Music Department of the YearMusic and Drama Education Awards 2025
Our Music Department has been named Music Department of the Year at a glittering ceremony, in London, on Thursday 30th January 2025.
The whole team were present, Mr Drake, Ms Antony, Ms Shlackman, Mr Elliot and Mr Mealin and were supported by Mr Harrington-Tucker, one of our governors, Mrs Roddan and members of the senior team.
It was a fantastic moment, when we were announced as the winners and the team went onto the stage to receive the award. This recognises years of hard work, determination, investment and innovation and has met the target that I set for Mr Drake, when I appointed him, to ensure that our Music Department achieved a local and national profile. Images below!
Just consider below the full range of opportunities that our children and those in our feeder primary schools have at Winston.
In this large but fully comprehensive school the department
has developed:
Children who love music making
An orchestra of 120 students
A choir of 140 students
A flute choir
Senior Session Band
Junior Session Band
Brass ensemble
Wind Band
A brass quartet plays the last post on the playground,
surrounded by 1500 students every year.
String ensembles
35 - 45 students taking GCSE Music each academic year
50 students taking a level 2 Music Tech qualification each
academic year.
Introduction and use of Macs and the appropriate software in lessons.
The teaching is inspirational, evidenced by the results
Winston has developed a team of 5 full-time music teachers
We develop/coach graduate music assistants/tutors to become a
full-time music teachers
Introducing a Year 7 music scheme, encouraging every young
person to try learning to play an instrument, with a focus on children from
disadvantaged backgrounds.
Huge concerts twice a year.
Recital evenings for both KS3 and KS4.
Introduced a Young Singer
of the Year competition.
Older more experienced students teach instrumental lessons initially to Year
7, so that they are able to have free lessons!
Working with local primary schools to help them to inspire
children to engage with music making
Leading the pit band, producing live music for huge musical
productions
Introducing a Young Musician of the Year Competition
Helping young people to form bands and running a Band night
Ensuring that musicians play in assemblies and for parents'
evenings
Creating the living advent calendar during the month of
December
Introduced and ran Music Tours abroad for up-to 80 children,
playing in town squares.
A Primary Pupil Orchestra
A Primary Choir Day
A Primary Music Day
Playing in the local community for special events such as
fetes or turning on the Christmas Lights
Manages a team of over 20 peripatetic instrumental and voice teachers
