Film Studies - A Level

Applications Open: 3 November 2025 at 9.00am

Applications Close: 31 January 2026 at 5.00pm

Entry Requirements: At least five GCSE's at grade 4 or above. In addition, you will need to achieve specific subject entry requirements for all subjects.

How to Apply - September 2026 entry

Applications will open on Applicaa on 3 November 2025. Please refer to our Course Guide which lists subjects available along with entry criteria - this can be found on our website under Sixth Form Admissions along with our Admissions Policy. Please note our Course Guide for 2025 entry is currently displayed, Course Guide for 2026 will be available shortly.

If you need advice on Sixth Form courses or completing an application, please email sixthformadmissions@sgschool.org.uk or phone 01892 527444.

When applying students MUST enter three subject choices PLUS a reserve - in preference order - one being first choice and four being the reserve.
Please do not enter a fifth choice. Please note some subjects cannot be studied together - these are indicated on the relevant subject page and also in the Course Guide.

Internal Applicants to Sixth Form (current St Gregory’s students)

Our current students will join a Sixth Form Taster Day in September 2025, this is an opportunity to experience Sixth Form subjects and lessons.

All students will receive ongoing support and guidance with the online application process through discussions with dedicated members of staff, subject leaders and members of the Sixth Form team. Students will also receive a session with an external Careers Advisor.

External Applicants to Sixth Form

External applicants will be required to submit their applications via Applicaa using the link provided on the school website on 3 November 2026.

External applicants will also need to complete a Sixth Form Supplementary Information Form (SIF) if they are Catholic or 'Looked After' children. This can be found on the school website under Learn/Sixth Form/Sixth Form Admissions - Supplementary Information Form 2025-26. This must be returned to sixthformadmissions@sgschool.org.uk by the closing date.

Prospective students may be invited into school for a meeting with the Sixth Form team.

Students are introduced to a wide variety of films in order to broaden their knowledge and understanding of film and the range of responses films can generate. This specification offers opportunities to study mainstream and independent American and British films from the past and the present, as well as more recent global films, both non-English language and English language.

Students learn to apply critical approaches to a diverse range of film, including documentary, film from the silent era, experimental film and short film. They will be able to apply knowledge and understanding of film through either their own filmmaking or screenwriting.

Independent study commitment:

Five hours per week minimum.

There are two components that are externally assessed and one coursework component, that is assessed by the centre and externally moderated.

Component 1 - Film History

• Film form in US cinema from the Silent Era to 1990 • European cinema history

Assessment: Two hour examination - 35% of A Level

Component 2 - Critical Approaches to Film

• Contemporary British and US Film

• Documentary

• Ideology

Assessment: Two hour examination - 35% of A Level

Component 3 - Making a short film

Students will be required to produce either an individual short film (fictional or experimental) or an equivalent screenplay with a digitally photographed storyboard (20% of A Level). Students will carry out an evaluation of their production in relation to the set short films they have studied in preparation for their production (10% of A Level). This is a coursework component, assessed by the teacher and externally moderated, representing 30% of the marks for the A Level.

A combination of classroom study, self study and enrichment activities.

GCSE: 6 in English Language; 6 in English Literature

Why study Film?