Music development plan summary:
Buxton 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 section addresses what we teach in lesson time, how much time is spent teaching music and any music qualifications or awards that pupils can achieve. An overview of the music curriculum for each year group is available on the BCS website.

At BCS, the music curriculum has the National Curriculum and the Model Music Curriculum (2021) at its heart. We have integrated the four elements of singing, listening, composing and instrumental performance into our teaching framework.

KS3 Curriculum Overview

 

 

Year 7

Singing

Students begin with singing as part of an ensemble during class lessons. This helps them to understand basic singing techniques such as projection, accurate pitching, phrasing, tone and dynamic contrast. Students will work towards a performance/concert during the first term.

Instrumental Performance

Students explore various instruments throughout the year. Ensemble skills are introduced early on whilst learning about the different sections and instruments of the orchestra. Focus is on unity of pulse and balance between parts. A focus on Keyboard skills allows students to develop as soloists, whilst learning to find notes on the keyboards and developing five finger technique (Ode to Joy and Jingle Bells), posture and co-ordination. Ukulele skills include strumming and chord finger position. Cup rhythms develop co-ordination and understanding of simple rhythm notation, including rests.

Composing

Students explore melodic improvisation at the start of the year and return to improvisation during the pentatonic scale unit. Students go on to create their own beats/rhythm patterns and polyrhythmic textures. Students will be able to use crotchets, quavers, minims and semibreves confidently. Mixcraft will be used to manipulate sampled sounds and create pieces of music demonstrating texture, structure and instrumentation and the pentatonic scale.  

Listening

Students listen to a wide range of music throughout the year. Every lesson begins with a listening task, based on the MMC suggested listening, focusing on the elements of music and technical vocabulary. Students learn to recognise instruments, tonality, structure, textures, instrumental and vocal techniques, features of different genres and compare musical styles.

 

Year 8

Singing

Students develop their vocal ability as part of an ensemble, working on techniques such as phrasing, accurate pitching, projection and dynamic contrast.

Instrumental Performance

Students develop their technique using keyboards, ukulele and djembes. Students work both individually and in groups, developing a sense of ensemble and artistic expression. Focus on major and minor chords, played as block and broken chords in sequences and using simple left-hand parts.

Composing

Students use Mixcraft to explore sequencing techniques and use the MIDI keyboards to record and compose their musical ideas instrumentally. Students further develop their composing skills through creating pieces with a particular focus on structure and creating melodies and simple basslines. 

Listening

Continue to develop understanding, recognition and identification of the elements of music through weekly listening activities based on the MMC and additional repertoire. Students will be developing their technical and expressive listening.

 

Year 9

 

Singing

Singing with a sense of ensemble and performance. Focus on phrasing, accurate pitching and dynamic contrast.

Instrumental Performance

Students will continue to develop two hand technique on the keyboard, either with single note or chordal accompaniment. Students continue to develop skills both as a soloist and in an ensemble. More rhythmic interest and use of compound time in performance pieces, eg. He’s a Pirate from Pirates of the Caribbean

Composing

Students will use Mixcraft to create soundtracks with audio samples and midi. They will compose chords sequences for songs and compose simple basslines using root notes of the chords. They will also develop melodic writing for lyrics.

Listening

Students continue to listen to a wide range of music and identify how the elements of music are used whilst also thinking about the impact this has on the listening.

 

Year 10 and Year 11

We follow the Eduqas GCSE Music specification. This course offers an integrated approach to the three disciplines of performing, composing and appraising. There are four areas of study, designed to develop knowledge and understanding of music; Musical Forms and Devices (the Western Classical tradition), Music for Ensemble, Film Music and Popular Music. This course offers students opportunities to develop their abilities both as solo performers and ensemble musicians (30%), to develop composing skills to organise musical ideas and make use of appropriate resources, to develop awareness of music technology and use it to create and present their own music (30%) and to recognise genres, style and traditions of music and develop some awareness of music chronology (40%).

 

Year 12 and Year 13

We follow the Level 3 Btec in Music Performance. This is a vocational qualification designed to equip students with practical skills in music performance within the music industry. Students are given opportunities to further develop their abilities as solo and ensemble performers, exploring a wide range of musical genres and styles. Students will also explore Professional Practice in the Music Industry and Practical Music Theory and Harmony to support and enhance their performance progress.

Time Allocation

At Buxton Community School we follow a two-week timetable with 60-minute lessons. The time allocation is per fortnight:

 

Music Qualifications

Buxton Community School offers GCSE music during KS4 and the vocational Btec Level 3 in Music Performance at KS5. Additionally, students have the opportunity to undertake music exams with peripatetic teachers.

Part B: Co-curricular music

This section is about the opportunities pupils at BCS have 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.

BCS offers a range of instrumental and vocal groups as well as clubs that are free of charge and are open to all students across all year groups. Rehearsals and clubs take place in specialist music areas such as the music classrooms, the practice rooms or the main hall, where appropriate.

Choir

The repertoire includes songs specifically chosen to accommodate 2 and 3 part harmonies, providing a rich and layered vocal experience. This inclusive group fosters a collaborative environment where students can develop their vocal skills and experience the joy of collective music-making.

Chamber Choir

This is a mixed voice choir, singing songs from a variety of genres in 3 or 4 part harmony.

