Digital Media at SRWA

We want our students to be curious about the media products they see around them, and understand the processes involved in their production.

We want them to investigate and develop an understanding of how media products are aimed at different target audiences, and how their successes are measured.

We want them to be able to develop the creativity to design and make their own media products using industry standard practices.

We want them to assess the successes of products they see and make, as well as evaluate their success in meeting their objectives.

We want them to learn industry standard planning techniques and project management processes, which are used in so many industries.

We want students to become skilful problem-solvers; able to find creative solutions to complex and difficult problems.

We want them to become independent and be able to work in a way that demonstrates their own abilities, and builds their resilience.

We want them to become professional in their behaviours and attitudes, as well as being able to produce products of a professional standard.

Following the RSL Digital Media specification in year 12, the curriculum focuses on an introduction to the products and companies in the media, followed by learning skills in a variety of practical production areas.

Much of the first year is dedicated to learning the skills and processes that will enable students to produce professional products. Students look at pre-production techniques including script-writing, storyboarding, proposal writing and how to respond to a brief from a client. Students will learn about how to research audiences and use that information to inform their response for a client and develop a final product.

Students look at how products are media marketed and advertised after they have been created. We then move on to print advertising production, video production and podcast production, whilst looking at the work of professionals along the way.

Throughout all of this, they will learn professional project management processes which support the effective completion of a project for delivery to a client by a deadline.

We focus on a podcasting project at the end of year 12, with students designing, producing and publishing the final product online with Spotify and iTunes.

In year 13, students will explore the world of YouTubers and what they do, and we learn the skills and tools that are used to produce professional online video content. Students will run their own YouTube channel, and review and analyse viewer analytics to assess the success of their channel.

We move on to social media and how this is a used as a tool by big and small corporations to promote their products and services, as well as manage their online reputation.

The course ends with a module on careers in the Digital Media Industry, with students reviewing opportunities and producing a digital portfolio to support progression onto higher education or employment.

Studying Digital Media leads students to so many work and further education opportunities. Throughout the course students learn content and skills which will prepare them for their next steps. It links neatly into business and marketing as well as design, journalism, media and multimedia production and many creative industries such as radio and print.

Former students have progressed on to a wide range of courses including special and visual effects, marketing, design, as well as business and computing. The skills learned fit well with a wide range of higher education courses.

The course has been chosen because of its development by media professionals working in the industry now. So many businesses now rely on social media, marketing and online tools to support their growth and success, and this course provides students with the skills to work in those roles.

Through our links with universities and local employers, students are able to connect with industry professionals for support as well as professional feedback and input. We have connections with media companies across the Adur to Brighton area, as well as London. Through these links, students are supported in finding work experience placements with media production companies, to allow them to put their learning into practice in the real world.