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Creative iMedia

Exam Board: OCR – Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia (J834)
Head of department – Rakhi Udainiya

Creative iMedia at Reading Girls’ School equips students with the key skills, knowledge and understanding needed to work in the digital creative sector. Students learn how media products are planned, designed and created using industry-standard approaches. The course provides a practical and engaging introduction to areas such as graphics, animation, digital imaging, web design and pre-production planning.

The Cambridge Nationals qualification is designed to replicate real-world media workflows, giving students the opportunity to respond to briefs, develop digital content, and evaluate the success of their products.
 

Years 9, 10 and 11

Students begin the foundations of Creative iMedia in Year 9, giving them the skills needed to access the qualification in Key Stage 4. Throughout Years 10 and 11, students apply and refine their digital media skills through both Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) units and exam preparation.

Key areas of study include:

  • Understanding media sectors, audiences and purpose
  • Pre-production skills: mood boards, mind maps, visualisation diagrams, scripts and storyboards
  • Planning and managing a creative media project
  • Creating digital graphics using image editing software
  • Digital photography and safe working practices
  • File management, exporting and optimising media assets
  • Reviewing media products against a client brief
  • Understanding legal and ethical considerations (copyright, licensing, safety)

Exam Board and Syllabus Code

OCR – Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia (J834)
Further course details can be found by searching for
“OCR Cambridge Nationals Creative iMedia J834”.

Structure of the Course

The course is assessed through a combination of NEA coursework units and one written exam.

RO12 – Creative iMedia in the Media Industry

Written Paper – 1 hour 15 minutes (40%)
Students study:

  • Media sectors and products
  • Job roles in the creative industry
  • Client requirements
  • Pre-production documents
  • Health and safety
  • Legal issues (copyright, trademarks, licensing)

RO13 – Developing Digital Graphics

Non-Examined Assessment (30%)
Students learn how to:

  • Interpret a brief
  • Plan and design a digital graphic
  • Create graphic products using digital editing tools
  • Export and evaluate their final outcomes

RO14 – Creating Interactive Digital Media

Non-Examined Assessment (30%)
Students design and create an interactive product, such as:

  • A website homepage
  • A digital game interface
  • An interactive presentation
  • They produce planning documents, assets, a final product and an evaluation.

Homework

  • Students receive regular homework to support progress, which may include:
  • Researching media products for NEA tasks
  • Completing pre-production documents
  • Revising key terminology and industry practices
  • Exam-style questions for RO12
  • Digital editing practice or file-organisation tasks

How parents and carers can support
Encourage your child to practise using digital creative tools such as Photoshop or free alternatives like Photopea.
Support revision of key RO12 theory content.
Check that NEA deadlines are met and work is well organised.
Encourage exploration of media: film posters, websites, animations, advertising and digital graphics.

Useful Links

Why choose Creative iMedia?

Creative iMedia suits students who enjoy digital creativity, problem-solving and project-based work. The course develops confidence in using industry-aligned tools and builds a strong foundation for post-16 study or careers in:

  • Graphic design
  • Web design
  • Film/TV production
  • Animation
  • Digital marketing
  • Games design
  • Media production

The qualification also supports the development of transferable skills including communication, organisation, planning and evaluation.

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