Music is a universal language that encourages creativity, confidence and self‑expression. Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is designed to inspire students from the very beginning, enabling them to develop secure foundational skills in performance, composition and listening. As they grow as musicians, students learn to use musical vocabulary with increasing accuracy, forming their own opinions and engaging critically with a wide range of musical traditions!

Key Stage 3

Year 7

Students begin their musical journey by developing core performance and rhythmic skills. In Uke Can Sing! they explore vocal technique, clapping games, body percussion and call‑and‑response patterns, gradually building their understanding of rhythmic notation. They also learn their first chords on the ukulele, giving them the confidence to perform as a group. This leads into Music Makers, where students deepen their understanding of the elements of music and begin reading treble clef notation. They experiment with graphic scores, develop their listening skills and compose simple melodies. These skills support their first keyboard performances, including well‑known five‑finger melodies such as Ode to Joy, helping them connect notation to real musical outcomes. In A World of Sound, students broaden their cultural understanding by creating music inspired by Indian raga, Brazilian samba and African vocal and drumming traditions. Through djembe drumming and ensemble work, they learn how music functions across different cultures and contexts.

Year 8

In Year 8, students build on their instrumental and rhythmic foundations. Hooks and Riffs introduces them to iconic musical patterns performed on guitar, drum kit, keyboard, vocals and bass. They also begin composing their own hooks, strengthening their understanding of bass clef and melodic structure. In Beats and Breaks, students move into digital music‑making, creating accompaniments using audio loops in Ableton. They explore rap and hip‑hop through composition and performance, studying famous themes and developing confidence with rhythm, flow and production. Feelin’ Blue introduces students to Blues and Jazz. They learn guitar chords, drum grooves and keyboard skills, and begin improvising using Blues scales. They also explore gospel traditions, gaining insight into the expressive qualities of these genres.

Year 9

Year 9 encourages increasing independence and ensemble musicianship. In Sound Collective, students form pop bands using electric guitar, bass guitar, drum kit, keyboard and vocals. They develop rehearsal discipline, ensemble awareness and performance confidence. In CTL + ALT + Compose, students advance their music technology skills by composing and editing dance music using Ableton. They work with MIDI and audio, applying effects such as reverb, panning and EQ to shape their sound creatively and purposefully. Finally, Mission: Composition challenges students to compose music for film and games. They explore themes of heroes and villains, study famous theme tunes and learn how musical devices can create character, atmosphere and narrative.

Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4, students refine their musicianship through focused study of performance, composition and listening. They apply the skills developed in Key Stage 3 to more advanced musical contexts, working both independently and collaboratively.

Year 10

Throughout Year 10, students follow a structured programme titled Listening, Performing and Composing. They begin by exploring chord progressions, melody writing and general music theory, alongside developing solo performance skills. They also learn the fundamentals of Ableton, a link from KS3, enabling them to create music using technology. As the year progresses, students compose AABA melodies, study key signatures, scales and cadences, and take part in ensemble performances. Their confidence with Ableton grows as they apply their knowledge to more complex tasks. Students then move into the four Areas of Study.
Area of Study 1: Western Classical Traditions 1650–1910 introduces them to classical timelines, listening skills and the analysis of set works. They compose 16‑bar melodies and input them into Sibelius or Ableton. Solo performances are peer‑assessed, and students explore repertoire such as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1, Movement 1.
Area of Study 2: Popular Music focuses on creating pop songs using chord progressions, exploring the development of popular genres and studying iconic works by Queen, including Bohemian Rhapsody, The Seven Seas of Rhye and Love of My Life. Ensemble performance continues to be a key component.
Area of Study 3: Traditional Music allows students to compose music influenced by different cultures, supported by historical and contextual listening. Solo performance remains central to their development.
Area of Study 4: Western Classical Tradition Since 1910 introduces students to minimalism and other modern classical styles. They compose minimalist pieces, study key composers and refine their ensemble performance skills.

Year 11

In Year 11, students consolidate everything they have learned. They complete two compositions—one to a brief set by AQA and one free composition—using either music software or live instruments. Both compositions are recorded and notated to meet examination requirements. Students also prepare for their final solo and ensemble performances, which are recorded for assessment. Alongside this, they undertake focused GCSE exam practice, complete their coursework and develop the listening and analytical skills required for the written examination.

Throughout the key stages, students get the opportunity to build on previous musical skills.  Our curriculum is deliberately and purposely designed to enable students to retrieve knowledge from previous topics and to build on that knowledge. Mastery tasks and skills are always available to ensure that all students, including those who are studying privately with peripatetic teachers, are all challenged. This gives all our students the opportunity to develop their passion for music in their own individual way.