LNF Cymru Literacy and numeracy for Wales

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Skills for Life: Digital Film and Media

Digital film and media is a Skills for Life unit in which learners plan, shoot and edit a short film of their own, from a simple image sequence with a title at Entry 1 to a researched, storyboarded film of three to four minutes at Level 2. It is one 20 hour unit that learners combine with others into a Pearson Skills for Life Award, Certificate or Diploma, achieved at one level from Entry 1 to Level 2. Literacy sits in writing a storyline, storyboard or shot list, keeping a process log, researching a topic at Level 2 and writing titles and narration. Numeracy is light: fitting the film to a set running time and counting images or shots.

Awarding body
Pearson
Level
Entry Level 1 to Level 2
Guided learning hours
20
First taught
September 2027
Amount of literacy work
Medium
Amount of numeracy work
Low
Specification
Open the specification
How this unit is assessed
  • Entry Level (Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3): One assessment criterion at each of Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3: demonstrate digital media skills and techniques to make a short film on a topic set by the teacher, from 8 to 10 of the learner's own images at Entry 1 to 18 to 20 images with a storyline, audio track and effects at Entry 3, with a simple process log. Evidence is internally assessed by the centre, with Pearson standards verification. Graded Pass or Fail. 20 guided learning hours.
  • Level 1 and Level 2: One assessment criterion at each of Level 1 and Level 2: develop digital media skills and techniques (and at Level 2 digital media conventions) to produce a short film on a chosen subject, one to two minutes from a storyboard or shot list at Level 1, and three to four minutes with more than 10 of the learner's own shots, researched and planned, at Level 2, with a process log. Evidence is internally assessed by the centre, with Pearson standards verification. Graded Pass or Fail. 20 guided learning hours.

Skills that use Reading strategies

  1. Researching a topic for the film

    Assessed: In coursework (non-examination assessment, NEA)

    Level 2 learners research a chosen topic and use the information to plan their film. Learners need to find, select and summarise relevant information. This is required at Level 2 only.

    Literacy: Reading strategies, Understanding, response and analysis

    Getting pupils ready

    Year 7
    Pupils skim a leaflet about a local landmark and note three facts to use in a film caption.
    Year 8
    Pupils read two web pages about a local charity and summarise the key points in a bullet list for their film plan.
    Year 9
    Pupils research a local issue from several sources, summarise the main points and select the ones that will make the strongest film.
    Show the specification wording and the LNF statements

    Where it is in the specification: Unit SfL 6, Essential information for assessment decisions, Level 2, page 36

    “Learners should research a chosen topic and use this information”
    Progression step 3

    • I can use a range of strategies for finding information, e.g. skimming for gist, scanning for detail.

    • I can make use of reference/digital sources to select, summarise and synthesise information, referencing as appropriate.

    Progression step 4

    • I can research a wide range of reference and digital sources to develop a full understanding of a topic or issue.

    • I can use a range of strategies, e.g. speed reading, close reading, annotation, prediction, to skim texts for gist, key ideas and themes, and scan for detailed information.

Good to know

Links with other qualifications

The planning, research and log writing link with GCSE English Language and Literature and with GCSE Digital Media and Film, which also asks for written planning and evaluation of productions. The WJEC VCSE and Foundation in Creative and Media Production, and Technology use the same storyboard and production log skills. The WJEC Digital film and media unit is also 20 hours but asks learners to analyse how media products communicate messages, present ideas and evaluate their product using feedback, so it carries more reading, speaking and evaluative writing; the Pearson unit's literacy is mainly planning documents and a process log.

Source: Pearson Entry Level 1 to Level 2 Skills for Life Award, Certificate and Diploma Qualifications Specification, Issue 1, August 2026, Unit SfL 6: Digital film and media.