Music Award

Presented to the educational establishment that can demonstrate a commitment to improving the quality of musical learning through the provision of a first class teaching environment.

2009 Winner: Coventry Blue Coat Church of England School, West Midlands

Coventry Blue Coat Church of England School has recently become one of very few specialist Music Colleges in the country. Catering for over 1250 pupils, the school has ties with Coventry Cathedral, and holds several church services there every year, including the annual prizegiving ceremony for outstanding pupils.

The school has an 8-part choir which has been led by Philip Formstone since 1976. It performs works ranging from Joseph Haydn’s Insanae et Vanae Curae to the more recent works of composers such as John Tavener. The choir visits cathedrals around the country annually, where it sings services for the week whilst the resident choir is away.

In 2008, the school emerged victorious in BBC’s Songs of Praise School Choirs of the Year competition. They performed favourites Bright Morning Stars Are Rising and How Great Thou Art on the Songs of Praise programme, which was presented by celebrity singer Aled Jones. The choir is also a regular on the BBC Radio 4’s The Daily Service. Visiting bands and professional composers give a range of workshops throughout Key Stages 3 and 4 including Indian Music, Brass, Strings, History of Rock, African Drumming and Samba.

A new classroom and rehearsal room was opened in January 2007. Large enough to accommodate a 60 piece orchestra, the facility also contains an instrument storage area, department office and a recording studio. The music technology department at Bluecoat features Apple IMACs containing Sibelius 4, Logic Express and Garageband. All the workstations are networked to the departments’ own server. AS and A2 Music Technology is now part of the department’s accreditation portfolio.

The 2009 Education Business Award for Music recognises the achievements of Bluecoat School, and in particular Norman Owen, Director of Music and Choirmaster Philip Formstone.

Commended:

The Purcell School, Hertfordshire
Christ's Hospital School, West Sussex