In Year 8, students continue to develop their musical skills through the study of four topics. Each topic focuses on aspects of the language of music and explores them through a variety of genres drawn from Western Classical Music, Popular Music of the 20^th & 21^st Centuries and World Music. These three strands form a foundation for further study at KS4in Year 9.

Assessments are completed during each topic involving listening, composing and performing. Teachers observe students in the process of preparing compositions and performances and note the quality of musicianship displayed. Completed compositions and performances are marked and graded in such a way that the students know whether or not they are achieving or exceeding the expected National Curriculum levels. Students’ listening skills, evident throughout the processes involved in composing and performing, are also assessed by specific listening tests.

The levels of attainment recorded each half term for Student Progress Monitoring summarise these assessments and give an holistic view of the students’ musicianship.

Students’ work outside the classroom, for example in school ensembles, Sheffield Music Service lessons and ensembles, and private lessons is also taken into account in assessing the level of attainment for each student.

Parents should expect their children to move steadily up to and beyond their low targets achieving, on average, a rise of three sublevels across the year. Students having individual instrumental or vocal lessons in school or privately are given adventurous targets commensurate with their extra skills.