Our well-staffed and well-resourced department offers many
opportunities to anyone interested in music.
In Years 7-9 girls follow a syllabus based on the National
Curriculum which has been devised to cater for a wide range of
musical ability within individual classes. Further, it is designed
to give all girls an appreciation and understanding of music. This
includes class singing and other practical work, in particular the
development of keyboard skills. An awareness of different musical
styles and listening skills are developed through the study both of
well-known works and music from different cultures. Composing,
either through improvising pieces or writing them down, is also an
essential part of the curriculum.
Music is a popular option at GCSE and the school follows the
Edexcel specification. All GCSE students have to perform on a
regular basis - the normal standard is about Grade 5 on the chosen
instrument by the end of the course, although many girls have
achieved higher grades. Each student also produces a composition
portfolio consisting of two contrasted pieces and has a listening
exam at the end of the course based on specified Areas of
Study.
AS and A2 Music is also well established, following the OCR
Specification. There is a strong record of girls continuing their
musical studies either at Music College or university on leaving
school.