Instrumental Group

This is an ensemble involving traditional orchestral instruments. Students perform using written notation, preparing for performances at school and community events. This group provides a platform for students to develop their musical skills in a collaborative setting, blending different musical styles and techniques. This group is open to instrumentalists from all year groups.

Band Academy

This is open to students from all year groups, providing an opportunity to learn how to play an instrument or develop skills on an instrument within an ensemble. This allows students to develop confidence in a relaxed, low-risk environment but also encourages students to develop their performance skills. Students receive support from a specialist teacher as well as guidance from older, more experienced students.

Keyboard Club

Students are given access to keyboards and resources (sheet music/laptops) in order to develop their keyboard skills in a low-risk environment.

Rock Bands

Students have the opportunity to form their own bands with peers, supported by dedicated teacher guidance. Practice room space is made available to facilitate the development of their ensemble, instrumental, and vocal skills.

 

Peripatetic Lessons

BCS offers peripatetic music lessons, delivered by a team of specialist instrumental teachers. This offer provides opportunities for students to receive individual tuition in a variety of instruments

Instrumental provision

Piano and keyboard-classical and contemporary. Focus on technique, reading music, musicality and performance.

Guitar-acoustic, electric and bass guitar lessons available, covering a wide range of genres, technique and musicality.

Strings-violin, cello and double bass lessons available. Focus on technique, musicality and ensemble playing.

Brass-trumpet. Focus on embouchure, breath control, musicality, technique.

Drumkit-rhythm, coordination, reading drum notation.

Voice-breath control, musicality, technique, variety of genres. 

Cost

Parents, carers and students enter into a contract with the visiting teacher and pay them directly.

Free Lessons

In certain circumstances, such as for Pupil Premium students, those that access free-school meals, or those in care, music tuition can be offered either heavily subsidised or free of charge.

Application

Parents or carers interested in enroling their child in peripatetic music lessons should complete an application form found on the school’s website. Information about costs can also be found here. Peripatetic lessons are delivered by professional musicians who provide high quality instruction tailored to individual needs. Every student is given the opportunity to develop their musical abilities.

Instrumental/Singing lessons can be started at any time. Please see Mrs Priest

Part C: Musical Events and Performances

Sing Aloud, December 2024 and December 2025

The choir participated in the massed schools’ choir event in December 2024 at The Crooked Spire (for the Derbyshire Carers Association) and Matlock County Hall. December 2025 this will be repeated at The Crooked Spire and the evening performance will be at The Fraser Academy in Shirebrook. Nearly 200 students estimated to take part.

 

There will also be a joint schools’ performance in June 2026 at The Buxton Opera House, involving a massed schools’ choir accompanied by a professional orchestra.

Presentation Evening

Music provided for this event by various ensembles (choir, instrumental group, bands) and invited soloists.

 

Christmas Concerts

This was part of BCS Festive in December 23, involving students performing in ensembles, small groups, bands and as soloists. In December 2024, we had a very successful and well-attended evening Christmas Concert. School co-curricular groups performed alongside GCSE and Btec groups, small ensembles, bands and soloists as well as audience participation! Next concert is 18^th December 2025.   

 

Spring Concert

This is an evening concert, celebrating the music-making at BCS. School co-curricular groups will perform alongside GCSE and Btec groups, small ensembles, bands and soloists.   

 

Year 12/13 Recital Evenings (Spring Term)

This is an opportunity for the Level 3 Btec students to perform to an audience of friends and family, both as soloists (Year 12) and ensemble musicians (Year 13).

 

Summer Musicals Showcase

First performance in July 2025. Students formed the chorus and performed ensemble songs from different musicals, including choreography. There was a live student band accompanying. Students auditioned for solo and small ensemble singing roles. A very successful performance, appreciated by a large audience.

This will take place again in Summer 2026.

Trips to Professional Concerts

October Workshop and performance with English Touring Opera. In 2024 this was Blond Eckbert by Judith Weir. In 2025, Elixir of Love by Donizetti.

KS4 Halle Set Works trip to The Bridgewater Hall in October 2024 and 2025.

KS3 Halle Concert in March 25 and 26.

 

Part D: In the Future

Areas we would like to develop further:

• Embed GCSE at KS4 as introduced in 23-24 (previously Btec Level 1/2)
• Development of full KS5 course. At present runs as a one-year enrichment. From September 2024, it will be a 2-year, A level equivalent course. Aim to embed into the KS5 curriculum
• Continue to develop a robust curriculum at KS3. We need to settle on a learning journey that allows students to make progress in all three areas of the curriculum, including disciplinary literacy  
• Development of and encouragement of participation at extra-curricular activities, including regular concerts/presentations and the possibility of a large-scale Musical Production.
• Development of Music Technology in line with National Curriculum/Model Music Curriculum and KS4/5 provision. Purchase 15 computers for D19. Cost per computer approx. £300 (£4500) with music software and MIDI keyboards. At the moment, ICT provision is not fit for purpose. Update September 2025. Computers have now been purchased and Mixcraft software installed. Schemes have been written for KS3 to be introduced to music software. KS4 using computers for composing coursework; KS5 for Unit 1 Theory.
• Further development of Music Technology to include Musescore software for scoring purposes.