Media Studies is taught at Loxford School across KS4 and KS5.
Whilst Media Studies is not taught as a specialist subject at KS3, many students still have opportunities to learn about the media and create their own Media products, usually within their English classroom.
 
The Media Studies department is made up of:
 
Mr. MacKay - Curriculum Team Leader of Media Studies & Film Studies (GCSE, BTEC  & A Level)
Mrs. Bukhari - Teacher of Media Studies & Film Studies (GCSE, BTEC  & A Level)
Miss Sadek - Teacher of English/Media Studies (GCSE, BTEC & A Level)
Mrs. Price -Teacher of English/Media Studies (GCSE & A Level)
Miss Walker - Teacher of English/Media Studies (BTEC)
Mrs. Turker - Teacher of English/Media Studies (GCSE)
Miss Burningham -Teacher of English/Media Studies (GCSE)

All the teachers in the department are specialist teachers, who have a broad theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject, plus they are really passionate about Media Studies as a subject. As we enter an age of media and digital technology, a subject like Media Studies is going to become increasingly important. Any enquires about the subject should be directed to Mr MacKay at the school.

 

Latest News:

Year 11 GCSE Media Studies Trip to the O2 British Music Experience

On Tuesday 15th December 2009, 30 Year 11 Media students escorted by Mr MacKay, Miss Morrison and Miss Alleyne, made our way down to the British Music Experience at the O2 Arena.

We arrived promptly at 10.30am. We were then escorted to the Workshop by a member of staff. The Workshop was interesting and factual. We sorted ourselves into four groups and were given different roles in the Music Industry such as: 

• Music Director

•  Choreographer

•  Artist

•  Roadie

Each group had to come up with a new artist and had to decide what UK target audience the artist would be aimed at. All students came up with ‘unique’ ideas. The Workshop was helpful as it would help us with our music based coursework. 

 

After the Workshop, we were able to look around the Exhibition. The BME covers over 60 years of British Music. It includes different genres and artists and showed trends and changes throughout British Music.

The Exhibition displayed costumes, instruments, song lyrics, merchandise and concert tickets of big British artists both current and old. Some artists featured in the Exhibition are rock legends Queen and the Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols, Oasis, the Beatles, Elton John, David Bowie, the Spice Girls, Take That, Amy Winehouse and many others. Throughout the Exhibition, there were a lot of interactive aspects to find out information about artists and different decades in British music.

An enjoyable aspect of the Exhibition was the ‘Gibson Room’ which was an entire room dedicated to Gibson instruments such as drums, pianos, keyboards, electric and acoustic guitars which we were allowed to try out. There was also a Singing Booth where viewers of the Exhibition could ‘try’ to sing well known British songs such as Coldplay’s Yellow and Leona Lewis’ Bleeding Love. Several Loxford students tried this booth out. Some were better than others. Another booth in the Exhibition was the Dance Booth where viewers could ‘attempt’ well known dance crazes such as the ‘Macarena’ and dance in front of a camera where others outside the booth then could watch the performance.

 

 

As an added bonus we visited the much talked about Michael Jackson Official Exhibition. Students saw Michael’s famous music videos, authentic costumes and the world renowned Swarovski glove. There was a recreation of the famous ‘Neverland’ which included his crown and throne and personalised Rolls Royce. Students paid tribute to the King of Pop by signing his condolence book which will be sent to his family once the Exhibition closes.

The day was both educational and enjoyable and helped Loxford Media students with our music industry based coursework. 

 Written by Khadija Javed 11H and Christopher Dipple 11R

 

Meeting Sophie Ellis-Bextor

On Tuesday 4th November 2008, Sophie Ellis-Bextor visited Loxford. Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 interviewed her in the Library. She started off by telling us about how her music career started her modelling career and about her life growing up in general. She spoke about what it was like being in the spotlight and her first successful band, “The Audience”, which she started when she was 18. She became a solo pop artist, a few years later when her band split, in 1998. She then emerged as the voice of Ibiza 2000, working with an Italian DJ called DJ Spiller. They worked together on DJ Spiller’s “Groove jet (if this ain’t love)”, which went to number 1 across the world.

 
Sophie Ellis-Bextor has released some amazing tracks and albums, songs such as “Murder on the Dance floor” and “Take me Home”, which were her two biggest hits from her brilliant album “Read My Lips”. As well as having a career in music, with the height of 5’9” and her stunning features, she is now modelling and has become the new face of Rimmel London.

Sophie spoke about her Mum, Janet Bextor, who was a Blue Peter presenter for four years. Sophie saw her Mum as a big inspiration to her. Sophie said how everyday after school she would rush home to watch her Mum on TV and when her Mum got home she would bring with her the thing they had made on the show that day. On tour, Sophie would take her son, Sonny with her, but now as a toddler she leaves him either at home with Dad, Richard Jones (base player in The Feeling), or with his grandparents. She mentioned that she could not be away from him for more than three days without missing him. She has an exclusive life as she mentioned that she doesn’t do interviews for Heat, OK! And Hello! A magazine as she likes to keep her family’s life private. She also mentioned that her son did not like her to be photographed or away with the cameras, so she is hardly ever in the press.

She also said that she liked to be known as a pop star not a superstar. Her dad, Robin Bextor actually directed most of her music promo’s and her 2003 DVD “Watch my Lips”.

Overall meeting Sophie Ellis-Bextor was a great experience. We thought she was very down to Earth and a realistic person, who told it how it was. She loves what she does and we found her a huge inspiration. She made us believe that you can do anything you want to, like she has done with her life.

 

Outside the Classroom

For the 15th Anniversary of the American sitcom Friends, Warner Brothers opened a pop-up version of the Central Perk Coffee House, a set from the sitcom just off of Carnaby Street in central London.

Myself and group of friends (no pun intended) got together to go to see the iconic set. As media students, this was a great opportunity to take advantage of living in London. This city is abundant with media culture, some of which, if you keep an eye out, is free. The Central Perk remake is an example of this.

We knew that the Central Perk and Friends was a hugely successful sitcom from the 90s and were very excited to experience something that was a huge part of media history. Although we had to queue for a long time I am really glad we went. We got to see a lot of the paraphernalia that the show is famous for. The Gladys painting that Phoebe made; the turkey that Monica put on her head: the Gellar Cup; Rachel’s pink wedding dress; Chandler’s Mr. T bracelet from Joey; Ross’ Science Boy comic and of course the orange sofa that is iconic of the show. We couldn’t believe that we got to sit on such a big part of television history!

It was a great opportunity as media students and as fans of the show to go to the Central Perk. I am lucky to live in London to be able to take advantage of such opportunities and would advise all students’ media or otherwise, to look out for other such opportunities this city is full off.

Written by Emma 13D

 

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