Overview

• Carefully backwards planned curriculum supporting excellent progress to GCSE and beyond. See website here
• All National Curriculum requirements are covered.
• Year 7 and 8: 2 x 50 minute lessons per week 
• Year 9: 1 x 50 minute lesson per week 
• KS4: 3 x 50 minute lessons per week 
• Taught by 3 staff - all subject specialists 
• Where appropriate, music technology is used in learning (Cubase and Musescore)
• Classrooms equipped with touch-sensitive keyboards. 2 computer rooms with 20 PCs and midi keyboards each. 
• Assessment: most assessment in music is summative with verbal feedback given to pupils and tracked. 
• Summative assessment: 3 assessment points per year. KS3: assessed on skills according to unit of work. Some units also have a listening paper to check understanding of hinge concepts. 
• KS4: GCSE-style assessments each term. Formative assessment using exam criteria given for performance and composition in year 10, in year 11 this is summative and mapped against grades. 
• Through summative assessment, focus pupils are identified who would benefit from more support in areas. Through formative assessment pupils can continuously improve on skills in lessons. 

• NCFE curriculum to be included on website 
• Focus pupils more carefully mapped and monitored 
• Formative assessment monitored more closely to ensure no pupil left out. 

Ref number of relevant action(s)

Singing

• All year 7 and 8 pupils sing in choir once per week 
• Year 7 sing frequently in autumn term curriculum lessons.
• Music teachers encouraged to use sound before symbol and model with voices
• Singing is assessed in Year 7 autumn term. 
• All year 7 and 8 pupils perform as part of a choir in autumn term. 

• Teacher modelling with voice embedded across all classes and key stages (particularly KS4)
• Summer performance opportunity made for year 7 and 8 choirs. 

Instrumental music

• All pupils learn basic keyboard skills, from spring term year 7. Keyboard is the main instrument covered as it lends itself well to technology, however pupils are encouraged to use their own instruments in lessons from summer year 7. 
• Pupils play instruments in every KS3 music lesson. 
• In year 8, pupils learn the djembe as a whole class. 
• In year 7, pupils have the opportunity to try the ukulele and guitar in class. 
• By end of year 9, all pupils should be able to find their way around the keyboard, and play basic melodies and chords. 
• Standards are measured through our assessment framework. 

• Experiment with a keyboard assessment at end of year 7-8 to support weaker students 
• Ensure that weaker students are supported to move away from the key cards and play more independently
• Have a programme in place for late starters to catch  up 
• Encourage more pupils to bring in their own instruments to lessons in years 8 and 9 

Technology

• Music tech is covered in two units in year 7 (introducing Musescore and Cubase), two units in year 8 (cubase) and up to 3 units in year 9, depending on pupil choice. 
• Music tech is always preceded in year 7 and 8 by half a term’s lessons on instrumental music making, which they later apply to technology. 
• Music tech is used in the following units: Year 7 Stomp!, Year 7 Pop Songs, Year 8 Baroque Remix, Year 8 Blues, Year 9 EDM, Film Music, and one optional unit (My Musical Self) 

• Staff continue to upskill themselves on Cubase. 
• Liaise with UWE to ensure pupils have broader experience of technology in KS3 (recording etc) 

Opportunities to experience live music performance

• Celebration assembly performances once per term 
• LEAP Ensemble concert every other year for KS3 pupils (professional classical ensemble)
• All KS3 pupils have one trip to a theatre or a show, most contain live music. 
• All GCSE pupils have a GCSE tailored concert. 
• (Hopefully) bi-annual performances at Bristol Beacon involving all year 7 and 8 pupils, and many from older years, meaning they can see others perform. 
• Joint concerts with local amateur music groups 
• Depending on who is touring/available - regular trips to concerts at St Georges and Bristol Beacon 
• Piano festival each year - all of year 7 and 8 hear a classical piano concert. 
• All funded through music budget, ticket revenue from our concerts, contributions from parents, external funding from organisations. 

• Now school established, a clear rhythm for these performance opportunities 
• Use of sixth formers to perform to pupils lower down the school 
• Regular assembly performances - not just celebration 

Overview

Policy - see website

Activities are led by music staff, peripatetic teachers and external providers. 

All clubs are free of charge. 

Singing

All year 7 and 8 pupils sing in choir once per week (1x30 minute session), led by music teachers. Accompanied by pupils or peripatetic staff, depending on the choir. 

Choirs:

• Year 7 girls choir - lead by music teacher, accompanied by pupils. 8:30-9am once per week
• Year 7 boys choir lead by music teacher, accompanied by peripatetic piano teacher 8:30-9am once per week
• Phase 2-3 choir (year 9,10,11)  lead by music teacher, accompanied by peripatetic piano teacher 8:30-9am once per week
• Boys excel choir - lead by peripatetic singing teacher 8:30-9am once per week
• Trinity Voices (on pause until summer 2025)  lead by music teacher, accompanied by peripatetic piano teacher 3:20-4:10pm once per week. 

