Level 2 BTEC Diploma in Creative Media Skills

This one-year course allows you to explore a wide variety of creative media skills and technologies including: film & special effects; animation; audio production; games design & virtual reality; digital image-making; and illustration.

You will have access to professional facilities and equipment including iMacs, green-screen studio, recording booths, cameras and digital canvases alongside industry standard software such as Photoshop, Premiere, Audition and Blender.

This course will help you develop your skills and understanding of how creative media products are planned and produced so you can progress to a Level 3 qualification and then onto careers and higher education courses in this subject.

 A minimum of three GCSEs at grade 3 or above, including English.

At the beginning of the courseyou will explore a range of tools, software and techniques through short skill-based activities in film, animation, audio, 3D modelling, illustration and digital image-making. You will learn how to research and plan your ideas, practical production techniques as well as reflection and evaluation to help you develop your skills in the future.

As the course progresses you will be able to choose from a range of briefs and learn skills in your preferred creative pathway and investigate your personal development and progression.

Finally, you will embark on a final project of your own that will show off the skills you have learnt and refined during the course, with the opportunity to display your work in the end of year show.

Software:

• Photoshop
• Illustrator
• Premiere Pro
• After Effects
• Blender
• Unity

Equipment:

• iMacs
• Canon and BlackMagic cameras
• Microphones and audio mixers
• Green screen / Photography studio
• Drawing tablets and digital canvases
• ATEM visual mixer
• Consoles and Oculus Quest VR

The Level 2 course will be assessed through assignments that cover four units over 360 guided learning hours. Each unit will be assessed internally and externally verified and will require submission of work that demonstrates a range of creative media skills. Each unit will be graded from Pass to Distinction, and all units must be passed to achieve the Diploma. 

On completion of all four units you will gain a final grade ranging from PP to DD.

During the course most of the equipment you need will be supplied, however you will need to pay for printing costs beyond the £15 each student receives at the start of the year and some educational visits may also incur a charge. We advise that students have some form of storage media (USB Flash Drive or SD card) for back-up and transport of work in order to complete homework.

Students who complete the Level 2 Diploma and achieve a Merit will be able to progress to the Level 3 Creative Media courses. The Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media is a two-year course which will allow you to continue to develop and refine your skills in a chosen pathway on your next steps towards higher education and careers in the media industries.

On completion of this course, students can also explore other Level 3 course options such as Art and Design, ICT, Esports or Photography.

You will have the opportunity to attend ‘Create Your Future’, a UCAS Convention in Manchester, the Careers and apprenticeships show at the NEC.

All creative media students will have the opportunity to take part in the college’s end-of-year art show.