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Interactive Media

Our curriculum is designed to equip students with a diverse range of technological knowledge and abilities across various domains. From cooking to product design, textiles to IT skills, students will explore the exciting world of technology and develop practical skills for the modern era.
Through engaging projects, hands-on activities, and real-world applications, students will cultivate their creativity, critical thinking, and technical proficiency. Our curriculum emphasises design thinking, entrepreneurship, and sustainable practices, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and encouraging students to envision and create solutions for real-world challenges.
During Key Stage 3, all students will gain practical experience in areas such as culinary arts, product prototyping, textiles, and information technology. Join us in this dynamic and forward-looking technology curriculum, where innovation, craftsmanship, and digital literacy prepare students for a rapidly evolving world.

What makes a good student of Technology?

Demonstrates a genuine interest and curiosity in exploring different areas of technology.
Possesses strong problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically and analytically.
Shows creativity and innovation in designing and creating practical solutions.
Exhibits effective communication and collaboration skills, working well in team projects.
Demonstrates attention to detail and precision in executing technical tasks.
Displays adaptability and flexibility in working with different tools, materials, and technologies.
Shows an understanding and application of design principles and processes.
Exhibits strong organisation and time management skills to meet project deadlines.
Demonstrates a commitment to safety protocols and responsible use of technology.
Exhibits a growth mindset, embracing challenges and actively seeking opportunities for learning and improvement.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

Curriculum Journey

Students will learn about Interactive Media as part of a Technology rotation, spending a number of weeks per academic year covering the following areas:

Year 7 – 2D Design
Year 8 – 2D Design
Year 9 – Packaging Design

Teaching Hours: Delivered as part of the Technology Rotation - 4 hours per fortnight

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

Exam Board - NCFE

What is the course?

You will be following the NCFE Level 2 Technical Award in Interactive Media.

What will I be taught?

You will be taught about a range of Interactive Media products and how electronic text, graphics, moving images and sound can be combined to create them. You will explore existing interactive products (such as websites, augmented reality and interactive videos) and then plan, develop and test your own interactive product for a specific audience and purpose. The qualification will appeal to learners who wish to pursue a career in the interactive media sector.

What units will I study?

Unit 1 Investigate Interactive Media Production
Unit 2 Plan and Prepare for an Interactive Media Product
Unit 3 Develop and Produce an Interactive Media Product
Unit 4 Present and Promote an Interactive Media Product

Is there a practical element to the course?
All of the units studied have practical elements to them, including: creating videos, animations, websites and interactive kiosks.

What skills will I learn?
Throughout the course you will learn to use a range of software packages, from the Adobe Suite (Fireworks, Flash, Dreamweaver and Photoshop) to Matchware Mediator. You will learn about the development cycle of a project and the importance of considering a specific audience and purpose.

What would be expected of me?
You will be expected to complete all tasks within lessons and you should be keen to practise and experiment with different pieces of software in your own time.

Is there coursework involved in this course?
All four of the units are coursework-based and will include both paper-based research tasks and demonstrations using different types of software.

How will I be assessed?
You will complete a practical computer-based external assessment, which is worth 60% of your qualification and a written examination which is 1 hour 30 minutes and a mixture of multiple-choice, short answer and extended answer questions worth 40%.

What courses or employment can I progress to at the end of the course?
At the end of the course, you will be able to progress onto the Cambridge Technical Level 3 course. You will develop skills, knowledge and understanding in contexts that are directly relevant to employment situations, such as website development, animation or project management, enhancing your employability within the Information and Communication Technology sector. Learners could also progress in employment or onto an apprenticeship in the interactive media sector.

Teaching Hours: 5 hours per fortnight

Key Stage 5 Curriculum

BTEC – Level 3 - Extended Certificate in Digital Media or BTEC – Level 3 – Foundation Diploma in Digital Media

Course Summary

The qualification provides a coherent introduction to the study of creative digital media production at this level. Learners develop an understanding of the media industry through analysing media representations and pitching and producing media projects. It is designed for post-16 learners who aim to progress to higher education and ultimately to employment, possibly in the media industries, as part of a programme of study alongside other BTEC Nationals or A levels.

Course Details

Mandatory Units (GLH Guided Learning Hours)

Unit 1: Media Products and Audiences (90 GLH) Exam
Unit 2: Pre Production and Planning (90 GLH) Exam
Unit 3: Create a Media Product (60GLH) Coursework

Optional Units

For the Extended Certificate you must achieve all three mandatory units plus an additional 120 GLH. For the Foundation Certificate you must achieve all three mandatory units plus an additional 300 GLH.

Social Media and Globalisation (60 GLH)
Journalism and the News Industry (60GLH)
The Creation and use of Sound in Media (60GLH)
Advertising Media (60GLH)
Plan and deliver a pitch for a Media Product (30GLH)
Scripting for Media Products (30GLH)
Create a personal Media Profile (30GLH)
Cross-media Industry Awareness (30GLH)

How the course is delivered

Assessment is specifically designed to fit the purpose and objective of the qualification. It includes a range of assessment types and styles suited to vocational qualifications in the sector. There are three main forms of assessment that you need to be aware of: external, internal and synoptic.

Entry Requirements

Minimum of five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, including English Literature or Language and Maths. Subject specific results will also be considered when choosing this course.

Teaching Hours

8 hours per fortnight for Extended Certificate

16 hours per fortnight for Diploma

Enrichment and Extra-Curricular

To extend learning beyond the classroom, you should consider doing some of the following tasks:

Try cooking in your own home and try out new recipes, then share them through a blog or social media to refine culinary skills and creativity.
Start an online channel or blog to share information about your interests and enhance your digital communication skills.
Practice model making and prototyping at home using materials such as clay, cardboard or digital tools such as CAD Software.

You can also extend your learning through reading. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

Book title	Book author
Algorithms to Live By	Griffiths, Tom- Christian, Brian
Computational Fairy Tales	Kubica, Jeremy
Best Practices of Spell Design	Kubica, Jeremy
Nine Algorithms That Changed the World	MacCormick, John
I, Robot	Isaac Asimov
Hello World	Fry, Hannah
Algorithms to Live By	Griffiths, Tom-Christian, Brian
Brave New World	Huxley, Aldous
2001 A Space Odyssey	Arthur C. Clarke
Ghost in the Wires	Kevin Mitnick