• All pupils participate in year 7 and 8 boys/girls choirs
• Pupils encouraged to sign up form year 9+ choir - roughly 70-80 pupils  do. 
• Developed through increasingly challenging repertoire throughout the year. 
• Performance opportunities every term in school (Winter, spring, summer concerts) and external events depending on the year, eg. Trust concert. 

• Growth of boys excel choir
• More pupils involved in Bristol Youth Choir 
• Sixth form Choir 

Ensembles

• Band Academy 
• Four instrumental ensembles from beginner to advanced: Andante, Aspire, Excel, Symphony Orchestra
• Flute Group (tutor time)
• String Group (tutor time)
• Beginner Guitar
• Big Band (tutor time)

• All led by music teachers, external conductors, peripatetic teachers. 
• All take place after school 3:20-4:10 unless otherwise stated. 
• Pupils are automatically assigned an instrumental ensemble if they play an instrument. Other clubs are optional but strongly encouraged by peripatetic staff. 

• Performance opportunities every term in school (Winter, spring, summer concerts) and external events depending on the year, eg. Trust concert. 

• Numbers growing 2024-25 for ensembles now better communications in place 
• Sixth form involvement in ensembles 
• Within 2 years - a concert band 
• All pupils who play an instrument in school doing an ensemble - track this. 

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Tuition

Instruments taught: flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, violin, viola, cello, double bass, voice (classical and pop), piano, guitar, bass guitar, drum kit, trumpet, cornet, trombone, french horn, tuba. 

All taught by self-employed peripatetic staff 

• Take up TBC for 2024-25 but in 2023 there were 310 lessons happening per week, slightly more girls than boys. 
• Of new starters (97), 77 are continuing. 
• Vast majority of pupils doing lessons have very few behaviour issues in and around school and are organised with strong attendance. 
• Tuition promoted through advertising in parent newsletter and class music lessons. For endangered or unusual instruments, workshops and taster sessions are put on. 
• For wind and brass, all year 6s try out all the instruments on their transition day and are encouraged to sign up. 
• Some students go on to do grades. 

• Opportunity to take formal grades in school. 
• Monitoring F/M, SEN and PP% from beginning of the year. Monitoring drop outs throughout the year. 
• Drop in culture to peripatetic lessons 

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Governing body

Laurie Stewart - works closely with Head of Music to hold to account and support. 

Senior Leadership Team

Headteacher is a  music specialist. Music is a specialism of the school therefore strongly supported in terms of budget, flexibility to put on events. SLT always supports school events. Co-curricular is partly overseen by the assistant principal in charge of Soul. 

Other members of SLT understand music assessment model, music co-curricular progression. 

Subject leadership

Head of Music and Performing Arts leads music. 

Curriculum is designed by the head of music, with influence and support from outside networks such as CST, Music Teachers Association, OAK National Academy. 

Curriculum is centrally planned and all music teachers follow it. This is communicated through department master spreadsheets, co-planning meetings weekly. Delivery monitored through regular drop-ins to lessons, as well as formative and summative assessments. 

Training is dependent on staff in question and identified through regular meetings and conversations. CPD budget is used for this, as well as support from Bristol Beacon, Music Teachers Association, exam boards, and in house skill sharing. 

Beginning of year - training needs reviewed and discussed. 

Budget for Music

Music income

• Funding from donors (anonymous) 

• Funding from agencies eg. Theatreworks 
• Instrument hire charges, concert ticket income, refreshment sales, raffle contributes to music budget. 

Explore charitable and other funding received (local 

charities, UK Music Sound Foundation, Parents’ Association)

Governors/SLT involved in fundraising bids and identifying income sources

Partnerships with schools

Member of Bristol Heads of Music network and contribute ideas and feedback. 

Closely work with other schools in trust (St Katherines and BCCS) on curriculum and trust concert. 

Work with Stoke Park Primary and St Werburgh’s Primary (performances and workshops) 

Strengthen partnership with Stoke Park Primary school, as well as other local non-trust schools. 

Partnership or relationship with local music service or Music Education Hub

Work closely with Bristol Beacon - and take up opportunities around concerts and workshops they offer. We were able to use their concert space and also take part in their secondary gala concert. 

This is growing as Bristol Beacon grows. 

Increase participation in Beacon ensembles and gala concert. 

Cultural partners for music

RWCMD (Piano day, memorandum of understanding more geared towards A level )

Birmingham Conservatoire (LEAP ensemble) 

UWE (developing partnership around music technology)

City of Bristol Brass Band (Concert scheduled for 2024-5)

St George’s (free tickets to some concerts, some musicians have performed in our concert space)

Previous joint concerts with Exultate Singers and Filton Brass Band. 

Strengthen partnership with UWE and Birmingham Conservatoire. 

Rekindle partnership with St Georges for more trips to happen this year. 

Spaces for Music

Music department is front and centre of the school. 

