Through the exploration of music we aim to ensure that all students gain enjoyment, satisfaction and understanding of music through composing, performing, listening and appraising of a wide range of experiences that covers, popular, classical, jazz and world music styles.  We aim to engage and inspire students to develop a growing love of music, whilst developing their talent as musicians and critical engagement with music. Through this all of our students will be able to enjoy and appreciate music as an essential part of their lives whilst also creating the musicians and educators of tomorrow.

We challenge students to think, act and speak like those working in the field. We do this through quality first teaching which challenges our students to not only understand different styles and genres of music but requires them to explore, discuss and demonstrate this understanding in creative ways. They are challenged in all lessons to be able to demonstrate understanding and creativity through performance, composition, through collaboration with their peers and through evaluation of their own work.

Our practical based curriculum focuses on both group and individual skills and supports the growth of confident students who are resilient and able to break through challenges, demonstrating creative skills, independence, and the ability work with and lead others. The provision of Music in and out of lessons aims to ensure that students of all backgrounds, abilities and cultures have access to stimulating musical experiences and opportunities to participate. The subject is a key part of developing all students’ cultural capital.

As the students observe their peers’ performances, they are taught how to identify and evaluate these performances, providing them with the skills to be able to confidently articulate what went well and what they need to do to improve. This allows all learners to practically develop their work by this immediate verbal feedback. Students self-assess constantly throughout the lesson as the teacher observes rehearsals.

Each half term all students will be verbally assessed. Each lesson builds on the previous one which will develop the students’ skills to perform confidently.

Each department has carefully developed curriculum plans in line with our curriculum intent. The curriculum overview for each year group in this subject can be found below.