A Level Music Technology

Applications open: Monday 3rd November 2025

Applications close: Students should apply by 1st March 2026. Applications received after this date will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

How to apply: All students, both internal and external, should apply via Kent Choices. Please select your A Level subjects. There is no need to select EPQ as students can enrol on this directly in Year 12.

All internal applicants will be invited to a consultation with a member of the Senior Leadership Team in Term Three.

We invite all external applicants to book a consultation with a member of the Senior Leadership Team once they have received a conditional offer. You will be contacted with the information on how to do this.

Admission Arrangements for Entry into Year 12 Application Process

• Students should apply by 1 March.

• Students should accept the school’s conditional offer and rank their preferences.

• Priority will be given to existing students transferring from Year 11 who meet the below entry criteria.

• Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar operates a sixth form for a total of 400 students. 200 places overall will be available in year 12.

• The Published Admission Number (PAN) for year 12 is 20. This is the number of places which will be offered on an annual basis to eligible external applicants. If fewer than 180 of the school’s own year 11 pupils transfer into year 12, additional external pupils will be admitted until year 12 meets its capacity of 200.

• Students who apply after March 1st deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• Those who have studied in international schools abroad who have studied other types of qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. A wide range of subjects will need to be studied at Level 2. A meeting with the AHT for the Sixth Form will be held to identify that relevant comparable entry criteria are met. The school will be the sole arbiter of measures of equivalence when students have sat examinations other than GCSEs.

• Those who have not studied GCSEs should contact the school in advance of applying via Kent Choices.

• For variations and new courses that are not offered at GCSE, please visit our website: www.langton.kent.sch.uk

Entry Criteria

All students need to meet the following to gain a place in Year 12 at Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School:

a) A minimum of 8 GCSEs grades 9-5, including 6 grades 6s*

b) A minimum grade 5 in their best English and Mathematics

c) The specific entry requirements for the A Levels they wish to study

d) If a student meets a) and b) but not c) we may be able to offer them an alternative programme of study once the over-subscription criteria have been applied

*This requirement can be waived where there are special extenuating reasons why an applicant has not met this standard.

Oversubscription Criteria

Following the enrolment of internal students transferring from Year 11, all remaining places will be allocated to students who, based on GCSE grades gained in August, are meeting our general entry requirements. Where there are more students seeking places than the number of places available, the oversubscription criteria will be applied in the priority order set out below to rank eligible students (i.e., those who have met our above entry criteria), until the overall figure for the year group is reached. Before applying the oversubscription criteria, children with an Education and Health Care Plan which names the school will be admitted; published admissions numbers will be reduced accordingly.

a) Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order and children adopted from state care outside of England and who meet the above entry criteria. A looked after child is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with an accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see the definition is Section 221 (1) of the Children Act 1989).

b) Current Year 11 students from Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School who meet the above entry criteria.

c) Children in receipt of Pupil Premium – a child is eligible for Pupil Premium where they have been registered for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last 6 years and who meet the above entry criteria. This does not

include students who have only been eligible to receive Universal Infant Free School Meals. Pupil Premium is also afforded to Children in Local Authority Care or Previously in Local Authority Care; however, these children are prioritised in the relevant criteria above.

d) An application from the child of a current serving member of the Armed Forces Community (with supporting evidence)

e) External students who have met the above entry criteria.

Where two applicants have an otherwise equal priority under the oversubscription criteria, the following tie-break will apply:

i. Eligible students who are likely to achieve the highest academic grades based on GCSE attainment. This will be measured by ranked average predicted grade in their best 8 qualifications, the highest score being given the highest rank. The school will be the sole arbiter of measures of equivalence when students have sat examinations other than GCSEs. IGCSEs are considered to be equal to GCSE grades.

ii. The nearness of an applicant’s home address to school. Distance is measured in a straight line using the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) address point data. Distances are measured from a point defined as within the applicant’s home to a point defined as within the school as specified by NLPG. The same address point on the school site is used for everybody

IMPORTANT MESSAGE - THIS COURSE WILL ONLY RUN IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT UPTAKE

The Music Technology course introduces you to some of the disciplines involved in the academic study of the subject. You will develop the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to compose, sequence, record, analyse and produce music in the modern music industry.

Students will create a multitrack recording and a technology based composition. The recording will be completed in our studio using Logic Pro X and the composition will allow you to explore the use of synthesis, sampling/audio manipulation and sound structure.

The listening and analysing exam will assess your knowledge of recording and production techniques for both corrective and creative purposes, the principles of sound and audio technology and the development of recording and production technology. The production exam will assess your knowledge and understanding of editing, mixing and production techniques, by applying them to unfamiliar materials provided by the exam board, as well as principles of audio technology. The majority of lessons will be spent composing or mixing on our iMacs or recording in the studio.

Type of Assessment Weighting

Unit 1 Recording: You produce a multi-track recording. Recordings must include 20% coursework
vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and drums plus other instruments or your choice.

Unit 2 Technology-based composition: Using samples provided by Edexcel, you are 20% coursework
to produce a piece in a style of your choice. You will learn how to create, edit and
manipulate sounds through synthesis and sampling in Logic X.

Unit 3 Listening & analysing: You will sit an exam listening to unstudied commercial 25% exam
recordings. Questions will test your knowledge of recording and production
techniques, principles of sound technology and the development of recording
and production technologies.

Unit 4 Producing & analysing: You will sit an exam which contains practical elements 35% exam
and written questions. Using audio material provided by the exam board you will
have to produce a track following given instructions.

Minimum Entry Criteria

Desired: 7 in Music GCSE or Grade 4 (or above) practical as a singer or instrumentalist or Grade 4 theory (or above)

Music plays an important part in today’s modern world and provides the soundtrack to advertisements, films, the internet, and television. Music Technology is the combination of artistic and technological creativity and plays an important role in the development of new sound possibilities.

The subject is an excellent option for students who have a solid grounding in and enthusiasm for music of all kinds. The course involves much practical work and opens up a range of exciting and useful tasks to a wide candidature, encouraging students to develop their interests in the subject.

The A Level Music Technology course can lead to specialism at a music college or university. It also prepares students to access industry roles, such as working in live venues, radio, television, and theatre. In addition the course is an excellent foundation for entry into higher education for a variety of subjects.