At Key Stage 4 students may opt in the long-thin option block to continue their studies to GCSE level.

The curriculum, based on the AQA Specification for GCSE Music, is focused around five areas of study: Rhythm & Metre; Melody & Texture; Harmony & Tonality; Timbre & Dynamics; Structure & Form and three strands: Western Classical Music; Popular Music of the 20^th & 21^st Centuries; World Music.

Attainment grades reflect the progress of students across the three year course. The grade a student is given each half-term is an indication of the grade they would achieve if they were to sit the exam at that time, that is their current performance grade (A*-G) at GCSE level, taking into consideration Listening (results of marked work), Composing (observations of the process and quality of finished exercises / compositions) and Performing (observations of the process, results of external instrumental examinations and grades awarded internally for end of term assessments). The grades reflect those awarded by the examination board in the previous year’s examinations.

In each year of the three year course parents can expect their children to improve their grades by up to one whole grade level. The most significant improvements tend to be made in Y11 as the students become more mature and experienced musicians. Allowing time for this maturing process to take place is one of the rationales for Music being placed in the long-thin three year option block.