Media Arts is built into the Clare Mount curriculum through modules in ICT and Arts Award at KS3. We offer Film Studies GCSE at KS4 and BTEC Digital Media at KS5. We have developed a practical, visual and creative curriculum across all Key Stages taking advantage of our excellent media equipment and Adobe editing software. This subject area enables students the opportunity to use their imagination to create digital media projects and learn about the digital world around them.

“The world of reality has its limits; 

the world of imagination is boundless.” 

– Jean-Jacques Rousseau

At KS3 students learn how to create digital art, graphic design and photo manipulation as part of their ICT curriculum. Bronze Arts Award is facilitated at Clare Mount and students are given the opportunity to work on an exciting film project creating a stop motion animation.

“You can’t use up creativity. 

The more you use, the more you have.” 

– Maya Angelou

At KS4 the Film Studies GCSE is offered as an option for students to showcase their creative talents in film form.  Film Studies looks at the variety of cinematic experiences through films that have been important in the development of film and film technology. Students will learn about US mainstream film by studying two stages in Hollywood’s development. They will study US independent film as well as films from Europe.  The course teaches key language used, understanding of different audiences and the use of narrative structure.

BTEC Digital Media is offered to our Sixth Form students allowing for creative project work to be carried out and enabling students to learn about careers in the industry.

“Create your own visual style… 

let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable to others.” 

– Orson Welles

The Media Arts curriculum is fully inclusive of all our students’ needs and all resources are accessible allowing students to fully engage in all activities. The department is fully equipped to enable students to explore creative arts. We develop independence and resilience in all subject areas and provide students with opportunities to showcase their talents.

Media Arts in ICT

Year 8 students will work on a graphics project in ICT lessons creating a print advertisement for a new soft drink. Students will use photo manipulation tools to remove backgrounds, apply filters and add text. Students will first learn about the codes and conventions of a print advertisement and will carry out pre production; sketching ideas and collecting assets.Students have the opportunity to use industry standard software such as Canva and Adobe Express to produce a professional looking print. 

Year 9 students will embark upon two media arts projects across different media sectors over the year. The moving image sector will be explored in the film production module in ICT lessons exploring all stages of production. Creating an Animation allows students to develop planning skills, creativity and storytelling skills as well as mastering camerawork and editing techniques. Students will come up with a basic premise, storyboard their idea and then capture the frames before they edit the final cut. Students will also cover the print media sector exploring print advertisements in the form of a film poster. Students will cover all stages of production including planning, production and editing their final product using Adobe Express or Canva. 

“Creativity is just connecting things.”

– Steve Jobs

Bronze Arts Award - Filmmaking (Trinity College) 

Arts Award takes students on a creative journey, exploring the arts. They discover their potential as artists and develop leadership skills. This qualification builds skills essential for success. Students develop creativity and communication as well as problem solving, reflective thinking and confidence.

At Clare Mount our students will embark upon a film project taking a journey through four parts. Part A - Taking part in the arts, in which they will be involved in filmmaking workshops acquiring filmmaking skills, Part B - Be part of the audience, in which they will attend screenings of films and write up reviews, becoming film critics. Part C- Arts inspiration, where the students will find out about an arts practitioner, carrying out research about their work and summarising what they found. And finally Part 4 - Art skills share, in which students will become an arts leader, passing on art skills to others.

“To be a filmmaker, you have to lead. 

You have… desire to do something. 

People always like the easy route. 

You have to push very hard to get something unusual, 

something different.”

- Danny Boyle

Year 10 & 11

Film Studies GCSE (EDUQAS)

Students will study a diverse range of films from several different contexts which is designed to give them the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding of how films are constructed to their own filmmaking and screenwriting. 

In year 10 students will learn all about film history and technology as well learning the fundamentals of film and filmmaking. Students will have an introduction to film form including cinematography, mise en scene, sound and editing. Students will gain a greater understanding of genre, representation and narrative. Students will also study the science fiction genre and carry out a comparison of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and ET: Extra Terrestrial.

In year 11 students will continue their journey through key developments in US film and study an independent film as well as looking closely at Global film. Students will explore the narrative of Slumdog Millionaire, look into representation in a foreign language film and study the film style of a British film.

There are two exam assessments at the end of year 11 worth 70% of the overall grade. The non exam assessment is the production of either filmmaking or screenwriting worth 30% of the overall grade.

“If it can be written or thought, it can be filmed.”

- Stanley Kubrick

Sixth Form

BTEC Level 1 Introductory Award in DIgital Media (Pearsons)

Students will carry out two units over the course of the year; Developing a personal progression plan in which students will explore their skills and career interests. The second unit is a digital media project where students will explore a range of media platforms and create a media product to a set brief. Students will cover all stages of production; pre production, production and post production. Practical workshops will be given in filmmaking, graphics and audio recording. Students will also be given careers talks by specialists within the industry. 

Trips and Opportunities

We work with The BBC on Young Reporter events and have taken creative media cohorts from KS4 and KS5 to BBC Media City in Manchester for the last 2 years. Students take part in creative workshops and learn about the industry. We have worked with the BBC on a Young Reporter Project and the children featured on North West Tonight on School News Report Day. 

We twice yearly take part in the INTO Film Film Festival and take students to screenings of films at The Light Cinema and VUE which is a great opportunity to enjoy films on the big screen.

We have strong links with local radio station Wirral Wave and as part of the BTEC Digital Media course Sixth Formers visit the station and take part in a workshop creating jingles and learning how to present.

This year we have built on industry connections and have had digital marketing executives delivering workshops on content creation.