Music Development Plan

Music development plan summary:
Brookfield Community School

Overview

This is a summary of how our school delivers music education to all our pupils across three areas – curriculum music, co-curricular provision and musical experiences – and what changes we are planning in future years. This information is to help pupils and parents or carers understand what our school offers and who we work with to support our pupils’ music education.

Part A: Curriculum Music

This is about what we teach in lesson time, how much time is spent teaching music and any music qualifications or awards that pupils can achieve.

In Years 7 and 8, students receive music lessons for 1 hour per week. In these lessons students learn about music from different styles and genres, and from around the world such as Blues Music, Film Music, African Drumming and A Cappella singing. The skills learnt in each unit of work are underpinned by the elements of music, that are transferable between units of work. As the students move through Years 7 and 8, they will accumulate knowledge and skills that enable them to develop their individual musical skills using both instruments and music technology.

In Year 9, students have an opportunity to strengthen their musical knowledge by looking more closely at the skills that are required for both GCSE Music and VCert in Music Technology. They will receive 3 hours of lessons a fortnight, where they continue to build on the skills learnt at KS3 and begin to gain a deeper understanding of the differences between the Music and Music Technology pathways.

In Years 10 and 11, students have the opportunity to study for either GCSE Music (AQA) or the Level 1/2 Technical Award in Music Technology (NCFE) which is a vocational course. They will receive 5 hours of lessons per fortnight with each course having its own programme of study.

Part B: Co-curricular Music

This is about opportunities for pupils to sing and play music outside of lesson time, including choirs, ensembles and bands, and how pupils can make progress in music beyond the core curriculum.

Outside of classroom lessons, students have the opportunity to receive instrumental or vocal tuition. These lessons take place in partnership with Hampshire Music Service and run throughout the school day and in some cases after school. Lessons are 20 minutes long and are usually paired. Through these lessons students will have the opportunity to take graded exams through a recognised awarding body, such as ABRSM or Trinity, as well as completing the Hampshire Stages Certificates which are designed to be in line with the awarding bodies.

There is a charge for these lessons, which stands at £300 for the academic year 2024-25. There will be additional costs payable to the exam boards if they wish to take any exam.

Currently students can learn to play any of the following instruments as well as vocal tuition: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Trumpet, Cornet, Horn, Euphonium, Trombone, Tuba, Violin, Viola, Cello, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums and Piano.

Alongside these lessons, we have a number of ensembles that run weekly. Our current provision consists of an: Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Choir, Chamber Choir and Percussion Ensemble. These are free to join and all students learning an instrument are encouraged to participate in at least one of these groups.

We are also running Rock 2 The Beat sessions, in partnership with Hampshire Music, that allow guitarists, bass players, drummers, pianists/keyboard players and vocalists to develop their band skills. There is an additional charge for these sessions payable directly to Hampshire Music Service.

Part C: Musical Experiences

This is about all the other musical events and opportunities that we organise, such as singing in assembly, concerts and shows, and trips to professional concerts.

Every year we have a range of concerts and performances that take place. For the coming year we have planned performances for an Autumn Concert, Collaborative Concert and Summer Concert, that will all feature ensembles from Brookfield School. The Collaborative Concert has been running for over 20 years and the aim is for this to return to Fareham Live. This concert features students from across our cluster of schools and includes a massed choir of around 200 students.

In the autumn term, our Singers will also be putting on a concert version of a well known musical. This concert will allow for greater development and growth of our singers and also provide opportunities for solos for many of our students.

Our Year 7s work on developing their singing throughout the year, and we plan to hold a singing assembly towards the end of the academic year, to bring them all together to sing as a year group.

In the Future

This is about what the School is planning for subsequent years.

In the future we plan to re-introduce a wider range of instrumental ensembles that features different family groups such as a Brass Ensemble, Clarinet Ensemble and String Orchestra.

We work closely with the Drama and Dance Departments to put on regular Musicals and plan to continue this at the end of 2024/25 and into 2025/26.