GCSE Digital Media and Film
Digital Media and Film is digital throughout: an on-screen examination on films, a video game and online news and social media, a researched portfolio with digitally produced promotional elements, and two digital productions edited in editing software. The single biggest thing KS3 should build is confident filming, audio recording and editing, so pupils arrive able to plan, shoot, cut and export a short piece with control.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Level 1 and Level 2
- First taught
- September 2026
- Amount of digital work
- High
- Specification
- Open the specification
How this qualification is assessed
- Unit 1: Exploring key concepts and issues: On-screen examination 1 hour 30 minutes, 30%
- Unit 2: Distribution and exhibition strategies of digital media and film industries in Wales: Non-examination assessment, portfolio based, 18 hours, 30%
- Unit 3: Creating digital media and film content: Non-examination assessment, assignment based, no time restriction, 40%
Skills that use Communication
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Producing digital promotional material for distribution and exhibition strategies
Unit 2 requires learners to outline two digitally produced visual or audio elements of a distribution strategy and one for an exhibition strategy, for example a promotional campaign, a page of a website or a release schedule. They must justify how each communicates to the target audience.
DCF: Creating digital content, Evaluating and improving digital content, Communication
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils design a digital flyer in Word for a class film screening, choosing images and text for a named audience.
- Year 8
- Pupils mock up one page of a promotional website for a Welsh film in PowerPoint and explain who it is aimed at.
- Year 9
- Pupils plan a digital release schedule and a short audio advert for an imagined Welsh film, then justify which platform suits each audience.
Show the specification wording and the DCF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit 2, Section 2.1.3, page 21
“one example of a digitally produced visual and/or audio element of an exhibition strategy”
Progression step 3
I can use software tools to enhance the outcomes for specific audiences.
I can ensure my output is appropriate for specific purposes.
Progression step 4
I can select and use a variety of appropriate software, tools and techniques to create, modify and combine multimedia components for a range of audiences and purposes, such as:
- text and images, e.g. explore and use effectively image manipulation techniques; explore and use appropriately the many aspects of document layout; use animation, video and audio effects such as echo, tempo, envelope, layering, frame rate, key frames
- presentation, e.g. use design tools; adapt themes and colours to suit the purpose; create master templates.
I can justify the reasons for choices and explain the advantages and disadvantages of the different digital outputs I create.
Progression step 5
I can use a variety of software, tools and techniques to create a professional, individual or collaborative project outcome incorporating a range of multimedia components.
I can make use of and reflect on available online communication services for specific purposes, justifying selections made based on their appropriateness for delivery of information.
Good to know
- Social media is deliberately kept out of production work for under 16s: 'Social media accounts' was removed from the Unit 2 examples and 'planning a social media campaign' became 'planning a promotional campaign' (Summary of amendments, page 3).
- In Unit 3 the 'social media campaign' option was changed to 'trailer' (Summary of amendments, page 3), so pupils are not required to post publicly online.
- Pre-production planning may be digital or not: 'hand drawn or digital mock-ups' are both accepted (Unit 3, Section 3.1.1, page 23).
- Post-production editing must be digital: learners edit 'using editing software' (Unit 3, Section 3.1.2, page 23).
- Unit 1 is sat on screen: 'On-screen examination: 1 hour 30 minutes' (Summary of assessment, page 5).
- The specification gives no specific rule on AI tools in NEA; it says only 'Candidates must not take part in any unfair practice in the preparation of work' (Malpractice, page 29).
Links with other qualifications
At KS3 this work usually sits in English, Drama or Art within Expressive Arts, and the website and research skills overlap with Digital Technology while the news and misinformation work overlaps with English.
Source: WJEC GCSE Digital Media and Film specification, teaching from 2026, for award from 2028, Version 2, September 2026.