Teacher Input

The GCSE and A-Level Film Studies qualifications are designed to introduce learners to a wide variety of films in order to broaden their knowledge and understanding of film and the range of responses films can generate. The courses therefore offer opportunities to study significant film movements so that learners can gain a sense of the development of film from its early years to its still emerging digital future.
Film Studies is a heavily practical subject, with 30% of the available marks for each qualification coming from coursework. The department has historically achieved highly in this regard and this new marking and feedback policy aims to apply the methods used to monitor and assess practical work across the whole of the Film Studies curriculum.
- At the beginning of the course, students will set-up an online blog. This blog will be used to document the entire course and will effectively be a container that stores all notes, coursework and exam preparation material. Blog posts are likely to consist of audio, video, photographic and other media as well as text. The blog will be submitted to the exam board, in its entirety, at the end of the course.
- Blogs will be actively monitored throughout the year. The class teacher will receive a notification whenever a student publishes or edits a post on their blog.
- The class teacher will direct the class to write mandatory blog posts, but some posts will be unique to a particular student.
- The class teacher will leave comments at the end of some blog posts.
- The class teacher will regularly review the blog with each student, offering suggestions about published content and ideas for the blog's future direction.
- Students are encouraged to personalise their blog and explore their interests. They will be expected to post updates multiple times per week.
- Essays will be marked with specific reference to the exam board mark schemes and comments will support students to make improvements.
- Practical work will be closely monitored by the class teacher and verbal feedback will be ongoing.
- Additional information here. </aside>

<aside> 📣

Student Response

Film Studies students will be expected to respond to any feedback given by their class teacher.
Teacher feedback written in blog comments require a subsequent response in the blog comments. Students should regularly check their posts for teacher feedback. </aside>

<aside> 📔

Recorded Feedback

In addition to regular and ongoing verbal feedback, students can expect the following routine recorded feedback.

KS4	KS5
Each examined unit, approximately one per half-term following the initial induction period, will culminate in students completing a full past-paper set of questions in an appropriately titled blog-post. This will be marked by the class teacher, using exam board mark schemes, in a subsequent comment post. Teacher feedback will include a band, a mark, and suggestions for improvement.	Each examined unit, approximately one per half-term following the initial induction period, will culminate in students completing full past-paper essays, in an appropriately titled blog-post, for each specialist study area (usually two for each unit). These will be marked by the class teacher, using exam board mark schemes, in a subsequent comment post. Teacher feedback will include a band and suggestions for improvement.
Students will blog every week, usually multiple times. The class teacher will read every post and comment on some posts. Comments will be posted as necessary and will be bespoke to individual needs — either to encourge or support. Different students in a cohort will receive comments on different blog posts.	Students will blog every week, usually multiple times. The class teacher will read every post and comment on some posts. Comments will be posted as necessary and will be bespoke to individual needs — either to encourge or support. Different students in a cohort will receive comments on different blog posts.
Students will complete and receive feedback on an internal past paper exam towards the end of Year 10, and a mock exam about halfway through Year 11. These will each allow students to understand their abilities in the most recently taught units.	Students will complete and receive feedback on an internal past paper exam abut half-way through Year 12, again towards the end of Year 12, and a mock exam about halfway through Year 13. These will each allow students to understand their abilities in the most recently taught units.
See Course Overview for details.	See Course Overview for details.
</aside>