Music
Music Department Staff
Miss M Reading, Assistant Principal, Head of Music and Director of Enrichment
Mrs D Noakes, Assistant Principal and Teacher of Music
Mrs L Sargent, Teacher of Music
Peripatetic Teachers provided by NMPAT
We are a proud partner of NMPAT and all of our vocal and instrumental lessons are supplied by them. We aim to offer every child who is interested, lessons of their choice, so please enquire. To request lessons, please download the attached letter and return the reply slip to the music department. Payment will then be set up via ParentPay.
Mrs C Anderson, Piano
Mrs J Armstrong, Strings
Mr A Bell, Woodwind
Mr M Butler, Percussion
Mr J Calcott, Guitar and Music Technology
Ms L Govier, Vocals
Mr B Turnball, Brass
Curriculum
“Music is all around us. It is the soundtrack to our lives. Music connects us through people and places in our ever-changing world. It is creative, collaborative, celebratory and challenging. In our schools, music can bring communities together through the shared endeavour of whole-school singing, ensemble playing, experimenting with the creative process and, through the love of listening to friends and fellow pupils, performing. The sheer joy of music making can feed the soul of a school community, enriching each student while strengthening the shared bonds of support and trust which make a great school” (Model Music Curriculum, 2021).
“A truly musical school holds three distinct, but interlinked, areas of music education in balance” (Rogers, 2019). We truly believe in this, and have designed our music curriculum as such:
All students have access to music in the classroom, and the focus of KS3 curriculum music is on developing students’ musical understanding, getting to know how music works and how it conveys meaning.
Alongside this, students have the opportunity to learn an instrument with 1:1 lessons taking place during the school day. They also have the opportunity to rehearse in instrumental and vocal ensembles during lunch time and after school.
Of equal importance is a series of musical events running through the year – concerts, recitals competitions, workshops, trips to professional events – in which students experience music as a vital element in public culture.
Classroom Music
Our curriculum is based around the key areas of singing, playing, improvising, composing and listening. “Curriculum music is, fundamentally, about all students developing their musical understanding. This must be done through creative, practical exploration of sounds and music – we are not talking about passive musical appreciations. But it is about understanding, getting to know how music works, and how it therefore conveys meaning.” (Rogers, 2019).
KS3 Music and Music Technology Curriculum
Our KS3 music curriculum is a spiral curriculum based on the skills of playing, improvising, composing, technology and listening. We believe in introducing our students to a variety of instruments throughout their education so that students can explore their interests. All of our schemes of work are project based, balancing a variety of musical genres.
All lessons start with class singing and the curriculum content is as follows:
| Year A | Year B | Year C | |
| Year 7 | Scales and Arpeggios Rule the World Snow Wonder Feed the Birds Naughty Favourite Things Medley Hey Brother | Scales and Arpeggios The Bare Necessities Polar Express Medley Sing Believer Ho Hey School Song | Scales and Arpeggios Little Mermaid Medley Reindeer on the Roof How Far I’ll Go California Dreaming Food Glorious Food Roar |
| Year 8 | Circle of Life Jingle Bell Rock Any Dream Will Do Counting Stars Revolting Children Africa | Home Wonderful Time of the Year Hard Knock Life You Gotta Be Adiemus Seize the Day | Fight Song Merry Christmas Everybody Price Tag Amarillo Thinking Out Loud Do you Hear the People Sing |
| Year 9 | Down to the River to Pray Somewhere Only We Know Happy Greatest Day You’re the Voice Chasing Cars | This Little Light of Mine Winter Wonderland Help Brave Something Inside so Strong Happy Together | Lean on Me Happy Xmas (War is Over) We Know the Way Don’t Stop Believing Rolling in the Deep Defying Gravity |
KS4 Music Curriculum
Students are following the BTEC Level 2 First Award in Music. This qualification has been chosen in order to prepare students for careers in the music industry, developing the skills for the specialism. The course allows students to focus on the genres that are most relevant to them and their development. Extension is available for students in studying additional units that result in achieving the BTEC Level 2 First Certificate. Extension is also available in studying for the Arts Award Silver Qualification
| Unit | Assessment | |
| Year 10 | Unit 1: The Music Industry Unit 5: Introducing Music Performance | Exam in May (Resit opportunity in January of Year 11) Coursework |
