Hello
Quite a bit to read I am afraid. The staff calendar link above is newly updated. It has all the dates for the school.
Another set of fantastic exam results this week in the form of Associated Board. Again, well done to all for the team effort in supporting the musicians at the end of a hectic term.
Next Saturday we have the Wind Concert in the school hall. The following week, Rock School exams. We are then fully into the exams season.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Year 11 with their coursework. We are up against it with their compositions as we race to help them achieve their high target grades. As we are in the second year of the AQA exam, it is clearer than ever that each teacher needs to have 2 or 3 pieces to choose from for the candidates to perform. Strangely, it is better to perform a grade 4 piece perfectly even if they are a grade 6/7 musician. The mark scheme does not favour more difficult pieces played badly. Some teachers have clearly got it wrong this year with the choice of piece, and as performance is 40%, and does make all the different with UMS marks, we have to improve.
We will be moving back to many of the students performing after school, recording with their backing track or the accompanist. I will over the next couple of weeks catch up with many in the team to ensure that the pieces selected for the solo and ensemble are suitable and can gain excellent marks. I hope this will also help address poor recording quality of some as well. Once chosen, we will stick with these pieces. I have to learn from this and be much more prescriptive in what is used.
Year 10 will all be recorded this term. Please take note of this. When I have asked for Year 11 earlier in the term, some did not help keep to this deadline. Many did, but some did not. You have to push the students, remind them, help them, focus them. With so many taking GCSE music, we all have to work together on this. With the pressure in education for the students, they cannot think long term. So, keep them focused. There has to be a shift in attitude so that some in our team push their students to the level that many are already doing. Parents expect it. I expect it.
Consistency amongst the team is something I have to work on this term. It is a shame that some are not aware if their students are even doing GCSE Music and if so what the requirement is. Despite the time spent on this at inset. Despite the continual reminders. It is superb that some in the team really push, drive and communicate with students and parents. It is unacceptable that some in the team cannot be bothered. We have to be consistent and deliver more than is expected. Simply waiting for the student to turn up, and do nothing if they don't, is not enough. At the end of the day, if you do not work with the musicians, they give up. You loose the income. I am baffled as to why any teacher is happy with second best from a student. Yes, there are always those who will work and be pushed but still not achieve, but we have hundreds of excellent musicians, and it is easy to spot when they are not motivated or inspired by their teacher. I cannot accept second best. Ofsted will not accept second best. That is the way it is.
The changes being made in the department this term are all with the aim of improving teaching and learning and continuing to support our teachers in their work. Debbie is to be developing her role within the department, and I am formalising her responsibilities. She now is overseeing all singing and strings work in the department and is line managing those in the teams, supervising the ensembles. We have to continue to improve the quality of our singing lessons, curriculum work and choirs. We have to understand the purpose of the choirs we have and how they work together. We have to ensure that numbers in these ensembles continue to grow. Debbie will also be responsible for the AB exams and supporting people with this. She will also conduct the lesson observations of those in her team and will challenge and support those for whom she is responsible. She will be speaking to all in her team in the coming two weeks. With this, Natalie has taken over Coro. Clare continues with the same role, but leading woodwind and brass, challenging and supporting her team. She also oversees Trinity exams and is leading on some primary work. I have asked Debbie and Clare to challenge what goes on, to raise standards and to ensure we have the very best. If they do not, we cannot move forward, students stop learning and we start the slow decline. We have had the excellent AB and Trinity results in the past weeks, because teams have been challenged and supported and teachers have gone the extra mile. This is what is expected.
I am now considering the best way to support piano and contemporary instrument teachers.
The agenda from Ofsted is clear. We have to continue to improve and develop. There is a massive shift and change within music, change we are all aware of, and we have to pull together to work consistently. This helps numbers, maintains the quality of those learning. Next year, we may have to work more with Year 7 to encourage them to take up learning traditional instruments. If so, this will prioritise funding. We continue to benefit from superb support from the school. It is support we have to earn and cannot take for granted.
So, lots going on. Now, we have the immediate priority of GCSE and A Level exams.
Briefly - Friday May 4th is an inset day. Monday 14th May we move to a 3:2 split. Year 12 also go on study leave then, although many class lessons will continue. Therefore, you must arrange lessons with students on a week to week basis. They can cope with this. Year 13 are here until half term.
AB and Trinity letters for this term are in the kitchen. AB has a very fast turn around so we do not miss the deadline. Please enter names on the form linked above (Exam entries).
Thank you for all that you do. We have so much to celebrate, but will always have much to do. By having the push and drive, we continue to achieve.
Have a great week!
Mark
