Music
All pupils receive one lesson of one hour of music per week as part of the curriculum. The music curriculum covers a wide range of topics and musical styles, allowing pupils to build up skills in Listening, Appraising, Composing and Performing. The use of keyboards and music software in lessons reflects the increasing importance of technology in music today.
We encourage our pupils to develop their musical talents and interests. Many pupils have lessons within the school from peripatetic instrumental specialists and there is a waiting list for tuition on most instruments. If pupils have been receiving tuition at their previous schools, we endeavour to ensure that this is continued at South Charnwood.
Extra-curricular music is a big part of the school week: we offer a wide variety of lunchtime vocal and instrumental groups, which all pupils are invited to join.
Marking and Assessment
Assessment in Music takes a variety of forms, as pupils are expected to take part in a multiplicity of activities with increasing opportunities to develop the complexity and range of their musical language and understanding. Their progression is tracked in the four main areas performing, composing, listening and appraising and their attainment is judged against the given National Curriculum level descriptions.
Practical assessment is carried out during normal class lessons and may be informal or formal. Pupils are assessed on an informal and subjective basis throughout every lesson, particularly during practical tasks. For more formal assessment the criteria to be assessed are shared with the pupils and immediate feedback is given. Discussion and peer assessment are regularly included.
Written work is assessed by a variety of methods, depending on the nature of the task. Aural, oral, group and discussion work is also monitored on an informal basis.
