BRIDGING THE EXPECTATION GAP? - Evaluating the work-readiness of pre-university media students in Yorkshire and the Humber

Oct 20, 2026

The report evaluates how work-ready pre-university media students are across Yorkshire and the Humber, focusing on the expectations gap between qualification providers and the screen industries’ requirements. It examines why providers struggle to secure sufficient work experience for cohorts, citing creative-industry working structures, patterns, and insurance/confidentiality constraints. The findings highlight implications for expanding T-levels in Media, especially where meaningful work experience is central to the qualification suite’s delivery.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages25

Reading Time1 h 3 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Introduction

Careers advice: Bridging the resource gaps

Research aims

Methodology

Findings

Student expectations of careers in the media industries

Why study media subjects?

Planning for a career in the media

Networks and social milieu

Interviews with Media tutors

Recommendations

[eprints@whiterose.ac.uk](eprints@whiterose.ac.uk)[ ](eprints@whiterose.ac.uk)[https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk](https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk) Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York Deposited via The University of York. White Rose Research Online URL for this paper: [https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/215099/](https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/215099/) Version: Published Version Monograph: Zborowski, James, Mayne, Laura, Macrae, Sheena et al. (2024) Bridging the expectation gap?: Evaluating the work-readiness of pre-university media students Yorkshire and the Humber. Research Report. Reuse Items deposited in White Rose Research Online are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved unless indicated otherwise. They may be downloaded and/or printed for private study, or other acts as permitted by national copyright laws. The publisher or other rights holders may allow further reproduction and re-use of the full text version. This is indicated by the licence information on the White Rose Research Online record for the item. Takedown If you consider content in White Rose Research Online to be in breach of UK law, please notify us by emailing [eprints@whiterose.ac.uk](eprints@whiterose.ac.uk) including the URL of the record and the reason for the withdrawal request. BRIDGING THE EXPECTATION GAP? Evaluating the work-readiness of pre-university media students in Yorkshire and the Humber Dr. James Zborowski Dr Laura Mayne Dr Sheena Macrae University of Hull Dr. James Zborowski Dr Laura Mayne Dr Sheena Macrae University of Hull BRIDGING THE GAP? CONTENTS Executive Summary 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮7 Introduction 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮8 1􀀮1􀀮 Careers advice: Bridging the resource gaps􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 8 1􀀮2􀀮 Research aims 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 9 1􀀮3 Methodology 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 10 1􀀮3􀀮1 Surveys 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 10 1􀀮3􀀮2 Focus Groups 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 10 1􀀮3􀀮3 Interviews with Media tutors 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 10 1.3.4 Review of qualifications literature 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 11 Findings 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 12 2􀀮1􀀮 Student expectations of careers in the media industries􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 12 2􀀮1􀀮1􀀮 Why study media subjects? 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 12 2􀀮1􀀮2􀀮 Planning for a career in the media 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 12 2􀀮1􀀮3􀀮 Networks and social milieu 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 13 2􀀮2􀀮 Interviews with Media tutors 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 14 2􀀮2􀀮1􀀮 Work experience 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 14 2􀀮2􀀮2 Careers guidance 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 15 2.2.3. Qualifications delivered 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮 􀀮

FAQs

What is the core issue the report addresses?

It addresses the difficulty for pre-university media qualification providers to meet industry demand for work experience, creating an expectations gap affecting work-readiness outcomes.

Why is securing work experience difficult for media qualification providers?

The report attributes the challenge to factors such as creative-industry structures and working patterns, plus insurance and confidentiality requirements.

How do the findings relate to T-levels in Media?

The report explains that the implications are significant because T-levels in Media place strong emphasis on meaningful work experience opportunities for delivery.

Oct 20, 2026

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