Creative Digital Media Production BTEC

This Edexcel BTEC Level 3 qualification is a two-year learner-centred practical course with written aspects to consolidate learning.  It is worth the equivalent points to an A level and its aim is to provide an introduction to the study of creative media production in a more vocational way than the Media Studies A level, which explores wider issues and media debates.  The BTEC Creative Digital Media Production qualification is assessed through assignments set and marked by Collingwood Media staff alongside assignments commissioned and marked by the exam board which will be completed under controlled assessment conditions.  There is also a synoptic 2-hour on-screen exam element involving an analytical task that tests essential media knowledge from across the course. The work is split into 4 key units studied over the 2 years.  Students have full use of a collection of semi-professional camcorders and SLR cameras and access to a dedicated studio space.  They also benefit from being able to work in an editing suite running the Adobe Creative Suite.  

Units of Study:

Extended Certificate equivalent to a full A level

• Unit 1 – Media Representations : assessed via an external 2-hour exam.
• Unit 4 – Pre-production Portfolio: a unit written and assessed internally by College staff.
• Unit 8 – Responding to a Commission: an assignment set and marked by Edexcel.  This will involve a research task based on pre-release material followed by an assignment task completed in controlled assessment conditions (maximum 5 hours).
• Unit 10 –  Film Production – Fiction: a unit written and assessed internally by College staff.

What qualifications do I need to take the course?

Minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grades 9-4 (or equivalent).  Experience shows that your chances of success are greater in this subject if you have a Grade 4 in English Language.

How is the course assessed?

A mixture of internal and external assessment (see above).  There will be an external exam in this subject alongside internal coursework assessments.

Progression

At university level there are a number of institutions offering practical based degree courses from Film Production to Scriptwriting and Radio Production.  As this is a vocational course, it is an excellent introduction to the Creative Media Industries.  There are many apprenticeships available in the media industry.  Our students have taken both routes in past years as progression.  Two current Year 13 Media BTEC students have been awarded unconditional offers for Film making courses at The London South Bank University & Leeds Becket University. Another Year 13 member of this class will be going to the Met Film School.