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Global Academy Global Academy

Sixth Form Journalism Route 👩‍💻

Kickstart your career in our unique sixth form media pathway for students looking at the first step in a career in journalism, news reporting and digital content creation.

Join the Global Academy Sixth Form and study our unique industry-focused and creative Journalism pathway.

During the course students will study for a UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology (Journalism) –  during your two years at Global Academy – you could cover the following skills and knowledge to kickstart your career in digital journalism:

  • Gathering Information and Telling a News Story
  • Recording information and Ethical Considerations
  • Writing for digital media
  • Using Video and Audio to Tell a Story
  • Creating content for social media
  • Radio Newsgathering
  • Taking images for publication
  • Writing for purpose

 

The type of projects which you may be doing during the course could include:

  • Creating engaging news content for web, social, audio, video
  • Running the Newsroom for the Global Academy media brand – Youths Choice on radio and social
  • Interviews and Feature writing
  • Long-form blog writing
  • Blogs and/or Zines
  • Sports Journalism

The assessment of this course is 100% coursework based and can include presentations, reports,  written assessments and individual and group tasks.

What qualification will I get?

Students taking this course will receive a UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production –  which is equivalent to 3 A Levels. The course offers up to 168 UCAS Points. Our partnership with the University of the Arts, London (UAL) and employer partners like Global– enables us to offer a rigorous and challenging curriculum that kick-starts the career of young people whatever their background or experience.

During the course students will also study for a Level 3 Certificate in Foundation Journalism qualification accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists and delivered by News Associates and the Global Academy.

 

What partners are involved in this course?

Students will get the chance to work directly with journalists and content producers from Global’s Newsroom and LBC – as well as other professionals in the industry through work experience, live briefs, classroom drop-ins and guest lectures.

The Global Academy and News Associates have teamed up to offer a journalism qualification to 16-18-year-old students. As part of the two-year course, News Associates’ expert tutors will be delivering all five of the mandatory modules of the Certificate in Foundation Journalism qualification and two optional modules. These include ‘writing for digital media’, ‘legal and ethical considerations for journalists’, ‘how to tell a news story’ and ‘data journalism’. News Associates will deliver sessions at the Global Academy in Hayes as well as hosting students for a week-long series of masterclasses at our newsroom in Twickenham.

Where could this course take me?

This course could support students going directly into BA (Hons) Journalism or Digital Journalism courses at university – as well as straight into an apprenticeship and/or the Diploma in Journalism. 

This course could support students going directly into BA (Hons) Journalism or Digital Journalism courses at university – as well as straight into an apprenticeship and/or the Level 5 Diploma in Journalism. News Associates delivers an NCTJ-accredited BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism degree, which includes the Level 5 Diploma in Journalism – The School of Journalism.

What are the entry requirements for this course?

To be considered for this course – you will need to achieve 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above (including GCSE English Language/Literature at Grade 5 or above).   Students will also need to demonstrate a passion, dedication and interest in journalism and newsgathering – for example, work experience at a community radio station, online blog or involvement in a school newspaper.

 

Life as a journalist #CareerGuide

So, what can you expect from a career as a journalist? Journalism is one of the most exciting careers around, with many varied roles and specialisms – and no two days are the same! Find out more with a Guide to a Career in Journalism from the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

Find Out More

100%

 Positive destinations into industry, higher education or freelance

7

unique media qualifications available to kickstart your career

150+

media industry and career engagements per year

Life at Global Academy Sixth Form

🧰 Whatever route you take to begin with –  you will be taught the basics of each pathway when you join our Sixth Form in September– we call this your ‘Media Toolbox’.

✨After this – it’s time to get practical and you’ll get real life experience to work on projects with an industry-focused. You’ll get the chance to go through the whole production experience (research, planning, pre-production, production and post-production). During the lessons – you’ll spend time with our experienced media staff who will guide you on how to use industry-standard equipment and software. We also work with real-life clients and industry partners – so you never know who will be seeing your work (and could possibly employ you in the future!).

