27/03/2026

Sixth Form media students discover the making of Harry Potter

Our BTEC Level 3 Creative Digital Media Production course is one of the most popular subjects studied at Sixth Form.

This week, a group of 36 media students from Years 12 and 13 enjoyed an inspiring and immersive visit to ‘The Making of Harry Potter’ at the Warner Bros Studio Tour, to help influence upcoming creative coursework and future careers.

The trip offered an opportunity to deepen their understanding of professional filmmaking processes and see first-hand how industry experts bring stories to life on screen.

A highlight was the ‘Script to Screen’ workshop, which enhanced knowledge of the pre-production stages within the film industry. Through interactive activities, students explored how scripts evolve into fully realised scenes, learning about storyboarding, shot planning, continuity and set logistics.

This practical experience supported students classroom learning, providing a valuable insight into the creative and technical decision-making required before cameras begin rolling.

The tour allowed students to step inside some of the most famous sets from the Harry Potter film series, including the Great Hall, Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest. Seeing the environments up-close helped to bring learning alive, giving students a tangible understanding of set construction, lighting, costume design, props and visual effects.

Walking through these detailed environments offered an eye-opening demonstration of the scale, craftsmanship and collaboration involved in producing blockbuster films.

The trip also highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of filmmaking, with career paths that connect to subjects across the curriculum. Students learned about roles such as:

Set Designer: combining artistry with technical plans
Scaled Drawing Architect: producing precise architectural drawings for sets
Set Gardener: creating and maintaining natural environments for filming
Props & Costume Designer: crafting items and clothing that tell a character’s story
White Card Model Maker: designing 3D scale models used in planning
Concept Artist: visually developing characters, creatures, sets, and scenes

These examples emphasised the broad range of creative, practical, and technical skills that feed into a successful film production.

Mrs Smith, Head of Department for Media said “The visit to Warner Bros. Studios gave students a richer understanding of the film-making process and sparked excitement for future projects within their BTEC coursework. Many left with renewed ambition and a clearer sense of the pathways available to them in the screen industries. It was a magical and memorable experience for all.”