Music

Music is a growing department which continues to excel both academically and in performance. The department was awarded 'outstanding' in every category in 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, six 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 classes are typically 20 to 30-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 strong tradition of boys leaving the School to take up places on related undergraduate courses, and an unrivalled record of success with Oxbridge entry. Our individual instrumental tuition scheme is flourishing, with 18 visiting peripatetics teaching 220 pupils on a weekly basis. There is a very strong performance tradition at the School with ensembles including Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Junior and Senior String Orchestras, Big Band, Top Brass, String Quartet, Training Band, Indian Music Ensembles, Woodwind Ensemble and Saxophone Quartet.

There are five large-scale concerts over the course of the year, which involve the majority of groups. Other 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 is also an Associated Board Examination centre.

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