“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ― Plato

The music department aims to enable all pupils to access and experience music from all cultures, backgrounds and historical contexts. We believe in the value of music because of its importance in making connections with the world and expression within ourselves but also with the world around us. Whilst adhering to the National Curriculum the wider curriculum and extra-curricular offer we aim to:

  • Create the environment and opportunities for pupils to access a relevant, inspiring music education led and delivered by specialist teachers
  • Reduce the barriers for engagement for all pupils so that all pupil can access our music offer regardless their background, SEN, culture
  • Keeping creativity and relevance at the heart of our thinking and make appropriate use of modern technology to enhance the pace of learning.
  • Embrace collaboration – cross curricular – link with Drama, History, DT, ICT, Numeracy and Literacy
  • Engaging with the wider local community
  • Support the development of skills which will prepare for success in public examinations such as GCSE, A Level and Music Specific Examinations. (ABRSM, RGT, etc.)

Choice of Content

Pupils need to develop knowledge and skill in the three National Curriculum areas of Composing, Performing as well as Listening and Appraisal. Pupils will become increasingly skilled in all three areas and develop competence through a spiral curriculum where each musical experience builds and extends upon what has been previously learnt.

  1. Composing – pupils are able to develop wider curriculum skills such as: curiosity, inquiring minds, retrieval, through composition activities and stages such as: experimenting, improvising, creating musical ideas, developing, refining and evaluation.
  2. Performing – confidence, presentation skills and resilience are promoted through technical control, musical expression as well as accuracy. Every child has the opportunity to perform to an audience either in class or at a concert or event.
  3. Listening and Appraising – to ensure a broad musical experience, a range of topics are studied. Pupils undertake describing, identifying musical features, reflecting on what they have heard and how it relates to them.

Enable pupils to develop critical engagement and a “deep understanding of the music that they perform and to which they listen and its history” (National Curriculum 2013)

At Key Stage 4 and 5 we have chosen the Eduqas specification because of its choice of Areas of Study and Set Works which mirror our aim to provide a diverse musical experience. The works that pupils will study cover a range of genres and historical periods and enable pupils to engage in a critical way making links with the context of the piece. Rather than choosing the most popular specification, we regularly review our choice with the question “is this the best choice for our pupils and will it enable them to achieve success? The HOD meets with other local Heads of Music to discuss matters relating to GCSE and A level Music.

The extra-curricular musical offer goes hand in hand with the curriculum. Practice rooms can be used before and after school by pupils and there are a wide range of clubs offered in diverse musical styles. Clubs and instrumental/vocal lessons are delivered by specialist teachers under the leadership of the Director of Instrumental Studies. To sum up, we desire to enable pupils to develop critical engagement and a “deep understanding of the music that they perform and to which they listen and its history” (National Curriculum 2013)

Chromebooks are used so that pupils can access activities- worksheets, instructions and internet links to support learning activities and homework and importantly create and edit their coursework Compositions.

To address gaps in knowledge in Year 11 and 13 we offer a tailored intervention programme.

The timetable allocation is as follows:

  • Key Stage 3 – 2 x 1 hour lessons per fortnight
  • Key Stage 4 (GCSE option group) – 4 x 1 hour lessons per fortnight (also intervention 1 hour per week after school)
  • Key Stage 5 (A Level option group) 10 x 1 hour lessons per fortnight in Year 13
  • 6th Form Music Academy, Enrichment programme – 2 x 1 hour sessions per fortnight

Classroom music is taught through various topics which give a sample of each flavour of a range of musical styles. Whilst the spiral curriculum model enables for progression upwards i.e. becoming increasingly more challenging there is also progression across the curriculum to create a deep and wide music curriculum. Topics and timings are discussed at department level to take account of: what pupils need to know, understand and do, links to GCSE and A Level courses, staff expertise and pupil engagement. At the core of the content are the elements of music – Dynamics, Rhythm and Metre, Context, Structure, Melody, Instrumentation, Texture, Harmony and Tonality (otherwise known as DR C SMITH)

Our aim with assessment is that we, as both pupils and staff, know what we are assessing, how we assess and use the information to lead onto the next step of the musical journey. We have adopted various ways of using practical projects and a termly listening test as well as pupil self reflection to support both teaching and learning.

