Our curriculum intent applies to all our young people, regardless of background, gender, sexual orientation or ability. As a school, and department, we are absolutely committed that the opportunities we plan for and implement ensure that each student can reach and exceed their potential. 

Music is uniquely placed to open our minds to a multitude of cultures and eras, to ignite and express our creativity. At Wyvern Academy, we believe in striving for excellence in all that we do. Therefore, we embrace Music as a subject that combines academic knowledge with practical application, and, people-centred, we insist that musical talent is present in each and every student.  

Our students will develop a life-long love of learning Music through exploring the works of great composers and musicians, studying music theory, composing musical ideas, performing as soloists and in ensembles, both live and using technology. We want all students to engage in the joy of music-making both in lessons and in the wider life of the school and to be brave in expressing their creativity. 

The study and creation of music is both introspective and collaborative. Our students are given multiple opportunities to compose and perform music both individually and in partnership with others, reflecting on their own creations and evaluating those of their peers. Whether working independently or in groups, self-regulation is paramount to meeting deadlines and producing excellent work. Thus, we equip our young people with the skills they need to become professional learners and proactive members of society, able to engage with others in a positive and respectful manner.

Literacy and numeracy are embedded within the activities of performance, composition and appraisal. We hold our students to a high standard of academic language, insisting on musical literacy in both spoken and written word.

Whether pursuing Music as a career, through further study, or as a life-long passion, we challenge our students to think, act and speak like musicians, ensuring that they are musically confident and articulate. We highlight the many transferable skills that are developed in Music, and we broaden their horizons to the sheer scope of career opportunities in the thriving global music industry.   

Knowledge and skills:

Through our curriculum, students:

• Develop technical competence in controlling sound, both instrumental and vocal, and through the use of music technology.
• Learn how to perform with fluency and expression, both as soloists and in ensembles, demonstrating good technical control and an awareness of the style of the genre.
• Develop their inner ear and their ability to audiate, to ‘think musically’.
• Develop their technical understanding and use of a variety of communication systems in music, such as staff notation, chord symbols and tab.
• Deepen their constructive knowledge of music through understanding the elements of music and how they interrelate.
• Understand and use a wide range of musical language and music theory when appraising, composing, improvising, and performing.
• Explore how the elements of music are used in composition.
• Create their own music through improvisation and composition, developing and refining their ideas into structured musical creations.
• Analyse both familiar and unfamiliar music to understand how the elements of music combine to create an intended effect and to evaluate their effectiveness.
• Widen their knowledge of how musical meaning is expressed through exploring a variety of musical genres and contexts from across the world and through time, and broaden their knowledge of musical culture.