Cambridge Creative iMedia – GCSE Option

At Goldington Academy we believe in providing multiple routes into GCSE option that utilise technology and computing. Offering the iMedia option is an opportunity for students to access computing via a different route. Our department philosophy regarding the subject is as follows:

• It is a truly contemporary subject which is relevant to all our pupils' lives. The media saturates everything we do in the developed world in the 21st Century. Giving pupils the tools to analyse and critique the media affords them the chance to see the ways in which the media pervades their lives.
• It improves literacy skills and pupils' abilities in other subjects. Pupils' English skills showed great improvement when studying the media. High motivation is translated into being able to write detailed critiques of the media, in a way many are not, when analysing Victorian literature or writing essays for other subjects. They also learn a great deal of new terminology much of which can be used in other subjects, including English, the Humanities, D&T and Science.
• It is a genuinely vocational subject. iMedia involves pupils making their own films, writing their own newspapers, setting up their own websites, creating their own music videos. It's extremely hands-on; pupils interact with modern technology in lots of ways, using all the customary IT programmes such as wordprocessing and presentation software as well as video and sound editing software.
• It is intellectually challenging, having a thorough grounding in media theory. Pupils learn about linguistic theory, exploring the complexities of structuralist and post-structuralist thought. It affords pupils the opportunity to explore crucial issues connected with "identity". At its core, it is a course which covers a myriad of differing subject topics; our approach focuses on both the historical and theoretical.

The Staff

GCSE iMedia is delivered by Mr Hall – Head of Year Eleven, Head of iMedia and Teacher of Computing.

Year 10 and 11 Course

EXAM BOARD: OCR

What will my child gain from Cambridge Creative iMedia?
Students will be interested in this qualification where they will use their learning in practical, real-life situations, such as developing visual identities for clients, planning and creating original digital graphics, and reviewing original digital media products. It also develops skills transferable to other life and work situations, including problem-solving, idea generation, planning, and effective use of media. This qualification complements other GCSE or vocational learning at Key Stage 4 and prepares students for further study.

Course assessment

This is a Cambridge National Level 1/2 Vocational course, equivalent to a GCSE but graded differently.

Course structure

Cambridge National Creative iMedia is split into 3 units (two mandatory, one optional):

R093 – Creative iMedia in the Media Industry – 40%

The media industry is vast, covering both traditional and new media sectors and providing work for individual freelance creatives as well as large teams in design houses and multinational companies. Job roles frequently overlap multiple sectors, and products often need to be suitable for more than one kind of output. However, there are common aspects to all media products. Pre-production and planning are vital; saving clients time and money and enabling creatives and designers to charge appropriately for their services. Products also make use of similar media codes to convey meaning, create impact and engage audiences.

In this unit you will learn about the sectors, products and job roles that form the media industry. You will learn the legal and ethical issues considered and the processes used to plan and create digital media products. You will learn how media codes are used within the creation of media products to convey meaning, create impact and engage audiences. You will learn to choose the most appropriate format and properties for different media products. Completing this unit will provide you with the basic skills for further study or a range of creative job roles within the media industry.

R094 – Visual Identity and Digital Graphics – 25%

Identity is a vital component of any business, product or brand. A visual identity communicates values and core principles to the consumer, user or customer. It makes a brand recognisable and helps sell a product or idea to a target audience. Logos, shapes, typography, colour theory and composition are all used to generate visual identities which work across different platforms and media, and user interface and experience are key considerations in the design process. In this unit you will learn how to develop visual identities for clients. You will also learn to apply the concepts of graphic design to create original digital graphics which incorporate your visual identity to engage a target audience. Completing this unit will introduce the foundations for further study or a wide range of job roles within the media industry.

R097 – Interactive Digital Media – 35% (optional)

Interactive digital media products are found across the media industry, in games, websites and apps, learning and knowledge-based systems, simulations and in commerce. At the heart of digital media products is a fusion of media rich content including text, images, sounds, video and animation. This content is combined with UX and UI design to create an immersive and engaging environment which can promote, educate, entertain, inform or influence. In this unit you will learn to design and create interactive digital media products for chosen platforms. You will learn to select, edit and repurpose multimedia content of different kinds and create the structure and interactive elements necessary for an effective user experience. Completing this unit will provide you with the basic skills for further study or a range of creative and technical job roles within the media industry.

Departmental Resources

We currently have 2 Computer Science labs at the school. Both are running the latest Windows © operating system, Office © packages as well as the complete Adobe © suites in order to provide students with the best experience. There is also a variety of software available that supports all the other curriculum areas, allowing everyone to make use of the labs to support the curriculum.

GCSE Specification

Sample Exam Paper

GCSE Booklet