Music

Leader: Mr Somerville

The music department has one full time teacher and also have seven instrumental teachers who teach students at different times in the week. There are four learning support assistants who provide support for students in lessons at various times.

The department has two well equipped classrooms, as well as four small practice rooms. Both classrooms have digital projectors. They have ten computers installed with music sequencing programme (Cubase) and intend to develop this area over the next year with the additions of initially three ipads.. There is a wide variety of instruments for students to play, from tuned and untuned percussion, guitars, keyboards and drum kits.

At Key Stage 3, Students study composition, performance and music appraisal as encouraged by the Music Manifesto. Each topic is based on the practical understanding of skill development and each topic works towards either a composition or a performance in a wide variety of styles and genre.

At Key Stage 4, they offer a Music BTEC course at Certificate Level or a GCSE depending on ability and abtitude. The course is of a practical nature where at least 70%  of the assessment is in the form of coursework.

Instrumental tuition and extra curricular activities are very important elements of the team's plans for development and tuition is available on the following instruments via a link with the East Sussex Music Service: Keyboards, Guitar (Bass, Lead and Acoustic), Drums, Flute, Clarinet, Violin and Brass instruments. They also employ a Singing teacher who is there to teach students interested in developing their singing.

Recent productions have included: "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" (2008), Bugsy Malone (2009) and "St Trinians" (2010).