LeAF Studio School

Film | Year 12-13

Specification

https://www.wjec.co.uk/media/nlbh02jc/eduqas-a-level-film-studies-spec-from-2017-e.pdf

Intent

The intent of our Film Studies curriculum is to inspire students with a deep appreciation of film as a powerful and influential art form, cultural product, and medium of communication. We aim to develop critical, creative, and reflective learners who can engage with cinema from a range of historical, cultural, social, and global perspectives.

Implementation

Through the study of a diverse set of films – from mainstream Hollywood to independent and experimental cinema, from British film to global traditions – students will:

  • Develop critical analysis skills by exploring how meaning is constructed through micro-features (cinematography, editing, sound, mise-en-scène, performance) and how these combine with narrative, genre, and context.
  • Understand film in context, including its social, political, economic, and cultural significance, as well as its relationship to wider artistic movements.
  • Explore diversity in cinema, recognising film’s role in shaping and reflecting identities, ideologies, and values across different times and places.
  • Build creative and practical skills through the production of a screenplay and accompanying evaluative analysis, applying theoretical knowledge to their own filmmaking practice.
  • Develop transferable skills including independent research, critical thinking, written and verbal communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.

Impact

The impact of the curriculum is that students leave the course not only with excellent subject knowledge and the ability to succeed in examinations, but also with a lifelong appreciation of cinema as both an art form and a cultural force. They are equipped with the analytical and creative tools to thrive in further study, employment, and as active participants in cultural life.

What will I learn on this course

Knowledge of Film

  • A broad understanding of cinema as an art form, cultural product, and industry.
  • The key elements of film form: cinematography, mise-en-scène, editing, sound, and performance.
  • How meaning is created through narrative structures, genre conventions, and auteur style.
  • The social, cultural, political, and historical contexts that shape films and their audiences.
  • A range of films from Hollywood (past and present), British cinema, American independent cinema, documentary, global cinema, and experimental film.

Critical and Analytical Skills

  • How to analyse film sequences in detail using precise terminology.
  • How to evaluate representation, ideology, and audience responses.
  • How to compare and contrast films across cultures, time periods, and styles.
  • How to apply academic film theory to deepen interpretations (e.g. feminist, Marxist, postmodern, spectatorship theory).

Creative and Practical Skills

  • How to write an original screenplay extract that demonstrates understanding of narrative, character, and genre.
  • How to produce a shooting script to visualise film ideas in practice.
  • How to reflect on creative choices through an evaluative analysis, linking theory to practice.

Transferable Skills

  • Independent research and critical thinking.
  • Structured academic writing and essay technique.
  • Creative problem-solving and idea development.
  • Communication and presentation skills.
  • An appreciation of cultural diversity and multiple perspectives.

Experiences

  • Watching and discussing a wide range of films from different times and places.
  • Engaging with professional critical writing and film scholarship.
  • Developing individual creative projects inspired by professional practice.
  • Preparing for progression to university study in film, media, or related fields, and developing skills valued in the creative industries.

Assessments, Interventions and Support

You will complete frequent assessments throughout the two years, at the end of most topics and also mock exams in November/December and in the summer. You will only complete external exams at the end of year 13. Your teacher will be there to support and will put measures in place to aid your learning and ensure that you are making the right amount of progress.

Independent Study

You will be expected to take control of your own learning and read outside of lesson time. To succeed in this A-Level, you must

  • Complete practice papers and questions
  • Revise and review each topic regularly throughout the course
  • Complete all homework set – this will be practice questions on the topic
  • Seek teachers out to clarify any misunderstandings or to help you solve problems

Summer tasks to help prepare for the course

Watch Widely

Build a habit of watching films actively, not passively. Aim for a mix of:

  • Classic Hollywood 
  • Contemporary Hollywood 
  • British Film 
  • Global Cinema 
  • Independent/Documentary/Experimental 

 Tip: Don’t just “watch” — keep a film journal. Note:

  • What stood out visually or sonically?
  • How were characters represented?
  • What was the cultural/political message?

Read & Research 

  • Beginner-friendly film guides:
    • BFI (British Film Institute) online articles – short, accessible, and current.
    • Film Art: An Introduction (Bordwell & Thompson) – very useful for terminology.
  • Explore Eduqas’s specification film list (available on their site) so you know what’s coming.

Learn the Language of Film 

Familiarise yourself with key terms like:

  • Cinematography – close-up, tracking shot, high-key lighting.
  • Editing – match-on-action, montage, jump cut.
  • Sound – diegetic vs. non-diegetic, sound bridge.
  • Mise-en-scène – costume, setting, props, performance.

Get Creative

Try writing a short screenplay extract (1–2 pages).

  • Pick a simple situation (e.g. two friends arguing at a bus stop).
  • Write it in screenplay format (slugline, action, dialogue).
    This will make the coursework element (screenplay + evaluative analysis) far less daunting later.

Build Critical Awareness

Film isn’t just entertainment — it reflects society. Over the summer:

  • Read or watch the news, then think: How might a film represent this issue?
  • Consider how films you watch handle themes like class, gender, race, identity, or politics.

Paper 1

Varieties of Film and Filmmaking - Written Exam – 2 hours 30 mins (35% of qualification)

Students study six feature-length films across different categories. They’ll be assessed through analysis, comparison, and evaluation.

Section A: Hollywood 1930–1990 (Comparative Study)

    • Study of two Hollywood films from different periods (one Classical Hollywood, one New Hollywood).
    • Focus on: narrative, genre, auteur, context.

Section B: American Film since 2005 (Two-film study)

    • Study of two contrasting recent U.S. films (e.g. mainstream vs. independent).
    • Focus on: spectatorship, ideology, context, representation.

Section C: British Film since 1995 (Single film study)

    • Study of one British film.
    • Focus on: social/political/cultural contexts, representation, narrative, industry.

Paper 2

Global Filmmaking Perspectives - Written Exam – 2 hours 30 mins (35% of qualification)

Students study five feature-length films + one compilation of short films.

Section A: Global Film (Two-film study)

    • Study of two non-English language films from different countries.
    • Focus on: global cinema traditions, cultural context, narrative style.

Section B: Documentary Film (Single film study)

    • Study of one documentary.
    • Focus on: mode, representation of reality, ideology.

Section C: Film Movements – Silent Cinema (Single film study)

    • Study of one silent era film.
    • Focus on: early film form, experimentation, influence.

Section D: Film Movements – Experimental Film (1960–2000) (Single film study)

    • Study of one experimental/avant-garde film.
    • Focus on: non-mainstream approaches, innovation, challenging conventions.

Non-Exam Assessment (NEA): Production

Coursework – 30% of qualification

Students create a creative film production project consisting of:

Option A: Screenplay extract (1600–1800 words)

    • A script for a short film (4–5 minutes).
    • Accompanied by a shooting script extract (with camera directions, editing, sound notes).

Plus:

  • An Evaluative Analysis (1600–1800 words)
    • A written reflection connecting the creative work to studied films, theoretical concepts, and cinematic traditions.