Music

Over the academic year Music is timetabled over a two-week period.                                                                                               

In Key Stage 3:               

• Year 7 – 3 hours
• Year 8 – 2 hours
• Year 9 – 2 hours

In Key Stage 4:

• Year 10 – 6 hours
• Year 11 – 5 hours

The Music Curriculum is ambitious incorporating strands from the DFE’s Model Music Curriculum within its framework, but also sequenced appropriately to show  the progression and incremental learning of the technical, constructive, and expressive aspects of music of our students to develop musical skills, understanding and confidence. 

Pupils with additional needs participate and make progressl (supported by technology, tools, and adapted resources). 

Space and resources allow breadth of curriculum for all students:

• Performance classroom – Populated with a range of instruments
• Music Technology suite – 24 iMacs using Logic Pro X
• 3 practice rooms

The Secondary curriculum is published on the school website. Music Curriculum offer

In Key Stage 3, using a diverse range of musical styles and genres students:

• Apply skills and practice techniques taught when learning:
  • A range of musical instruments, including the voice,  
  • Music Technology skills using Logic Pro X
  • Methods and strategies in Composition

• Recognise the role of technology in Music, when composing and listening to musical arrangements.
• Critically explore and develop ideas both individually and collaboratively with others, when composing music.
• Listen with discrimination to review and evaluate the work of composers and musicians from a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions. 
• Have an appreciation of a range of different musical styles
• Participate in a range of performances

Currently KS4 students study Pearson BTEC Music Practice. 

• Rock Band
• Singing group
• Guitar group
• Music Tech group

Students who enjoy being involved in the musical life of the school are also able to book rehearsal spaces throughout the fortnight for independent and ensemble practice. Key Stage 4 students are actively encouraged to make use of this facility. 

Extra-curricular clubs provide opportunities for students to:

• Rehearse a range of musical pieces, depending on the ensemble. These are often chosen in collaboration with the students.
• Sing/ play as an ensemble with or without solo elements
• Sing/play individually, performing pieces of their choice
• Perform using instruments such, piano, guitar, or ukulele.

The school does not currently have any learners who receive peripatetic tuition. Consequently, the school places a strong emphasis on developing practical skills within the Key Stage 3 curriculum.

A range of students in Year 7-9 and Year 10 Music Performance students will play alongside professional musicians when they participate in workshops with the British Army Band Colchester. This will culminate in a final performance.

Students perform at the annual Awards evening

Key stage 3 students will have the opportunity to attend at least one live performance this year. Students in Year 10 and 11 will be offered further opportunities to attend live performances subject to availability, that to their Key Stage 4 curriculum. All events will be charged, although for those parents or carers in particular circumstances may have some of the trip costs subsidised.

World Music Day (21st June 2026) will be celebrated with events and musical performance opportunities across the school in which all students can become involved.

The school aims to review the department in 2025 – 2026 to better meet the features of high-quality music provision. As part of the review, the school will:

• Assess the viability of running peripatetic lessons and externally provided music workshops, subject to current interest and funding. Individual lessons are not currently offered at the school, despite previous attempts to establish them. Some learners have shown an interest in learning an instrument at school. 
• Investigate funding to reduce costs to eligible students for various workshop opportunities and tuition as outlined above. This is in addition to the reductions already provided by Essex Music Educational Hub. 
• Organise an unused/unwanted instrument donation event from the local community.
• Create further performance opportunities for students to showcase their musical skills within school and the local community throughout the year.
• Collaborate with external musicians to provide musical experiences within school
• Establish links with local feeder primary schools to explore performance and collaborative opportunities.
• Ensure that healthy singing is fully embedded into the KS3 curriculum and in the Key Stage 4 curriculum where appropriate to the needs of the qualification, by reviewing current Schemes of Work and amending where necessary.
• Explore opportunities to broaden the range of instruments available to students for whole class performance, subject to department funding.
• Explore the opportunity for extra-curricular ensembles to participate in local festivals such as the Rock Prom and Schools Prom.
• Develop World Music Day 2026 provision across the school following the initial launch in 2024.
• Organise opportunities to view live musical performances.

1. The Department for Education publishes a guide for parents and young people on how they can get involved in music in and out of school, and where they can go for support beyond the school. 
2. Our local hub also has more information regarding getting involved in the many musical ventures locally. Essex Music Education Hub