Music development plan summary

This is a summary of how our school delivers music education to all our pupils across three areas – curriculum music, co-curricular provision and musical experiences – and what changes we are planning in future years. This information is to help pupils and parents or carers understand what our school offers and who we work with to support our pupils’ music education.

Part A: Curriculum music

This is about what we teach in lesson time, how much time is spent teaching music and any music qualifications or awards that pupils can achieve.

At Park Lane Academy, pupils study music for one hour per week (two hours per fortnight) in Key Stage 3.

Pupils who choose music as an option (GCSE Music) will study music for five hours per fortnight.

Our curriculum is informed by the Model Music Curriculum (MMC).

Pupils have the opportunity to learn to play and develop on keyboard, ukulele (leading to guitar and bass guitar) and using music technology throughout Year 7-9. In Year 7-9 pupils work individually and in pairs to develop as keyboard players. Whole-class ukulele tuition takes place in Year 7 and Year 8. Pupils experience whole-class drumming in Yr 8 and pupils work in small groups to combine their keyboard, ukulele (and guitar) percussion (drumming) skills as part of a band.

Pupils begin to use simple DAW software (Garageband) in Year 7, and develop these skills during Year 8 and Year 9. Pupils also use Launchpad to create EDM (electronic dance music) in Year 8.

Park Lane has strong working partnerships with the other secondary schools in the MAT, working together on curriculum planning, delivery, assessment and extra-curricular activities, including joint concerts and other music-making events.

There a currently no KS4 Music groups; pupils be offered the opportunity to study Music in Year 10 and Year 11 through GCSE Music (from September 2026).

Part B: Co-curricular music (music tuition and extra-curricular music)

At Park Lane, pupils have the opportunity to join the choir, which rehearses twice a week and takes part in performances within and outside of the Academy. The choir has a successful record in local singing competitions.

Small group instrumental lessons are offered on brass instruments and guitar. These are free to pupils and are delivered by Mr Dalton and Miss Moore. Pupils can also borrow instruments from the Academy to practice at home (this is free).

There is also a brass group and rock bands where pupils can practice as part of an ensemble.

Part C: Musical events and performances.

This is about all the other musical events and opportunities that we organise, such as singing in assembly, concerts and shows, and trips to professional concerts.

Pupils in Year 7 will attend a concert at the end of the Autumn term, featuring performances by pupils showcasing their classroom work (ukuleles, bands, solo or pair performance work), extra-curricular clubs and pupils who have instrumental lessons in school and privately. This is done alongside other academies in the Trust.

Pupils who part in the Academy choir will have the opportunity to participate in performance trips to other schools and in local concerts in Halifax.

Pupils will also the opportunity to perform at the annual Awards Evening.

Pupils can take part in a range of trips to perform outside of the Academy. These include performing for the residents in local care homes, at our feeder primary schools and in joint concerts at other secondary schools in the Trust.

We also aim to host a Summer Concert in July, for pupils to perform for parents and peers.

In the future

This is about what the school is planning for subsequent years.

We hope to increase the availability and range of instruments available as part of our co-curricular music offer, as well as the number of extra-curricular clubs available.

We also aim to increase the amount of performance opportunities available to pupils, through performances in assembly and in our feeder schools as part of the transition process.