Department Overview
Music at Biddenham is inclusive, creative and academic. At key stage 3 all students take part in weekly, one hour music lessons and at key stage 4 students can elect to study OCR GCSE Music.
Our department consists of three practice rooms all of which are equipped with pianos and our performance venue includes a Kuwai grand piano. We have class sets of keyboards, tuned percussion, trombones and ukuleles. We also have electric and acoustic guitars, and classroom percussion instruments. Students have access to cloud-based music packages on their Chromebooks to support Music Technology study and allow working for home to prepare our students for future careers in the music industry.
We also excel at providing inclusive extra-curricular opportunities including our school Musical, Choir and Mixed ensembles, whilst also encouraging student-led music making at breaks and lunchtimes. We offer heavily subsidised instrumental and vocal tuition in collaboration at GCSE Level with Bedford Music Cooperative. In addition we have creative links Bedford Orchestral and Choral Societies and Music for Bedford Borough.
To find out more about instrumental and vocal tuition in schools and to book your lesson or instrument hire visit www.bedsmusic.coop.
Subject Learning Journey
Visit our Instagram page to view a gallery of our students’ work.
Who to contact for extra information:
Mrs Williams
ginny.williams@biddenham.beds.sch.uk
Assessments
| Key Stage 3 | Key Stage 4 | |||||||
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OCR GCSE Music assessment is split into three components: one written exam (Listening and Appraising) worth 40% and two non-exam assessment (NEA) components – a combined Integrated portfolio (performance and composition) accounting for 30%, and a practical composition for 30%.
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Exam Board Information
