Skills for Life: Digital Film and Media
Digital film and media is a 20 hour Skills for Life unit in which learners study how films, adverts, vlogs and podcasts communicate with an audience, then plan, shoot, edit and review a product of their own. It is one unit that learners combine with others into a Skills for Life or Skills for Work Award, Certificate or Diploma, from Entry 1 to Level 2. Digital demand is high: every level requires learners to use cameras, recording equipment or editing software, and Level 1 and Level 2 add a production plan naming equipment and software, camera, lighting and sound techniques, and evaluating the finished product.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Entry Level 1 to Level 2
- Guided learning hours
- 20
- First taught
- September 2027
- Amount of digital work
- High
How this unit is assessed
- Entry Level (Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3): Four learning outcomes (types of digital film and media products, expressing an idea for a product, taking part in creating a product, reflecting on the product) with assessment criteria at Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3. Evidence goes in a portfolio, internally assessed by the centre and externally quality assured by WJEC. 20 guided learning hours.
- Level 1 and Level 2: Four learning outcomes (how digital film and media products communicate messages, planning a product, producing a product, reflecting on its success) with assessment criteria at Level 1 and Level 2. Evidence goes in a portfolio, internally assessed by the centre and externally quality assured by WJEC. 20 guided learning hours.
Skills that use Sourcing, searching and planning digital content
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Planning a production
At Level 1 learners create a plan including content and resources, and at Level 2 a detailed production plan with key ideas, production stages, equipment and software. Entry 1 to Entry 3 learners point out, list or describe the tasks needed. These are assessment criteria; storyboards, shot lists and timelines are suggested ways to plan, on paper or digitally.
DCF: Sourcing, searching and planning digital content
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils fill in a six frame storyboard template for a 30 second advert for a school club.
- Year 8
- Pupils plan a one minute vlog in a shared document with a shot list, the equipment they need and who does each job.
- Year 9
- Pupils write a production plan for a short public information film with pre-production, filming and editing stages, a timeline, locations, equipment and the software they will use.
Show the specification wording and the DCF statements
Where it is in the specification: Level 1 and Level 2, learning outcome 2, assessment criterion 2.3, page 7; Entry Level, learning outcome 3, assessment criterion 3.1, page 6; amplification of learning outcome 2, page 11
“Create a detailed production plan for the digital film”
Progression step 3
I can independently create and plan work before beginning a digital task.
Progression step 4
I can select and effectively use a variety of planning techniques.
Progression step 5
I can plan my digital work effectively and with increasing complexity.
Good to know
- Unit codes run from Entry 1 to Level 2: "S606E1" to "S606L2", and the unit is 20 guided learning hours (Unit overview, page 3).
- Centres need kit. The pack says centres "may need access to equipment such as cameras or smartphones, tripods, microphones, basic lighting, editing software" and computers (Resources required for delivery, page 14).
- Evidence is largely digital: the pack lists the "final digital media product", "annotated screenshots" and an "editing timeline or project file from media software" (Sources of evidence, page 13), and a portfolio "is not limited to paper-based materials" (Specification section 4.1, page 18).
- Suggested activities and assessment tasks are optional: the specification says "These tasks are not mandatory" (section 4.1, page 18).
- AI tools need care. The pack lists CapCut as an "AI video editor" (page 15), and the specification treats "Failing to acknowledge use of AI tools" and using AI to complete parts of the assessment as misuse (section 4.6, page 21).
- Plan around social media with care: the pack warns that the UK Government "has announced plans to restrict social media use by children under 16" (Contents, page 2).
Links with other qualifications
The pack names links with GCSE Digital Media and Film, the VCSEs in Creative and Media Production, and Technology, and in Performing Arts, Foundation Digital Technology, Foundation Expressive Arts and Foundation Creative and Media Production, and Technology, all of which involve planning and making media products. Camera, editing and audience work also overlaps with GCSE Digital Technology. Within the Skills Suite the pack suggests delivering it alongside Music, dance and drama, Online safety, Science and technology in everyday life, Interview and confidence techniques, and Using IT in the workplace.
Source: WJEC Digital film and media unit delivery and assessment pack, read with the WJEC Entry 1 to Level 2 Skills for Life and Skills for Work specification, approved by Qualifications Wales, teaching from September 2027 (© WJEC CBAC Ltd 2026).