Music is taught in mixed ability groups, with an hour each week in Year 7 and 9. In Year 8 students have a short but intensive term of music, as part of a wider carousel of subjects. Music is taught in our iMac Suites – where students have access to midi-keyboards, recording and notation software. They also have the opportunity to bring in their own instruments, or perform using the piano. Students are assessed across a range of projects – not limited to:

• Medieval Music (Y7)
• Spanish and Latin Music (Y7)
• Swan Lake (Y7)
• Beethoven (Y8)
• West Side Story (Y8)
• 12 Bar Blues and Jazz (Y9)
• Reggae (Y9)
• Protest Music and Politics (Y9)

Curriculum Maps

Music is a popular GCSE choice for a diverse range of students, and the flexible Edexcel course makes it suitable for musicians of any experience*. GCSE Music is a great choice for students aiming for Universities with rich musical histories – e.g. Oxbridge, Bristol, Salisbury, York, Exeter, Liverpool. Classes are mixed ability and taught across 5-hour long sessions per fortnight. 

GCSE Music is divided into 3 components. Coursework: Performance (30%) and Composition (30%) and a 1 hour 45 min Listening Exam (40%)
Coursework is teacher assessed and externally moderated, with stepped support at each stage to ensure confidence and success. Performances are recorded (audio) in the Old Library, with students choosing their best version. Compositions can only be completed during lesson time, and are done so, using music composition software – they are not performed. 

The Listening Exam revolves around 8 set pieces of music, where students are played familiar extracts and asked questions like “which instrument plays first?” or “describe the dynamics at the start”. Contrary to popular misinformation – it is NOT a theory exam. The set works are varied and interesting – including Star Wars, Queen, Defying Gravity, Beethoven and Esperanza Spalding. 

We encourage all KS4 students to commit to at least one of our extracurricular groups, as this exposes them to a wide range of repertoire, which is great inspiration for compositions and their general musical knowledge. This makes up a proportion of their homework, with the remainder focused around regular singing/instrumental practice and wider listening. 

* For students wanting to achieve a GCSE grade 9 – a Music Grade 4-5 piece is needed. 

A Level Music is a very enjoyable course, often selected by students hoping to take Music further – or requiring a highly regarded balancing subject that requires creative and academic flair. Classes tend to be a small (<20) but dedicated group. We have carefully incorporated the arranging aspect of House Music into the KS5 curriculum, so that students can prepare for this as part of their A Level. 

We undertake the Edexcel syllabus, largely an extension of the GCSE – where much of the content and skills overlap and develop further. All coursework is submitted to an external examiner.  

At A Level students

• Perform an 8-minute recital at the end of Year 13, to a small audience. This takes place in the old library. Students can choose their best recording to submit* 
• For composition, students submit one free choice, and then undertake the ‘arrangement’ option – where they arrange music in timed conditions.
• Similarly, to GCSE Music, students will be taken through a variety of set pieces of music – this time ranging from the Beatles, to Bach, to Batman. Students are expected to be able to effectively describe the composers' intentions, and identify musical techniques through listening to short excerpts. 

* For students wanting to achieve an A-A* a Music Grade 7-8 piece is needed.