Music can change the way pupils think, feel and act; it is a unique form of communication.
Mr Cosadinos
Subject Leader
Mr M Cosadinos – Subject Leader
Music can change the way pupils think, feel and act; it is a unique form of communication. Music not only involves their feelings but affects their intellect and enables personal expression, reflection and emotional development. Music gives pupils a positive experience that can build their self-esteem and teach them to work individually and in groups.
This page is for KS3 and KS4 classroom music. For information on extra-curricular music and peripatetic instrumental/vocal lessons, please see: Instrument tuition
Our curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:
Students can progress from this course to:
In Year 7, 8 and 9 all pupils follow the KS3 National Curriculum for Music by studying the elements of music, performance, composition and listening in a variety of instrumental and vocal contexts. They receive one lesson of Music per fortnight and are taught in mixed attainment groups.
Pupils in KS3 will be assessed at the end of each topic on a half-termly basis, as well as formative assessment in class to ensure expected progress is being made. The introductory scheme in Year 7 is designed to give the pupils the skills to talk about the music that they are listening to and effectively appraise performances of others. In later topics, students will enhance their rhythmic ability before progressing to simple reading skills.
In Year 8, pupils will develop the skills they have learnt through more challenging topics, with greater emphasis on the history and development of musical styles, from an array of musical cultures.
In Year 9, pupils explore the extremes of modern electronic music styles and contrasting traditional Western Classical topics. The skills developed through KS3 are designed to demonstrate progression and effectively prepare all pupils for the requirements of KS4 music.
Topics covered at KS3 include:
All students follow the BTEC Tech Award in Music Practice syllabus. They are again taught in mixed attainment groups depending on who has chosen to opt into the subject for KS4. All students are taught by the Head of Subject. At the end of Year 10 all students will be entered for:
The BTEC Tech Award in Music Practice is split into three components that will be completed over two years:
Component Number | Component Title | Guided Learning Hours | Assessment Type |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Exploring Music Products and Styles | 36 | Internal |
2 | Music Skills Development | 36 | Internal |
3 | Responding to a Commercial Music Brief | 48 | External Synoptic |
Find out about the courses we offer at KS4 including examination and enrichment courses.
“Subject leaders have crafted a curriculum which enables pupils to build on their prior knowledge.” OFSTED 2022
