Music A Level

Applications Open: - Friday 14 November 2025

Applications Close: - 13 February 2026. Applications may be considered after this date but it is strongly advised to apply before this deadline.

Entry Requirements: - Admission to courses - This is based on your needs and staff advice, but you should be aware of these points: 1. You will need to obtain a minimum of six GCSE passes at Level 5 or above including Mathematics and English (a minimum of a grade 5 in the reformed GCSE qualifications in English and Mathematics) and grades 9-6 in their preferred A-Level subjects or nearest equivalents. 2. Subjects have clear entry requirements. You will find these under the course details or from Subject Heads.

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices (Internal and External Students)

External Applicants - please click here (This form is for external candidates and parents/carers to book a slot to ask any questions about the admissions process and Sixth Form at Highsted Grammar School). Please be aware that it is first come, first served. We will try our best to accommodate your preferences but this might not always be possible).

Internal candidates - should contact their Head of Year directly.

Careers in music involve Teaching, Performing and Arts Related Activities, Musical Theatre etc. Some students may not want to take up a career in music but may wish to eventually use music skills in amateur music circles either at university or/and afterwards. Music can bring pleasure and fulfilment for the rest of one’s life.

A Level Music is an exciting and rewarding course that is unique in its combination of academic study and creative opportunity. The course is based around developing three key skills; performing, composing and listening and appraising. You will build on your knowledge of musical theory, gain a solid understanding of the basic principles of performance, refine your practical skills, study and practice composition and expand your knowledge of music history through listening and appraisal.

Within these areas of study, A Level Music offers you the opportunity to develop your ability to use musical devices and conventions through composition, engage with and increase awareness and appreciation of the diverse history of music, and develop critical evaluation skills through appraising your own and other’s music. A Level Music is essential if you are considering a job in the music industry, whether you plan to go down an academic or creative career path, and a strong choice if you are passionate about music.

Students should be able to perform at grade 8 (ABRSM or equivalent) by the time they are in Year 13. (It is not necessary to have taken these grades but these give a benchmark for standards which are required.) It would be advisable to obtain a grade 8/9 at GCSE, the levels of expected performance should also be considered before starting these courses. Likely students should therefore be already receiving individual instrumental or singing lessons.

Students should be able to work on their own unsupervised – this is important for working on compositions, individual practice – preparing for performance examinations and research for analysis and the history of music. The ability to write essays (history of music and on set works) is also important.