Raising Standards in Music

We baseline  all pupils at the start of KS3 and from this information set challenging end of ks3 targets. Our results show a dramatic rise in pupils attaining level 6 from 2004 onwards and compare favourably with local and national averages.

All pupils who have chosen music as an option have access to 3 hours of music during curriculum time as well as an entitlement to free lessons on their chosen instrument or voice with a specialist teacher. We are keen to encourage a holistic approach to our students' musical education and realise the health benefits and transferable skills involved in learning an instrument. We have made successful bids through Sports College and Leading Edge to fund wind projects such as a Community Sax ensemble impacting sixth form students in the area. This started as an elite group during the summer term of 2007of students from several colleges in the area who have performed at local community events to inspire and enthuse potential young wind players. This will be developed during the following academic year to include a key stage 3 and 4 ensemble and a primary school group. We continue to develop the provision for solo and ensemble instrumental work in school through innovative action planning including a wide breadth of styles from world music (English Folk Music, Japanese Taiko Drumming, Samba and African Drumming) to rock and pop and brass ensembles. We also realise the benefits of vocal work and have developed class choirs in ks3 giving all pupils a chance to perform as part of a choir in school and at community events.  There are also numerous small vocal ensembles including an elite choir. We are keen to develop the role of music leaders in school through innovative use of peripatetic staff ( eg: developing the role of the rock and pop leader, wind leader and singing teacher to include ensemble tuition ) and this year will see the development of the percussion teacher's role to include elite ensemble opportunities through creative planning of his teaching time.

KS3 Results

• KS4 Results: Results in 2005 and 2006 were above local and national averages. In 2006 and 2007 results were lower than national averages but this was expected due to the expansion in group sizes' yet we still achieved over 50% As and Bs which has meant that more students are able to take music in the next phase of their education. All students in the 2007 music cohort are intending to study music/music theatre/music technology as part of their post-16 studies.
• 100% passes at grades A*-G
• We are now exploring ways to increase the opportunities for our students to achieve at KS 4 and are researching alternative specifications  eg: entry level, performing arts, music technology and Btec

12 students achieved at or above their FFT predicted grades  and A grades have risen each year between 2004 and 2006.

Possible future strategies for action plan include:

Rock and Pop music leader's hours extended to include specific composition tasks