| Year 11 | Unit 2: Managing a Music Project Unit 4: Introducing Music Composition | Coursework Coursework |
KS4 Music Technology Curriculum
Students are following the BTEC Level 2 First Award in Music Technology. This qualification has been chosen in order to prepare students for careers in the music industry, developing the skills for the specialism. The course allows students to focus on the genres that are most relevant to them and their development. Extension is available for students in studying additional units that result in achieving the BTEC Level 2 First Certificate. Extension is also available in studying for the Arts Award Silver Qualification
| Unit | Assessment | |
| Year 10 | Unit 1: The Music Industry Unit 5: Introducing Music Sequencing | Exam in May (Resit opportunity in January of Year 11) Coursework |
| Year 11 | Unit 2: Managing a Music Project Unit 4: Introducing Music Recording | Coursework Coursework |
KS5 Music and Music Technology Curriculum
Students are following the RSL Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma for Music Practitioners, following either the Performance or Business Pathway as suited to their skills and interests. This course has been chosen due to the extensive number of optional units available meaning that students can truly specialise and build on their interests. In an individual cohort, students are likely to all be studying different units of work to their peers in the same class in order to allow students to fully specialise.
Instrumental and Vocal learning and Ensembles
Instrumental and Vocal Tuition
All students are offered and encouraged to access 1:1 peripatetic tuition which is delivered in partnership with the local music hub. These lessons are 1:1 weekly lessons lasting 20 minutes.
The biggest obstacle to this area is cost, and therefore the costs per term are:
• all students are subsidised by the school by 50% – £65
• KS4/5 music students are subsidised by 65% – £45
• PP students are subsidised by 80% – £25
In addition, £5 discount each term is applied for each musical ensemble the student regularly attends and performs with.
If you would like to arrange for your son or daughter to have music tuition, then please download this contract for further information
Ensembles
All students, regardless of age or ability are invited and encouraged to attend the following lunch time ensembles:
• Choir
• Boys Choir
• Guitar Ensemble
• Ukulele Ensemble
• Percussion Ensemble
All students who play or own specific instruments, regardless of age or ability are invited and encouraged to attend the following lunch time and after school ensembles:
• Woodwind Ensemble
• String Ensemble
Students who are considered at a higher ability, regardless of age, are invited and encouraged to attend the following lunch time and after school ensembles:
• Chamber Choir
• Folk Band
• Swing Band
Music Events and Opportunities
Concerts
Winter Concert – all ensembles and all KS3 students invited to perform as part of a year group choir to showcase classroom music singing
Summer Concert – all ensembles and all KS3 students invited to perform as part of a year group choir to showcase classroom music singing
Recitals
KS3 Recital – all students are invited to perform as soloists
KS4 Recital – all students are invited to perform as soloists
KS5 Recital – all students are invited to perform as soloists
Other Performances
Annual Carol singing tour to local care homes – high ability KS3 singers
Video performances to share for open evenings on site and online
Lunch time performances in the dining hall
Competitions
Wellingborough Music Festival – all ensembles that fit the criteria plus soloists that have instrumental/vocal lessons or are studying KS4/5 music
Trips
Year 7 musical theatre trip – all of the year group are invited to attend a trip to a professional production. This is charged at cost with PP students be subsidised by 50%
• 2021-22: School of Rock
Year 8 musical theatre trip – all of the year group are invited to attend a trip to a professional production. This is charged at cost with PP students be subsidised by 50%
• 2019-20: Kinky Boots
• 2021-22: Hairspray
Year 9 musical theatre trip – all of the year group are invited to attend a trip to a professional production. This is charged at cost with PP students be subsidised by 50%
• 2019-20: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
• 2021-22: Chicago
KS4/5 musical theatre trip – all of the year group are invited to attend a trip to a professional production. This is charged at cost with PP students be subsidised by 50%
• 2021-22: Six
Open to all – local amateur pantomime society performance to encourage students to audition
Open to all – local amateur musical theatre society performance to encourage students to audition
