Our Courses

The UAL Level 3 (Extended) Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology has been designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary to access and progress to degree-level study and employment in the media sector.

It provides an opportunity for those who have an interest in media to explore, develop and test their creativity within a qualification structure which is stimulating and demanding and provides a supportive transition from general to more specialised study. UAL Website.

More than this we are in a media saturated world that is going through a period of intense technological and social change. Some studies show that 47% of current jobs will disappear in the next decade due to automation and A.I. We are preparing our students for a career that will develop through 2035 and beyond.

We cannot know exactly what that world looks like, but all evidence suggests that the following skills will be vital. Creativity, storytelling, communication, leadership, empathy, emotional intelligence, and the ability to rapidly learn new skills. Or to put it simply, what makes us human?

Sadly, as people like Sir Ken Robinson point out, our current education system has a history of undervaluing creativity and embedding a fear of failure.

This course gives us the flexibility to allow students to learn how to experiment, to embrace failure as part of the creative progress, to learn what they are passionate about, and develop that in a direction of their choosing. In turn this also increases wellbeing and self-awareness.

In the last few years there has been an explosion of video content on social media. Every company has to embrace media to steal the attention away from their competitors. Our students will have the edge in any interview and career path because of how much communication skills are valued. This is true, no matter what path they take.

It is aimed at 16-18-year-olds, usually having just finished their GCSEs. However, the way it is taught, and the freedom allowed for the student, means this is easily adapted to mature students, which we occasionally attract as well.

This is a filmmaking course and you will make at least 6 media artefacts in the first year alone. The first 7 units are pass / fail. This means our students are not worrying about the grade, and are instead focused on trying new things and stepping out of their comfort zone, which a fear of failure would prevent. The final unit is the one that gives the overall grade of Pass, Merit or Distinction. You will be taught by highly experienced and qualified tutors, one of whom owns his own production company. There will also be opportunities to work on music or performing arts shows, as well as external clients. In the past this has included the NHS, Cumbria Police, and the Victorian Candle Company

Students will learn;

• Unit 1* Introduction to media processes and technical skills
• Unit 2* Introduction to design and research skills in creative media production
• Unit 3* Introduction to professional practice in creative media production
• Unit 4 Critical and contextual awareness in creative media production
• Unit 5 Investigating audio production and technology - This is achieved by making a radio drama
• Unit 6 Investigating visual production and technology - This is usually a music video or experimental piece
• Unit 7 Investigating interactive production and technology - This is usually related to social media content
• Unit 8 Developing a creative media Production project - This is the final piece that gives you your overall grade and you can choose whatever you want to make.
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• ** Units 1,2 and 3 are combined and you will achieve them by completing several briefs. These include making a horror film, an advert, and a film in the style of your favourite director. This includes all the research, pre-production, production, post production, and evaluations.

The one-year course is a Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology. The full two years is an Extended Diploma.

A mixture of university style lecturers, that are very conversation based, technical workshops, and working towards creating your media artefact with tutor support.

We jump straight in to the horror film brief which involves research (writing) planning (project management skills) presentation (communication skills) creating a film (production skills) and evaluation (reflective skills) Primarily you will document the full process of making a film, from idea generation through to post production and the evaluation. We use blogs as the focus of assessment so that you can easily add photos, videos, and audio files. The majority of students will tend to write as that is what they had to do at school. However, there is flexibility, for example you could do an evaluation as a group on camera, or even as an audio file. You will also screen your films for the class and the tutor will give detailed feedback to help you improve next time.

• 5 GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, which must include maths and English.
• Please note that entry requirements and course offer can be subject to change at any time.

Most students will stay on for the full two years to attain the full Extended Diploma. After that we are seeing a growing number of students value the free education they have whilst under 19, and will do another course at the college. This has included Business, Art and Performing Arts.

Traditionally the destination after the two years, has been higher education, but a growing number of companies, such as Apple, Google, Facebook etc. are questioning the value of education and its ability to prepare students for employment.

They value, once again, passion, storytelling, communication, and evidence you can do the job. However, students are still going to higher education, but some will find work in the media industry, or another industry in which their skills will also be valued.

Each year a growing number set up their own businesses (which has sometimes meant adapting the course slightly to also teach sales, client acquisition costs, marketing, and branding etc).

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