The Situation
A creative town is losing its music education
The school has made this decision as part of their understandably complex and difficult timetabling process. Their stated position is that the students themselves have chosen this outcome by way of their subject choices.
We respect that timetabling is never straightforward and that everyone is being asked to do more with less — but in a creative town full of musicians, from a school with a strong musical history, run by an Academy Trust that actively promotes the arts, we feel this is a corner worth fighting.
What we are aiming for:
We would like the school to reconsider its decision and revisit the timetabling for September to allow our young musicians to take GCSE Music.
The Demand
The numbers tell a clear story
11 students chose Music in the first round of options — and informal support amongst the student body suggests that number could rise to at least 15. This is greater demand than in many previous years.
The school’s own data, provided by the Deputy Head, confirms the subject has run with smaller numbers before:
| Leavers | Students | Exam Board |
|---|---|---|
| 2027/28 (projected) | 11–15 | — |
| 2025/26 | 11 | WJEC |
| 2024/25 | 6 | OCR |
| 2023/24 | 17 | OCR |
| 2022/23 | 12 | OCR |
| 2021/22 | 13 | OCR |
| 2020/21 | 12 | OCR |
With 11 confirmed and potentially at least 15, this projected cohort is comparable to or larger than most recent years. The subject ran with just 6 students just a few years ago. The demand is clearly there.
What This Means
No performing arts at all
If GCSE Music is not reinstated, Anthony Gell will offer no performing arts GCSEs this coming September. Drama and Dance are already gone. Music is the last one standing. For a school in a town renowned for its creative community, this is a profound gap in the curriculum.
We would like the school to reconsider its decision and revisit the timetabling for September to allow our young musicians to take GCSE Music.
In a creative town full of musicians, from a school with a strong musical history, this seems a serious loss and something worth fighting for.