Staff :  Mr R. Sanders (Head of Department)

September 2007 saw the opening of the new Music Studio, equipped with the latest technology in Music recording, including over thirty Apple Mac computers, three professional recording booths and one central control room equipped with the latest music recording software and hardware.

The Music Department is very well resourced and comprises of two fully equipped teaching rooms, a brand new music suite complete with the latest facilities in music technology, brand new recording studio including a control room and two recording booths and various practice rooms.

The College operates on a thirty period week of 50 minute lessons.  Students in Year 7 and 8 are taught in tutor groups and receive two music lessons a week while Year 9 has one.  The curriculum delivered is diverse and exciting and students are assessed using National Curriculum Level descriptors.  Schemes of work have been written by the teachers to suit the needs of the students and meet the requirements of the National Curriculum.

Students have the opportunity of choosing music at GCSE level and ‘A’ level and these courses are growing rapidly in popularity.  Currently we have one GCSE class in Year 10 and one in Year 11.  The EDEXCEL syllabus is used at both GCSE and A levels.  There is an opportunity for students to take the AS music Technology course using the EDEXCEL specification.

There are many extra curricular activities that the Music Department offers.  The two full time teaching staff (Head of Music and 2^nd In Charge of Music) are responsible for rehearsing and accompanying two choirs (Chapel and Concert) and the school orchestra.  Rehearsals are scheduled after the normal school day.  Sectional rehearsals are arranged when needed particularly before concerts or performances which happen regularly throughout the year.  The department is involved in calendar events such as Chapel services, Concerts, School Plays and Summer Fete.  Peripatetic lessons are available for students who wish to get individual tuition on an instrument.

The department is growing from strength to strength and is well supported and valued by the students, parents, teaching staff and SLT.