Skip to Main Content

Creative Media Practice

The Creative Media Practice qualification equips students with professional skills to work in the media and creative industries. The course is 100% practical and all work is assessed internally by the course teachers. Students will have the opportunity to progress to university study or apprenticeships in the creative sector.

Students will gain substantial experience in using a variety of media software and hardware including cameras, video editing, graphic design and audio production. Using these resources, students will produce a variety of projects across a range of media including adverts, music videos, short films, documentaries, posters and radio segments. Within each unit, there will be three practical media tasks. For one of these tasks, students have the opportunity to choose their focus, depending on which area of production suits them.

Qualifications & Assessments

Exam Board Pearson
Level Level 3
Qualification BTEC National 540 Diploma
Assessment Method 100% Internally Assessed Coursework
Entry Requirements Entry Requirements
Photograph of Media Production students in the TV studio.

Year 1

In the first year of the course, students will attend weekly skills workshops to develop their skills in video, print, audio and photographic production. These are core skills which will underpin the development of the practical projects throughout the year. There are two large units whereby students will produce a variety of media to meet the objectives:

  • Advertising (TV, print, radio and social media)
  • Short Film Production (film, marketing, trailers)

Year 2

The second year of the course will build on the skills gained in the first year. Students will produce more advanced media and will undertake the following units:

  • Music Marketing (music video, posters, photography, journalism)
  • Factual Production (documentary, posters, radio documentary)
  • TV Studio Production (live recording of a teen lifestyle programme)

The pathway allows learners to focus on the film and TV sectors within the creative industries. The qualification meets admission requirements for a range of related higher education courses such as:

  • BA (Hons) Computer Animation
  • BA (Hons) Digital Television Production
  • BA (Hons) Film
  • BA (Hons) Media Production
  • BA (Hons) Media Studies
  • BSc (Hons) Broadcast Audio Technology

A significant proportion of careers in the media industry are at graduate level, but achievement of this qualification will also support those who choose to progress directly to employment. Learners develop employability skills and knowledge through contextual projects which build their communication skills and ability to work collaboratively, as well as developing practical skills in digital media hardware, software and processes. This would give learners an advantage when applying for entry level roles in the industry such as a runner or production assistant within a television or film production company. Apprenticeships are also a popular route for our students, and we have in the past had success with students who have gone onto Apprenticeships with the BBC at Media City.

Students will have the opportunity to attend local film festivals, cinema trips and the departmental annual trip to New York. For more information about the New York trip please see the Trips and Travel page.

Previous trips have included visits to the BBC in Media City, The Sharp Project and London.

I’m happy Media has given me a bridge to the future, and has provided me with an option for something I will enjoy doing after college, and something I intend to make a career out of. 10/10 would recommend.

Harry

Related Courses

Skip Courses

3D Design: Architecture and Interior Design

A Level 3D Design: Architecture and Interior is a hub for unleashing your creativity and imagination in the world of Architecture and Interior Design. Our course is designed to not[...]

Photograph of 3D Design students work

Business Extended Certificate

Learners will undertake a programme of assessments designed to assess not only their knowledge and understanding of business, but also the way in which this knowledge and understanding can shape[...]

Photograph of an applied business student

Art, Craft and Design

Art at Aquinas is an exciting and challenging subject that encourages students to be creative and show a more personal understanding of Art, Craft and Design. The aim of this[...]

Photograph of an Art and Design student working on an art project

Business

Business studies students study a variety of topics related to strategy and decision making. One day you may be a manager in a business related to your chosen subject area[...]

Photograph of a business student

Film Studies

The WJEC Eduqas specification is designed to introduce A level learners to a wide variety of films in order to broaden their knowledge and understanding of film and the range[...]

Photograph of a student looking through a camera.

Graphic Design

Graphic Design is a fast paced, successful linear Art & Design course where students will be introduced to a variety of design approaches whilst exploring a range of media, processes[...]

Photograph of a student working on a graphic design project

Media Studies

Students who take A Level Media Studies find that they are challenged in different ways to other subjects. We study areas of representation including gender, sexuality, age and ethnicity in[...]

Photograph of a media student holding a handheld rig

Photography

Photography at Aquinas is an exciting and challenging subject that encourages students to be creative and show a more personal understanding of Photography.

Photograph of a photography student taking a photograph outdoors.
News & Blog

Latest From Aquinas

All lower sixth biology students were invited to participate in a variety of practical sessions at the University of Salford. Students experienced working in a ‘megalab’ which could accommodate over 140 students. Students were provided with DNA from two different species of protists. They completed practical work amplifying the DNA using a polymerase chain reaction […]

Students carrying out an experiment at the University of Salford

Students, staff and guests came together on Friday 22nd May for the annual Duke of Edinburgh Garden Party, celebrating the achievements of Aquinas students involved in the award programme.

Photograph of a group of students stook outside an old building

Our Music Technology students recently visited Spirit Studios for a hands-on Drum Recording Workshop, gaining valuable experience in a professional studio environment. Students explored the process of recording live drums, learning about drum tuning and setup, patching signals for recording, and operating professional mixing equipment. A fantastic opportunity to develop technical skills, work with industry-standard […]

Cropped photograph of a recording studio

Our Environmental Science students recently visited Chester Zoo for a fantastic day of learning beyond the classroom. Students took part in an engaging educational talk, enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour, and had the opportunity to see a wide variety of species up close, including some of the zoo’s iconic giraffes. The trip provided valuable insight into […]

Students at Chester Zoo