Department: Film Studies

Curriculum Intention:

• Build upon learners' enthusiasm for film and develop an appreciation of film across its many different forms.
• Introduce learners to a wide variety of cinematic experiences through films which have been important in the history and development of film.
• Explore a culturally diverse range of cinema from different national contexts, genres and time periods.
• Develop a critical awareness of films and their contexts.
• Develop an appreciation and understanding of film as an aesthetic medium.
• Develop core analysis skills through studying the ways in which meanings and responses are generated in film.

Curriculum Implementation:

KS4

• Two year mapped curriculum from Year 10 to Year 11 which develops learner knowledge and understanding in order for learners to progress in their knowledge and understanding of Film Studies.
• Learners will progress from studying and analysing the key elements of film form to recognising how contexts and writing on film can deepen their understanding of it. These core areas of knowledge and understanding are implemented within each unit of work.

Additional areas of study in Year 10 are:

• A global English language film will focus additionally on narrative – Slumdog Millionaire.
• A global non-English language film will focus additionally on representation – The Wave.
• A contemporary UK film will focus additionally on a film's aesthetic qualities – Skyfall

In Year 11:

• A US independent film will be studied in relation to specialist writing on film – Juno.
• A comparison of two US films from the past will be studied in a holistic will focus on comparing the films in terms of genre, narrative and context. 

KS5

• A two-year-mapped curriculum from Year 12 to Year 13 which develops learner knowledge and understanding in order for learners to progress in their knowledge and understanding of Film Studies as well as their skills for producing their own texts.
• Learners will develop their conceptual understanding of the films studied and consider wider institutional, social, cultural and historical contexts surrounding the industry.
• The course explores British, American and global film. Foreign language and silent films are also studied to broaden and deepen learners’ understanding of film and the ways in which it communicates meaning.

Monitoring and assessing curriculum impact: 

KS4

• End of topic formative assessments based on one film.
• One formal assessment point in year 10 and two formal assessment points in year 11 where students will complete exam papers.
• Books to be monitored for accurate use of terminology and evidence of quality of engagement in learning.

KS5

• End of topic formative assessments based on one film.
• One formal assessment point in year 12 and two formal assessment points in year 13 where students will complete exam papers.
• Seminar-style presentations.
• Folders of notes are checked for learning.
• Independent study tasks used to ensure wider study informs classroom learning and engagement.