GCSE Music Pathway
At Key Stage 4, students follow the Eduqas GCSE Music syllabus. GCSE Music requires students to apply the knowledge, skills and understanding gained from the course across the three disciplines of Listening and Appraising, Composing and Performing. Composition and Performance are internally assessed and externally moderated. Listening and Appraising is assessed through a final terminal examination.
Students will study a wide range of music across four areas of study: –
Area of Study 1 – Forms and Devices (Set work: Badinerie, J.S. Bach)
Area of Study 2 – Music for Ensemble
Area of Study 3 – Film Music
Area of Study 4 – Popular Music (Set work: Africa, Toto)
Students have 3 lessons each week in years 9 to 11 and lessons offer opportunities to develop the skills required for all elements of the course.
Year 10
| Term | Topic | Description | Musical Repertoire |
| Autumn 1 | Forms and Devices | Study of musical forms used in WCT and popular music Revision of scales, harmony and chord notations Analysis of Badinerie | Playlist coming soon |
| Autumn 2 | Popular Music | Analysis of Africa by Toto Chordal analysis of pop music Study of Fusion music to include Bhangra Revision of music technology used in popular music performance and recording. | Playlist coming soon |
| Spring 1 | Music For Ensemble | Study of Chamber music from the WCT as well as Jazz & Blues and Musical Theatre | Playlist coming soon |
| Spring 2 | Film Music | Study of music for film, to include how musical elements are used to affect the narrative as well as the use of music technology,. | Playlist coming soon |
| Summer 1 | Free Choice Composition Exam Preparation | Students complete their free choice composition | Playlist coming soon |
| Summer 2 | Free Choice Composition | Students sit their Year 10 examination. | Playlist coming soon |
Assessment: Students will be required to have completed their free choice composition and a solo performance at the end of year 10 alongside a formal listening and appraising exam.
Year 11
| Term | Topic | Description | Musical Repertoire |
| Autumn 1 | Forms and Devices Popular Music | Playlist coming soon | |
| Autumn 2 | Music For Ensemble Film Music | Playlist coming soon | |
| Spring 1 | Composing to a brief | Playlist coming soon | |
| Spring 2 | Performing | Playlist coming soon | |
| Summer 1 | Exam Preparation & Revision | Playlist coming soon |
Assessment: Students will be required to have completed all required course work and sit the final terminal examination in music, as well as a mock examination.
BTEC L2 Music Performance Tech Award (2022 Suite) Pathway
Year 10
| Term | Topic | Description | Musical Repertoire |
| Autumn 1 | Musical Styles 1 – Rock and Roll Synth Pop | Students investigate a range of musical styles through practical activities, research and listening | Playlist coming soon |
| Autumn 2 | Musical Styles 2 – Dubstep Music for Media World Music (Samba) | Students investigate a range of musical styles through practical activities, research and listening | Playlist coming soon |
| Spring 1 | Application of Music Knowledge | Students apply the knowledge from term one using a previous brief set by Pearson | Playlist coming soon |
| Spring 2 | Summative Assessment Window (Component 1) | Students complete the brief set by Pearson | Playlist coming soon |
| Summer 1 | Music Skills Development | Students explore skills required for professional development as well as their own performance / production skills | Own Choice |
Year 11
| Term | Topic | Description | Musical Repertoire |
| Autumn 1 | Music Skills Practice Assignment | Practice unit for the PSA* | Own Choice |
| Autumn 2 | Summative Assessment Window (Component 2) | PSA Formal assessment | |
| Spring 1 | Mock External Assessment | Practice unit for final external assessment | |
| Spring 2 | External Assessment | Pearson final assessment |
*Pearson Set Assignment
Employer Engagement
Through studying the BTEC pathway we work in conjunction with other institutions in London as well as our own performance venue in order to give students vocational experiences and links with the world of work,