4 music classrooms (2 tech, 2 general)

9 practice rooms

Recording studio 

Music workroom 

State of the art concert hall  (seats 600) 

Choirs and ensembles take place in the concert hall/classrooms/drama studio 

Instrumental and vocal tuition takes place in practice rooms and classrooms. 

As music tuition grows, exploration of other spaces or structures  to support this. 

Soundproofing practice room 1 to ensure concert hall events not disturbed. 

Action 1 

Resources available for Music

Classroom resources: 

35 touch sensitive keyboards

42 PCs and midi keyboards 

30 djembes 

Co-curricular resources:

• 4 drum kits (2 electric)
• 6 pianos (1 yamaha S6 concert grand)
• 3 electric pianos 
• selection of amps, guitars and basses, microphones 

Tuition resources: 

• Stock of clarinets, flutes, bassoons, oboes, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, french horns, tubas, double basses for students to hire. 

• Subscription to musicnotes for sheet music, and access to Bristol Beacon music library
• Growing selection of printed music 
• Subscription to music teachers association and Associated Board of Choral Directors for CPD needs. 

• Resources monitored by music technician. Repaired by him, peripatetic staff or repair shop. Renewed from music budget. 
• Consumables funded from music budget or parental contribution (eg reeds) 

• Purchase of 2 tenor saxophones
• Purchase of orchestral percussion 
• Trailblazer instrument inventory completed earlier to ensure smooth transition. 

Overview

Use of EEF framework ‘5 a day’ to support all learners in music. 

Pupils are exposed to music beyond their cultural sphere across the curriculum (with use of suggestions from model music curriculum), however in year 9+ there is greater scope for pupils to study, perform and compose in their own style of music. 

In choir, pupils are encouraged to send in songs they would like to learn. 

Explore songs in languages spoken by families in the school community

Explore tuition is offered in non-Western instruments and genres, reflecting the heritage and traditions of pupils at the school

Finishing mapping repertoire covered in KS3. 

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Needs of SEN pupils are assessed through the SEN team, and passed on to departments. 

Adjustments: Use of pen portraits and reasonable adjustments (eg. rest breaks, movement breaks, use of ear protection), key cards for the keyboards. 

Explore whether paraorchestra have outreach, since they are based in bristol. 

Explore relaxed concerts. 

Religion

Pupils of all faiths and religions are expected to participate in curriculum music lessons - even in Ramadan. Guidance has been sought from the British Board of Muslims about this. 

During Ramadan, pupils are not expected to take part in choir or co-curricular music if they do not wish to. 

Repertoire in all lessons is considered and chosen sensibly for theme and content. 

Financial hardship

Pupil Premium students are entitled to 50% off instrumental tuition in one study. 

Music specialists are  are entitled to 50% off instrumental tuition in one study in year 7 only. 

There are bespoke arrangements in place for students who do not meet these criteria who are suffering from financial hardship. 

Pupil premium students get 50% off trips and instrument hire. 

All school clubs are free or charge. 

Tracking of pupils with music bursaries reestablished 

Overview

• Co-curricular clubs and instrumental tuition are advertised in curriculum music lessons. 
• The school responds to interest from parents and pupils, for example - piano and voice are very popular so we recruited more teachers to fill these gaps. 
• Families of pupils on the trailblazer scheme have information about how to support their child. At the end of the year, they received more information and support in a graduation event. 
• Pupils  who are music specialists have a talk with parents at the beginning of year 7, and an optional meeting with the head of music to discuss hopes and ambitions. 
• Pupils who are not music specialist but have enthusiasm and aptitude are highlighted in lessons and encouraged  to participate in wider musical opportunities in the school. 
• Pupils that would benefit socially and emotionally highlighted by pastoral staff, and where budget available  are supported to have music tuition. 

• More formalised approach at identifying pupils with potential in year 7. 
• Create more opportunities to educate parents about support for their children in music. 
• Technology - continued upskilling of team on this 

Progression opportunities

• Signposts opportunities offered by Bristol Beacon and West of England Music Hub. 
• Some information given to school from primaries and Bristol Beacon about year 6-7 transition pupils. 

• More signposting of hub activities (visits, adverts in programmes)
• In transition next year, collate data from students about what they play. Use transition lead to contact primary schools. 

Pupil tracking

• Clubs are centrally managed and registers taken. 
• Around 20 pupils take part in Bristol Beacon Ensembles, in addition to around 10 in West of England. 
• These pupils all contribute to the school in terms of taking part in co-curricular clubs. 

• Closer monitoring of registers for clubs, meaning dropouts are identified. 
• Liaising with music hubs to ensure that school is aware of who is involved. 

Strategy development

• Strategy is monitored by headteacher, head of soul, governor for performing arts. 
• Will liaise with head of music for CST about progression strategy. 

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Contact Music Service to add new ensemble to percussion tutor’s time;

Arrange a space;

publicise to pupils and parents

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Head of Music

10 sessions x 45mn at £45ph initially for one term.

£337.50

Christmas concert ticket receipts; ask PTA if shortfall

[Music Service] percussion tutor to lead

21Dec23 for Spring Term start

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