Music

Music is a growing department which continues to excel both academically and in performance. The department was awarded 'outstanding' in every category in the January 2007 OFSTED subject inspection. There are at present three full-time members of academic staff and a part-time administrator. In 2004 the School was awarded Specialist Music College status by the DfES, one of the first five schools in the country, and the first in London, to receive the accolade. The associated funding supports Music both in the School and in the local community, providing and subsidising many opportunities for our partner schools, Frith Manor, St Andrew's, Totteridge, Foulds, Christchurch and Queen Elizabeth's Girls' Schools, as well as our wider community ensembles, the Edgware Orchestra and Barnet Choral Society. Additional opportunities for our pupils have resulted from the extra funding available for equipment, including the dedicated Music Technology suite and recording studio, enabling the teaching of the Music Technology A Level.

The department is housed in purpose-built accommodation which contains three well-equipped teaching rooms, seven practice rooms used for individual instrumental tuition (each with pianos) and also a sound-proofed drum studio, linked to an industry-standard recording studio. The curriculum runs from Year 7 to A Level. Boys in the lower school receive one double-lesson of class music tuition per week. This rises to two double-periods per week at GCSE and seven or eight periods at A Level. The GCSE cohorts are typically 30 to 40-strong, while A Level classes have around eight students. Music Technology A level is taught by a specialist tutor in the field. Grades at all stages are typically high.

There is a very strong performance tradition at the school with ensembles including Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Junior and Senior Wind Bands, three String Orchestras, Big Band, Top Brass, String Quartet, Junior and Senior Indian Music Ensembles, Woodwind Ensemble and Saxophone Quartet. Our individual instrumental tuition scheme is flourishing, with 18 visiting peripatetics teaching over 260 pupils on a weekly basis. There is also a regular number of boys leaving the school to take up places on related undergraduate courses, and an unrivalled record of success with Oxbridge entry.

There are five large-scale concerts over the course of the year, which involve all of the groups. Other in-school events include the carol service, Founder's Day service, chamber concert, Year 7 scholarship evening and beginner, junior, intermediate and senior house instrumental competitions. The School’s ensembles are also active in the local community with groups performing at venues such as the RAF Museum, St Mary’s Church in Hendon and in other activities such as varied performances to raise money for local charities. The School is also an Associated Board Examination centre.

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