how the media industry has changed over time through the study of both modern and “classic” media texts. Therefore, studying the Media and encouraging pupils to understand how meaning is constructed in media texts enables pupils to become more active 'readers' of the Media, it also enables them to become more powerful users of language in all its forms. It develops creative and critical powers and it enables pupils to fully appreciate the many media texts encountered in other subject areas. English and Literature Revision Sessions
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