What we are trying to achieve with students
“Outstanding Music for all”
Our aim is to build an inclusive music curriculum that caters for all abilities and ages in an enjoyable and safe environment, fostering strong relationships between students and their music teachers, delivering music provision of the highest standard. We want our students to be creative, confident and skilful musicians who are well equipped to continue their musical studies.
The courses we run
KS3
All pupils participate in a variety of projects to develop their musical skills, knowledge and understanding. Projects include: African Drumming, The Blues, Chinese music, Dance ejay, The Gamelan, The Renaissance, Mini Beast Rap, Film music and ICT (Sibelius). Pupils are assessed in accordance with the National Curriculum levels through Performing, Composing and Listening & Appraising.
KS4
The Edexcel GCSE Specification focuses upon students’ ability to perform, compose, and listen & appraise. Through practical lessons students will learn the fundamentals of composition, using the purpose built music IT suite to realise their ideas. Students will also complete a number of performance ensemble tasks, encouraging them to work as a team, showing leadership qualities. Through the study of set works students will investigate composers’ compositional styles through different musical genres.
KS5
The Edexcel GCE Specification further develops the skills of performing, composing and appraising from GCSE. Students are now required to have good theory and practical skills (at least Grade V or equivalent) and are expected to complete both composing and performing coursework which amount to 60% in total. The written examination focuses upon set works covering a wide range of musical styles including classical, pop, and world music. Students will explore the compositional techniques of composers through the centuries and be tasked with comparing and contrasting the different styles.
Gifted and Talented Students
Those identified in Music as High Achievers/Subject Specialists are:
- Year 7 – Grade 2 or higher
- Years 8/9 – Grade 3 or higher
- Year 10 – Grade 4 or higher
- Year 11 – Grade 5 or higher
- Year 12/13 – Grade 6 or higher
Items of particular interest
A full range of peripatetic music lessons are delivered by 13 visiting music teachers. Lessons covered include: Voice; Strings; Woodwind; Brass; Drum Kit; Piano
KS3 Music Workshops: Year 7 African Drumming; Year 8 Gamelan Orchestra: Year 9 Samba
The following extra curricular music ensembles run on a weekly basis:
Vocal
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Instrumental
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Junior Vocal Group (Years 7/8)
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Junior Brass Group (Years 7/8) |
| Senior Vocal Group (Years 9-13) |
Woodwind Group (Years 7-11) |
| Chamber Choir (Years 10-13) |
Orchestra (Years 7-13) |
| Choral Scholars (Years 10 - 13) |
String Ensemble (Years 7-13) |
House Music Competitions:
- Singing
- Piano
- Instrumental
Concerts:
- Chamber Concert (October)
- Winter Concert (December)
- Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (December)
- Charters Unplugged (January)
- Gifted and Talented Chamber Concert (February)
- Spring Concert (March)
- Charterstock Pop and Rock Concert (July)
Music tours have been run on a (usually) bi-annual basis. Recent destinations have included: Paris (2005);South Africa (2007); Austria (2008); New York (2010)
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