  • Year 7: Focus is on establishing classroom based routines and an introduction or a re-introductions to the foundations of music.
  • Units include: Find Your Voice, Musical Elements, Samba, Keyboard Skills, Orchestral Instruments. All pupils have the opportunity to perform at a concert.
  • Year 8: Building on the Year 7 work, we cover topics such as: Rock and Roll, The Beatles, Theme and Variation, Indian Music
  • Year 9: This is very much a transition year moving from Key Stage 3 to the start of GCSE. In Terms 1 & 2, pupils are encouraged to think about GCSE Music via the topics of: Music and War, Film Music, Ground Bass
  • Year 10: Step up to GCSE -Set Works -use of long term memory techniques especially retrieval skills
  • Year 11: Completion of coursework, Revision
  • Year 12: Set Works – study of harmony, more sophisticated composition techniques, and in depth analysis of set works.
  • Year 13: Coursework and revision.

Present staffing consists of 2 teachers: HOD and 1 part time staff member each with different expertise. The part time member of staff leads the instrumental scheme. Regular department meetings and school appraisal systems are viewed as opportunities to plan, moderate and share good practice.

Our aim with assessment is that we as both pupils and staff know what we are assessing, how we assess and use the information to lead onto the next step of the musical journey. We have adopted various ways of using practical projects and a termly listening test as well as pupil self reflection to support both teaching and learning. Each pupil has a tracker sheet which is a record of their progress and opportunity for them to reflect on their learning in that unit and how they have developed. These are assessed using similar criteria to the GCSE and A Level. New knowledge is built upon a strong foundation of prior learning and connections are made between work completed the previous lesson, unit and year group. For example, GCSE pupils are reminded about the unit they competed in Year 9 on Ground Bass but also expected to know what a chord is based on content from Year 7. Fluency in performance work is about layering and re-layering skills so that they become instinctive. We expect pupils using the keyboard to use all five fingers to play the keyboard because this is part of the rehearsal process.

At Key Stages 4 & 5, a similar system is in place with frequent review points.

SEN pupils – often music can be a form of expression for SEN and something in which they feel confident as it is a language that enables them to effectively communicate. The department adapts lessons and uses strategies such as scaffolding to accommodate the diverse needs of our pupils. Many of our SEN pupils learn instruments or have singing lessons through the school’s instrumental scheme.

The skills of literacy and numeracy are woven into lessons with a focus on knowing and applying key vocabulary from each unit and the retrieval of knowledge from previous topics. We also aim to ensure that written work follows the school policy and spelling and grammar errors are corrected and addressed. Opportunities to develop oracy are plentiful as pupils work in pairs and discuss musical ideas as well as class discussion on the music being studied.

Some pupils enter the school with often little to no musical experience whilst others enter having achieved graded exams in performance. The department, whilst giving equality of opportunity and experience, realises the activities need to be adapted and bespoke to each pupil. An accelerated curriculum is applied for some pupils especially in Year 9 where those opting for GCSE are given a booster theory course for Term 5. Instrumentalists are encouraged to perform to the class and use their instruments and knowledge in lessons.

When studying some styles of music, it can be the case that the pupil is ‘the expert’. This is especially true in the Indian Music topic where pupils have grown up immersed in Bollywood, Bhangra and Classical Indian Music. They are encouraged to bring and share this knowledge so that the teacher is in some way a learner too.

Homework – at Key Stage 3 there is one homework set per term. At Key Stage 4, 5 this homework includes regular practise and attendance at instrumental/vocal lessons.

As well as knowing, remembering and being able to make more music, pupils leave The Key Stage 3 with a Scheme of Work that fully meets, if not exceeds, the requirements of the National Curriculum.

The impact of Music at The Math is not always evident as sometimes musical seeds which are planted may develop even years later when a person may decide to learn an instrument in retirement! As the pupils have described it, “Music is for life, not just school. It’s about turning potential into reality”.

