FACULTY LEADER: Mr P Condry

Music

SUBJECT LEADER: Mr P Condry

At Prince Henry’s, Music is part of the lifeblood of the school. 

The subject team aims to open up a world of music to all students and frequently stages concerts and productions. We also provide music for school and community events.

Throughout their school careers, Prince Henry’s students can get involved with music-making through many different ensembles/choirs (for students of differing abilities) and are able to study music through to A Level. 

In addition to classroom-led lessons, a team of eight peripatetic instrumental/vocal tutors delivers tuition on a weekly basis in the school. 

KS3 Curriculum

All students in KS3 have two lessons per fortnight. At KS3, the schemes of work are designed to integrate the key areas of Performing, Composing and Listening together, whilst also giving students a wide range of musical experiences. They learn how to read conventional notation, chord diagrams and tab across a variety of instruments including piano, ukulele and guitar. Students also learn how to use music technology creatively. Throughout KS3, they learn compositional technique through practical study.

	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3
Year 7	Elements of Music   Keyboard Skills  Sea Shanties	GarageBand sequencing - Remix   Chords on keyboard	Chords - Ukulele  FOUR chord chorus compositions   Year 7 Overview
Year 8	Opera and Musical Theatre	Blues	Song analysis (whole class)  Song writing using GarageBand   Year 8 Overview
Year 9	Music for Media	Cover versions/Advanced ensemble skills	Individual song analysis + presentations   Song writing    Year 9 Overview

KS4 and KS5 Curriculum

At KS4, students may opt for the GCSE Music course (AQA). Year 10 Overview. Year 11 Overview.

At KS5, students may opt for A Level Music (AQA).

Please see the Key Stage 4 Options and Sixth Form Pages for details of the KS4 and KS5 courses offered in Music.

Assessment

In Music we will

• Assess the skills being learned through practical work
• Use questioning every lesson to check understanding
• Give informal feedback on work in progress every lesson
• Give formal feedback on Showbie for every topic
• Give written feedback on selected tasks in KS4 and KS5
• Give a DIRT opportunity to act on feedback practically in lessons
• Give opportunities to assess and reflect upon work and the work of others
• Assess knowledge of key concepts and key vocabulary through practical work and (sometimes) written responses on Showbie

Enrichment

Staff lead rehearsals for the many and varied ensembles each week (Junior/Senior Choir, Big Band, Concert Band, String Ensemble and Junior Band). Students (and staff!) participate in 3 main school concerts per year, as well as an annual production and several other community/school ‘gigs’. Musicians are invited to enter for external music exams (ABRSM/Trinity Guildhall/Rock School) on a termly basis and experience great success. 

We also organise an international performing tour every 2 years (previous destinations have included Mallorca, Italy, Belgium, Dublin and Holland). In addition, music staff regularly organise visits to concerts and the theatre as well as workshops with leading practitioners.

If you wish to book a school ensemble for a local event, please send an email via info@princehenrys.co.uk and mark it for the attention of Mr Condry.

Drama

SUBJECT LEADER: Ms Y Wittering

At Prince Henry's, Drama is a respected, flourishing subject. Our aim is to open up the world of theatre to all students. This is achieved not only in timetabled lessons but also through our ambitious productions, theatre trips and input on PSHE / Citizenship Days. 

KS3 Curriculum

All students have two lessons of Drama per fortnight throughout Years 7, 8 and 9. The lessons thread together the two components, Devising Drama and Script Work. A list of the topics students will study in each year of KS3 is shown below:

Year 7 Transferable skills and Creative ideas	Year 8 Theatre History Presenting Text	Year 9 Presenting and Performing text Devising Drama GCSE Tasters
Devising with Poetry: Introduction of Skills	Devising Greek Theatre	Tusk Tusk by Polly Stenham. Presenting Text
Devising Mime and Silent Movies	Devising Commedia Dell'arte	Devising drama from a stimulus
‘Ernie's Incredible Illucinations’ Alan Ayckbourn Presenting Text Year 7 Overview	Contemporary Theatre  'Face' by Benjamin Zephaniah Presenting Text Year 8 Overview	GCSE Tasters Year 9 Overview

KS4 and KS5 Curriculum  

At KS4, students can choose to study GCSE Drama, following the OCR Specification. The smaller groups sizes embrace an environment of a 'love of theatre'. The community allows students to flourish using the personal skills of confidence, honesty and kindness.

At KS5, students can choose A Level Drama and Theatre Studies, following the OCR Specification.

Please see the Key Stage 4 Options and Sixth Form Pages for details of the KS4 and KS5 courses offered by the Drama Team. 

Assessment

In Drama we will

• Assess the skills being learned through practical work in the role of Performer, Director or Designer
• Use questioning every lesson to check understanding and resilience
• Give informal feedback on work in progress every lesson
• Give formal feedback on Showbie for every topic
• Give written feedback on selected tasks in KS4 and KS5
• Give DIRT opportunities to act on feedback practically in lessons
• Give opportunities to assess and reflect upon their work and the work of others
• Assess knowledge of key concepts and key vocabulary through practical work and (sometimes) written responses on Showbie

Enrichment

There is a regular programme of Drama productions, theatre trips and visiting practitioners. These have included our production of The Addams FAmily in 2024, Billy Elliot in 2023 , School of Rock in 2022, The Wiz in 2019, Our House in 2018, visits to Blood Brothers, Leeds University, Everybody's Talking about Jamie Lord of the Flies, and visits from professional theatre practitioners.