Responsibilities of Sixth Form College, Does the college have an obligation to continue teaching music? Options

[Swell Box]

Well; I had a long and fruitful discussion this morning with the person who schedules lessons and caricculum at the school, and whilst he didn't say anything specifically, I got the impression that I was not the only parent to have raised concerns on this matter.

The good news is that from New Year onwards, the recently retired Head of Music will take an additional lesson each week to cover classical music; the idea being that students will be taught both pop and classical by their respective teachers, and will then chose which to answer questions on when they sit the A2 exam next year.

(The school's concern was that students who were more interested in classical music might try to answer the questions on classical music in the exam paper when they had received no tuition on the subject from the school.)

The bad news is that from September onwards, new students will only be able to study pop in A-Level music. I suppose it is better than nothing, but I am sure many students will be left disappointed by this decision.

SB

[Chris H]

That's rather sad. Until my son started doing AS music he prefered rock and jazz music. He is now very keen on classical too - he was listening to Borodin on his iPod this morning and was telling me how good it was. I think there's alot to be said for introducing new things to students, that's what education should be about. I have always listened to classical music in the house, but it is only since my son has come to it through school that he has been really keen.

[Swell Box]

That's rather sad. Until my son started doing AS music he prefered rock and jazz music. He is now very keen on classical too - he was listening to Borodin on his iPod this morning and was telling me how good it was. I think there's alot to be said for introducing new things to students, that's what education should be about. I have always listened to classical music in the house, but it is only since my son has come to it through school that he has been really keen.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

The phrase 'dumbing down' comes to mind. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Instead, we now seem to have an obsession with sport in British schools; presumably because the government thinks that everyone can do it.

SB

[Scaramouche]

The good news is that from New Year onwards, the recently retired Head of Music will take an additional lesson each week to cover classical music; the idea being that students will be taught both pop and classical by their respective teachers, and will then chose which to answer questions on when they sit the A2 exam next year.

(The school's concern was that students who were more interested in classical music might try to answer the questions on classical music in the exam paper when they had received no tuition on the subject from the school.)

Can I ask which exam board the school uses? The A-level I teach requires candidates to answer a question on both classical and pop music.

[Flossie]

That's rather sad. Until my son started doing AS music he prefered rock and jazz music. He is now very keen on classical too - he was listening to Borodin on his iPod this morning and was telling me how good it was. I think there's alot to be said for introducing new things to students, that's what education should be about. I have always listened to classical music in the house, but it is only since my son has come to it through school that he has been really keen.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

The phrase 'dumbing down' comes to mind. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Instead, we now seem to have an obsession with sport in British schools; presumably because the government thinks that everyone can do it.

SB

I actually think that you've got a more positive outcome for SBJ than I expected. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) He can still cover the classical option in the syllabus, and studying the jazz option as well will give him a back-up option in the final exam should the classical questions set turn out to be horrible. I know this approach seems to have fallen out of favour, but at Sixth Form we were always made to do an extra option off the syllabus in case one of the preferred options had horrendously difficult questions that particular year. There were a couple of subjects (French and Chemistry - which I didn't take) where most of the people in my year answered the questions for the back up topic... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) For my German exam, I had intended to do the back up topic because I found it more interesting than one of our main ones - but the questions were horrible and I was therefore glad that I'd learnt three of the options in depth rather than just doing the two I intended to answer.

[Swell Box]

The good news is that from New Year onwards, the recently retired Head of Music will take an additional lesson each week to cover classical music; the idea being that students will be taught both pop and classical by their respective teachers, and will then chose which to answer questions on when they sit the A2 exam next year.

(The school's concern was that students who were more interested in classical music might try to answer the questions on classical music in the exam paper when they had received no tuition on the subject from the school.)

Can I ask which exam board the school uses? The A-level I teach requires candidates to answer a question on both classical and pop music.

OCR.

I agree with Flossie that the outcome is better than expected, and possibly better than it would have been otherwise, but only because of parental pressure. And as I have said, the situation for new students doesn't look so good.

SB

[BadStrad]

Instead, we now seem to have an obsession with sport in British schools;

Shame they didn't think of that when they were selling off huge tracts of the school playing fields. Sorry off topic.

On topic - I think the original poster has done extremely well to get this outcome. The generosity of the teacher to keep teaching for another year and the college to provide the funding is an amazing success, without those no amount of pressure would have succeeded.

[Swell Box]

Instead, we now seem to have an obsession with sport in British schools;

Shame they didn't think of that when they were selling off huge tracts of the school playing fields. Sorry off topic.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

On topic - I think the original poster has done extremely well to get this outcome. The generosity of the teacher to keep teaching for another year and the college to provide the funding is an amazing success, without those no amount of pressure would have succeeded.

I have my methods. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

As it happens the school has a pipe organ which is quite proud of, although it is in need of serious work. Six months ago the college was celebrating the fact that that after a gap of many years they had a student who played the organ, and they even arranged for SBJ to play the National Anthem on it when a 'nationalization' ceremony or suchlike was held at the school. I think the Principle probably agreed with me that pulling the plug on the student concerned would not make very good press.

SB

[Minuet3]

Don't know if this helps, but my local county music service offer a Music A level course as part of their saturday music school. Perhaps there is something similar on offer in your area, that your son could do outside school, as a back up option.

[notmusimum]

Don't know if this helps, but my local county music service offer a Music A level course as part of their saturday music school. Perhaps there is something similar on offer in your area, that your son could do outside school, as a back up option.

There used to be options for external A level music study. Unfortunately since the coursework regulations have changed and all the work has to be done under supervision it's very difficult to get teaching other than through an actual centre. It makes it very difficult, if not impossible, for County Music Services and Junior Departments to offer the courses now.

I think what they have offered is probably as good as it's going to get as others have said.

[bassoonista]

My daughter has just finished her A level music. She was the only music student in her year. In fact for four years now there has only been one A Level student in the year, but it didn't stop the school (state not private) from providing the tuition. In fact, the school have two music teachers, and each taught a different aspect.
As for specialising in jazz, half of her upper sixth module was on Jazz 1910 to 1950, the rest being Vaughan Williams.

[BerkshireMum]

Well; I had a long and fruitful discussion this morning with the person who schedules lessons and caricculum at the school, and whilst he didn't say anything specifically, I got the impression that I was not the only parent to have raised concerns on this matter.

The good news is that from New Year onwards, the recently retired Head of Music will take an additional lesson each week to cover classical music; the idea being that students will be taught both pop and classical by their respective teachers, and will then chose which to answer questions on when they sit the A2 exam next year.

(The school's concern was that students who were more interested in classical music might try to answer the questions on classical music in the exam paper when they had received no tuition on the subject from the school.)

The bad news is that from September onwards, new students will only be able to study pop in A-Level music. I suppose it is better than nothing, but I am sure many students will be left disappointed by this decision.

SB

This sounds a very reasonable outcome for those like your son who have done AS Music in the belief that A2 classical would be available. At least anyone opting to do A-level Music in future will know that pop is the only option, and that they will have to make other arrangements if they want to study classical.

I'm sure you must be very relieved that the school has done what it can to mitigate the problems caused by the retirement of the current HoM. I hope Swell Box Junior enjoys his A2 year.