We view our impact through:

  • Results in GCSE and A LEVEL
  • Pupil self-evaluation of what they know, have learnt and can do. At the end of each term in Key Stage 3, pupils complete a self-evaluation. This enables us to gauge the effectiveness of our teaching and what the pupils have learnt and achieved so that we can plan more effectively.
  • Numbers of pupils opting for GCSE and A Level
  • Uptake of instrumental lessons – currently there are over 200 pupils learning an instrument.
  • Concerts – numbers of pupils involved and quality of performances – this will be expanded on as we are still reintroducing a variety of instrumental and vocal groups.
  • Examination results – instrumental – Many pupils have taken Graded examinations although data is still to be collected.
  • Involvement in County and MMA KNBJ
  • Pupils who continue to study music at university or music colleges – currently 4 out of 4, with 2 out of 4 going to Cambridge.

Schemes of Work

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13

Curriculum Overview 2023-24

  • Topic 1 – Find Your Voice / Elements of Music
  • Topic 2 – Elements of Music
  • Topic 3 – Samba
  • Topic 4 – Keyboard Skills
  • Topic 5 – Timbre/Dynamics
  • Topic 6 – Pop Music
  • Topic 1 – Rock and Roll
  • Topic 2 – Improvisation
  • Topic 3 – Indian Music
  • Topic 4 – Theme and Variation
  • Topic 5 – The Beatles
  • Topic 6 – Mars
  • Topic 1 – Mars
  • Topic 2 – Harry Potter
  • Topic 3 – Pachabel’s Canon
  • Topic 4 – Film Music
  • Topic 5 – Video Games
  • Topic 6 – GCSE (Key Terminology Recap)
  • Topic 1 – Area of Study 4: Pop Music, incorporating Performance and Composition
  • Topic 2 – Area of Study 4: Pop Music, incorporating Performance and Composition
  • Topic 3 – Toto Africa: Set Work – incorporating Performance and Composition
  • Topic 4 – Area of Study 1: Forms and Devices – – incorporating Performance and Composition
  • Topic 5 – Bach Badinerie: Set Work (incorporating Performance and Composition)
  • Topic 6 – Area of Study 2: Music For Ensemble- incorporating Performance and Composition
  • Topic 1 – Area of Study 3: Film Music (incorporating Performance and Composition)
  • Topic 2 – Revisit AOS4 and 1: Finalise free composition and record solo performance
  • Topic 3 – Revisit AOS 2 and 3: Final performances (both solo and ensemble recorded. Focus on Set Brief Composition)
  • Topic 4 – Finalise Set brief composition: Revisit free composition if necessary. Any incomplete performances to be finalised. Review two set works
  • Topic 5 – Revision of all set works
  • Topic 6 – Those taking A Level to start looking at Areas of Study
  • Topic 1

Western Classical Tradition – overview of the Symphony. Haydn Symphony 104 – Set work. Area of Study C Musical Theatre – focus on main 6 composers. Composition styles.

Preparation for Solo performance – linking to an Area of Study

  • Topic 2

Western Classical Tradition – overview of the Symphony. Haydn Symphony 104 – Set work. Area of Study C Musical Theatre – focus on main 6 composers. Composition styles.

  • Topic 3

Recap WCT symphonies. Continue Haydn, focus on other Musical Theatre composers as wider listening. Composition: Start free and Performance

  • Topic 4

Area of Study A: Mendelssohn. Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century. Debussy – set work. Composition and Performance. WCT symphonies for Wider Listening

  • Topic 5

Area of Study A: Mendelssohn. Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century. Debussy – set work. Composition and Performance. WCT symphonies for Wider Listening

  • Topic 6

Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century. Poulenc – set work. Composition: Free composition to be complete and Performance: programme for actual performance to be finalised. WCT symphonies for Wider Listening

  • Topic 1

Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century. Poulenc – set work. Composition: Set brief to begin. Free composition edits and Performance: Practice in own time. WCT symphonies for Wider Listening
Mock Solo Performance

  • Topic 2
    • Review WCT Symphonies and Haydn, plus MT.
    • Set brief composition
    • Final preparation for Solo Performance, including Mock
  • Topic 3
    • Review Mendelssohn, Debussy, Poulenc.
    • Set brief composition
    • Final Externally Examined Recital – Date TBC by Exam Board
  • Topic 4
    • Revision for all Areas of Study.
    • Edits for both compositions and Final Deadline.
  • Topic 5
    • Revision for all Areas of Study.
    • Exam Practice