
Curriculum Intent
Music students leave Vandyke with a competent ability in composition, performance, technology and appraising, alongside soft skills for a career within the music industry.
Performing, composing, appraising and technology are aspects of every key stage. A musical futures approach is taken in KS3 to develop students’ practical instrument ability through personal discovery. This is followed through into KS4 and KS5 with RSL exam board specific units that improve upon students’ genre knowledge, appraising skills, key terminology, composing, recording and performing. The focus is on the practical application of theoretical knowledge, which also feeds into detailed written coursework.
The music department is open every day at break and lunch time for students to rehearse their instrumental performance and composing skills with their peers. The school production is a large-scale event that encourages students to apply their knowledge in a real-world performance setting.
The music computer room is open every day at break and lunch for students to record their own songs. Guest speaker videos from members of the music industry are played to option classes at KS4 and KS5 to give them career-based knowledge.