Music
Head of Music: Mr N McMullan
Teacher of Music: Miss E Gregson
At Key Stage 3 students follow two periods of Music per fortnight.
At Key Stage 4 we follow the Edexcel Specification.
At Key Stage 5 we follow the Edexcel Specification.
Results in the department remain amongst the best in the school with 88% of GCSE Music students achieving an A*-B grade and 100% pass rate at A Level.
At KS3 the academic year in Music is split into 6 units of work i.e. after every half term a new unit of work is started. The titles of the work are
Year 7
Term One Unit One: Bridging Unit
Term One Unit Two: Take Note!
Term Two Unit One: Aleatoric Music
Term Two Unit Two: Instruments of the Orchestra
Term Three Unit One: Programme Music
Term Three Unit Two: I got rhythm!
Year 8
Term One Unit One: Take Note II
Term One Unit Two: Chords are very Fashionable
Term Two Unit One: Music and the Media
Term Two Unit Two: Structures on Music (Using ICT)
Term Three Unit One: Ground Bass
Term Three Unit Two: Has anyone seen my Keys?
Year 9
Term One Unit One: African Music
Term One Unit Two: Composing Crazy
Term Two Unit One: Stepping up!
Term Two Unit Two: Working with Guitars
Term Three Unit One: Brass Bands
Term Three Unit Two: Blues, Jazz and Ragtime
At KS4 Yr 10 is an experimental year developing practises and skills in preparation for Year 11 and the exams. The Edexcel Music GCSE is made up of 60% coursework and a final written exam consisting of 40 %. For an outline of the course, see Edexcel’s website which gives an overview for both GCSE and A Level.
We have large classes at KS5 which repeatedly achieve a 100% pass rate.
Each year the Music Department offers the chance for students to participate in a number of extra-curricular activities and performance opportunities. This includes Orchestral concerts, ensembles, choral groups and individual recitals both within the school and the local community.
The department is involved in several competitions, notably the South West Battle of the Bands, at which our school band won first prize and performed at the Glastonbury Festival.
We continually try to raise money for local and national charities through our performances and have managed to raise over £10,000 throughout the last five years.
The department offers students the opportunity to go to live performances of all genres of music in addition to several master classes throughout the year. We have many ensembles that musicians can become members of including orchestra, choir, drum club, keyboard club and guitar club.
The Music department has two dedicated teaching spaces which are very different in terms of style. We also perform on the school stage and have music performed daily in assemblies.
Music is an essential subject in our school and is a daily part of the school provision. It develops social skills and allows students to express themselves, explore and appreciate ideas in a creative environment.
