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Case Studies > LOOK AT IT THIS WAY film competition winners

Look at it this way

A film competition for post-16

In a film no longer than three minutes, entrants were asked to present their views on how to give all learners a louder and more effective voice - one of the key objectives of citizenship education.

All entrants were from post-16 education.

The competition was launched as part of the tenth anniversary celebrations of the first Crick report, which resulted in the introduction of citizenship education in English schools.

Oscar winning film producer, Lord Puttnam who presented the prizes said: “I have always been a very strong supporter of the idea that young people should learn citizenship as part of the curriculum. I am especially pleased therefore to be presenting these awards on the tenth anniversary of the Crick report.”

Guildford College - winning entry

In the winning film, Guildford College students hold up written signs to voice their issues on college life and the importance of having their say in it. Scenes are interspersed with shots of the campus and an interview with principal Clive Cooke, who answers their concerns and explains the college’s student representative system.

This film was made by a team of ten Higher National Diploma media students:

Darren Martin, Thomas Oswin, Franklyn Robinson, Tom Ruddock, Jamie Buckingham, Nathan Smalldon, Andy Osborne, Nicole Price, Charlie Berning and Natasha Whiting.

This was their first project as a class and it was a real learning curve, said 18-year-old Darren Martin. “Some of us had film-making experience and some didn’t, so this was an opportunity to share what we knew with one another.

“Making the film gave us more of an understanding of how important student voice is, learning as we made the film. We researched short films beforehand and tried to get an understanding of what students thought. But we were really shown what they thought when we asked them to write down their opinions.”

“We'll be showing it to many people, as well as putting it on our CVs,” said Darren. “Hopefully having won the competition will get us recognised by more and more people within the media industry.”

Hinwick Hall College - runner up

Hinwick Hall College in Northamptonshire, run by the national disability charity Livability, educates, trains and supports young adults with profound and multiple disabilities.

Seven students won the runners' up prize. They are Avtar Sandhu, Paul Huston, Ben Satchell, Terri-Ann Rose, Rhys McClellan-Evans, Callum McCready and Lee Morton. All students at the college have learning difficulties and rely on signing or high-tech devices to communicate.

In their film, ‘Listen, Understand, Hear’, they are interviewed by staff and discuss what is important to them in their lives, including families, football and music. Their message is that people need to be patient, to listen and to spend time with them if they are to make their voices heard.

To develop their ideas for the film, they had discussions using communication devices, symbol charts and Makaton signing (a communication technique using speech, facial expression, gestures, signs and symbols).They also made large posters with symbols and pictures, as well as models of room interiors depicting the important things in their lives.

They now plan to use the film to show at student and staff meetings, to circulate to other Livability education centres, and in student reviews and planning meetings, to show that students with learning difficulties make their own decisions.

Tansi Harper, principal of Hinwick Hall, said: “The focus of this competition is on citizenship - what these students have been able to express in their short film are their aspirations to be as involved as possible as citizens.”

Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College - runner up

In this film by Shari-Ann Irish and Rosy Deacon, fellow students discuss how important it is that their voices are heard. “It’s good to get involved, have ideas and above all, to try and make a difference,” says one sixth former.

The film examines how Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College in Leeds listens to its students. Measures used by the college include a suggestion box where ideas and views are posted and then discussed by the college’s student council.

“It was really fun because it was our first film together and we were working with friends, so we all had a laugh together and got it all on camera,” says Shari-Ann. “It was a good experience.”

“We learnt that film-making can be unbelievably rewarding, but also stressful. Also I've learnt that we have some talent.

Their media tutor Liz Farrands said: “Until recently I didn’t even know they had entered the competition. I’m really proud of them for the amount of work they have put into it.”

Walsall College - runner up

Walsall College students’ film – Course Rep or Not Course Rep? – is a documentary-style investigation of the college’s course representative system.

The film was made by Swaz Kumar, James Evans, Samuel Taylor, and Govinder Chima. Swaz, James and Sam have varying levels of learning and physical disability and are students in the college’s Supported Learning department. Govinder is a mainstream Media student taking a BTEC Level Two First Diploma.

Swaz is on a BTEC Entry Level Skills for Working Life programme,specialising in Performing Arts and Media. James and Sam are studying a BTEC Level One Introductory Diploma in Performing Arts.

Because they needed considerable support with the project, the film was produced by college staff. But the students were consulted at every stage, and their ideas included in all the creative and technical processes. In the film, newly-elected course rep Swaz Kumar investigates the system to find out whether it succeeds in its aim to empower students.

Swaz says: We wanted to make a film to see if our Course Rep system really does help students have a louder voice...and we found out that it does!

Tanya Lewis, course co-ordinator for performing arts and media, said: “They are so pleased to be runners up in a national film-making competition. It’s a real achievement.”