👉  In your second year – you’ll get the chance to specialise your study to really hone your skills and craft as well as make sure you’re armed with all the knowledge needed to progress into the industry or further education when you leave. Finally, you’ll work on your Final Major Project. The Final Major Project is the culmination of your Global Academy training and showcases all the skills you have learned at Global.

☑️  Alongside studying your course – students will get the chance to take part in a wide variety of career and work experience opportunities with industry leading professionals and our own in house careers team. One minute you could be spending the day with the team at TikTok learning the craft behind creating digital content and the next you could be hearing from a producer from a BAFTA awarding film – we call it #OnlyAtGlobal.

📍 As well as that – there is a wide variety of in house clubs, classes and projects for Sixth Form students to be involved in such as Youths Choice, Film Club, Art Club and more.

What else happens in Global Academy Sixth Form? 🤷‍♀️

Guest Speakers and Workshops

Throughout your time at Sixth Form – you’ll get the chance to hear from and work with guest speakers or attend workshops and classroom drop ins led by someone in the industry – previous companies have included Canon, ITV,  Sky, Grayson Perry, the Director of D&AD creative, BBC, Channel 4, Global and many more. You never know which guest will walk through the door each week!

As well as that, once a week, we’ll spend some time together to learn about issues that affect us as young citizens about to enter the world of work with our Global Cultural Learning Programme.

Social Media

Each week, you’ll spend one hour of your timetable – whatever route you pick – learning the tools of the trade to help amplify and develop your social media presence in our weekly social media masterclass. You’ll get your head around building your online presence, developing and understanding analytics as well as understanding a content strategy.

G:Prepare and Careers Guidance

Each week during Year 12, you’ll spend one hour of your timetable in a dedicated workshop to help develop your media and journalism industry employability skills in a session delivered by the Global Academy team. This session will ensure you have all the skills, knowledge and behaviours to land your first job in the industry once you leave the Academy.

You’ll also get access to Unifrog software for FREE during your time here at Global Academy which offers a plethora of careers advice and guidance at the touch of the button, as well as access to an industry mentor from Global and other professionals from the world of Journalism.

We also have our own dedicated Careers Advisor office who meets with students for one to one careers guidance support and a dedicated team working directly with industry to arrange work experience, insight days, employer visits and more!

 

Enrichment, Work Experience and Trips

All students will get access to work on real-life client projects, undergo work experience at some of the top media companies and get to meet industry leaders in workshops and insight days. There are also a wide range of trips and visits available during the sixth form to support your course and pathway routes – from visits to ad agencies, TV studios, radio companies and galleries!

To top that off, there are plenty of chances to develop your content and design skills by being involved in the Global Academy’s in house content production company – Youths Choice and produce creative work for the brand.

Finally, there’s a wide range of after school clubs and classes and enrichment opportunities including our annual trip to Hollywood in Year 13.

FREE Adobe Software

All students in Global Academy Sixth Form get access both on campus and home-use to the Adobe Creative Cloud software packages including Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Audition and Illustrator to ensure work completed can be to a high standard. The Academy will give you access to this software on your personal devices during your time in the Sixth Form (valued at £600 per year).

Where Are They Now?

Check out some of the Media Companies our graduates have gone on to work for!

Students have graduated from our course into top media employers including Global Radio, BBC, Facebook, TikTok, Google and more.  Click here to find out more about Global Academy alumni.

Read our Alumni Stories

Getting Involved

Want to know what life is like for a Year 12 or 13 student at Global Academy? Here are some of our Sixth Form students talking about their time with us.

 

You In?

If you want to kickstart your career in the creative industry – then click the link below and apply now to join us in September.

Apply now

Ready to kickstart your career in media?

Ready to kickstart your career in media?

Ready to kickstart your career in media?

Ready to kickstart your career in media?

Ready to kickstart your career in media?

Apply Now