The department (with 2 teaching staff and 8 peripatetic, specialist instrumental staff) is dedicated to providing a high quality music education to all. The Music Department offers a tremendous variety of musical experiences, both inside the classroom and through an extensive extra-curricular programme. “Music For All” is our catchphrase and students are encouraged to develop their performing skills on an instrument taught by one of our peripatetic staff, join one of the ensembles, or sing in one of the choirs. Students perform their music at regular concerts. There is also the opportunity to be involved in the annual school musical of which the most recent were ‘Legally Blonde’ in 2020 and ‘Chicago’ in 2019, all of these with a live orchestra made up of student musicians.
During the first three years all students undertake a course that is based upon National Curriculum guidelines with work being topic-centred. Students learn about performing, composing and appraising through listening as well as music technology. In Years 10 and 11 students can opt to study the subject to GCSE with a Sixth Form course offered at A Level in Music.
A wide range of instruments are available for class work including a class set of djembes, xylophones, Samba kit, pop drums, guitars, bass guitars and keyboards. We also have a technology suite compromising of twenty computers with access to music software which is used up to A Level standard. Students get the opportunity to learn these programmes throughout KS3. There are opportunities to perform in two formal concerts per year and informal concerts, workshops and trips and we are often asked to provide music for charity and social events. Our reputation for quality music-making is known county-wide. Further details of extra-curricular activities are available to all students at the start of the year. There are no auditions and we encourage students to get involved straight away in September as rehearsals start in the second week back. Further information can be obtained by contacting the Head of Music (Rebecca Woodfine) directly at school.