Music
We are committed at Faringdon Community College to allowing musical opportunities to be available to all students, whether that be through our ensembles or regular trips to see professional orchestras and other musical events. As an important part of culture, past and present, music helps students understand themselves, relate to other people and develop their cultural understanding of the world around them.
At FCC our music curriculum is designed to develop three main skills: performing, composing, and appraising music. Throughout Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, students are introduced to a wide variety of musical genres from different cultures and historical periods, increasing their cultural, social and analytical understanding. Musical terminology is taught at Key Stage 3, and students are encouraged to discuss their ideas using the correct musical terms in preparation for the GCSE course. Our curriculum promotes challenge and supports students to develop life skills such as perseverance, teamwork and organisational skills, as well as build their confidence and sense of achievement. Music is a highly academic subject that requires a high level of application in Key Stages 4 and 5.
Students’ knowledge is regularly assessed through questioning and class discussions. Key Stage 3 students have topic booklets that are distributed termly. This helps retention of information and allows teachers to address any misconceptions quickly. Verbal feedback is used regularly and consistently to support student progress. Assessments take place at the end of each topic, once students have had an opportunity to implement the verbal feedback given. These take place in the form of practical work and/or composition and appraising music.
Concerts are organised throughout the year within the community as well as within school, providing students with an opportunity to perform in front of outside audiences, friends, family, and fellow students. Biannually, the music, drama and dance departments join forces to stage a whole school production, most recently, Frozen. Once again, this is open for everyone to get involved in, both on stage and behind the scenes. We would encourage all singers to get involved in this.
We also run regular trips and workshops. Highlights of the 2025-2026 year so far include:
- Year 7 House Singing Competition
- School Production of ‘Frozen’
- Music Department Concert - ‘Disney and more!’
- Regular performances in the local community, such as at the local primary schools.
- Year 8 trip to the Royal Albert Hall for a behind the scenes tour and to watch the final of the ‘Future Makers’ competition.
- Year 7 trip to see the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican in London.
- 40 students attended the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall.
We believe that music should be inclusive both within the curriculum but also through extra-curricular provision. We have many opportunities for students to enrich their musicality, including clubs such as FCC Concert Band and KS3 Band Club, which are available to all instrumentalists who want to further develop their ensemble skills. Although it is important that music is accessible to everyone, it is also important that more able and ambitious students are challenged. Students in Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 can develop their leadership skills within the music department, mentoring younger students, and supporting other extracurricular activities.
Students can also access individual instrumental lessons with our peripatetic staff.
Key Stage 3
Our KS3 curriculum has been designed to provide a breadth of knowledge and cultural capital. We want students to appreciate different styles of music and gain a lifelong interest. Each year group studies three different topics, which are approximately thirteen lessons in length, allowing each topic to be studied in more detail. The sequence of topics has been designed so that performance, composition and analytical skills can be revisited and extended as each year group progresses, aiming to give all students the musical understanding necessary to prepare them for the start of the Key Stage 4 curriculum.
Key Stage 4
The teaching of the Key Stage 4 curriculum begins explicitly at the beginning of Year 10. Currently, students have the option to study GCSE Music, where we follow the Eduqas syllabus. This gives students of all abilities the opportunity to pursue music further.
Eduqas GCSE Music
At GCSE, students have the opportunity to further explore and develop their musical skills. During the course there is more emphasis on individual study, with a large coursework element consisting of performance and composition. By the end of Y11 students should aim to be at least grade 3 standard on an instrument or voice. Once again, students' study and analyse a wide variety of genres, in the following four areas of study: Musical Forms and Devices, Music for Ensemble, Film Music and Popular Music.
In addition, there are extra music theory lessons available for students to gain ABRSM Grade 5 Theory if desired. This helps to improve their understanding of more complex harmonic ideas but also allows them to access higher instrumental grades in the future and support them if they pursue A Level Music.
Key Stage 5
Eduqas A Level Music
At A Level, students continue to explore musical concepts in more depth. Throughout the course, students create two compositions. One is a free choice, allowing them to pursue their interests and the other is linked to a brief set by the exam board, relating to Western Classical Music. A minimum performance standard of grade 6 is a requirement as students should aim to be performing grade 7 pieces or above when they complete their performance recital in year 13. Students will develop their knowledge of music theory and notation, being able to analyse music from scores. They will study The Development of the Symphony from 1750- 1900, Jazz from 1920-1960 and 20th Century Music, including music by Debussy and Poulenc.