Our film curriculum introduces pupils to a complex range of short and feature films that challenge their perceptions. The curriculum draws from the experiences and representations of different genders, cultures, religions, races and ethnicities. This provides students with a broad range of viewpoints and enhances their cultural experience.
At Castle Newnham we encourage pupils to challenge themselves to consider and scrutinise their own ideas and opinions about film theories, institutions, representations and events. They are presented with alternative points of view and are challenged to listen to different sides of relevant debates in current theories of ethnicity, feminism, politics, Postmodernism and media ownership.
Pupils acquire knowledge and understanding of how films reach specific audiences and the processes involved in creating and promoting these. With this in mind, pupils consider the responsibility of the film industry and how this medium is presented to audiences.
Film is explored and taught through the Key Stage 2 and 3 curriculum in topics such as: film music in music lessons and filming and editing soap opera performances in drama.
It is within these subject areas that students are provided with awareness of the social contexts that they will later explore in Film Studies. We seek to build on the previous learning of pupils and teach them how to use this social and analytical knowledge when approaching the texts that they are faced with at Key Stage 4.
Pupils are competent at using the technical equipment needed to experience the Film GCSE through their extensive experiences in Music Technology lessons from Upper Key Stage 2 onwards.
In Key Stage 4 we aim to allow learners to refine their understanding and knowledge of music based on prior learning; its culture, background and influences. Key Stage 4 serves to promote leadership and independence that will support them to further their learning. At Key Stage 4 pupils follow the Eduqas specification for GCSE Film Studies.
Year Group Content
The fascinating GCSE Film Studies course allows pupils to channel their passion for movies and exposes them to a wide range of cinematic experiences through films that have had a significant impact on the advancement of cinema and film technology. Pupils gain an understanding of a variety of films, including US popular cinema from the 1950s to the 1980s, studying two stages of Hollywood's evolution. Additionally, pupils will study recent movies, such as independent US movies and films from Europe, such as those from the UK, South Africa, and Australia. This course includes a lot of production work. In order to give pupils the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding of how films are made, they will examine a wide variety of movies from various backgrounds before creating their own work either through filmmaking or the writing of a screenplay.