The provision of extra-curricular music is a key feature of our school and participation levels are exceptionally high. Over one third of all boys participate in music lessons and we have no fewer than 18 ensembles, each led by a specialist music teacher. Student involvement at every level forms a key feature of our music provision and this is facilitated through our pupil-led Music Society. Visits overseas, regular Music Society and Chamber Concerts, music competitions and a host of community activities all combine to make extra-curricular music something that is very special at Wirral Grammar School. Our parents believe that our music provision contributes significantly to pupils’ cultural and spiritual development.
Music Development Plan 2024-2025
This section of our website provides further information of the breadth and extent of our music provision.
The Music Department has a staff of qualified professional instrumental teachers who visit the school during the week to give tuition on a wide variety of instruments. Every boy entering the school will have the opportunity to have lessons on an instrument of his own choice and all Year 7 boys can receive the first set of ten lessons at half price. Currently almost 250 boys in school receive music lessons, with over a third of Year 7 involved.
The lessons are scheduled on a weekly basis and the length is thirty minutes. Lessons are usually arranged on a rota system so that a boy may not miss the same period more than once each half term. Experience has proved that this is not detrimental to the pupils’ general progress, which is monitored closely. Some lessons can be timetabled for a lunch-hour or after school, though priority for these lessons goes to senior boys studying for exams.
The Department has some instruments available for short-term loan, although the expectation is that boys will purchase their own as soon as their familiarity with the instrument increases.
There is a Concert Band, Big Band, String Group, Folk Group, Brass Group, Jazz Band (called Wind Wizards!), Guitar Group, Clarinet Sextet, Samba Band, Keyboard Group and six Rock Bands which rehearse every week. Once boys reach an appropriate standard, they will be invited to join one or more of the groups. Boys are strongly encouraged to take part, as it dramatically improves their playing, and brings them into social contact with boys of different ages and musical abilities. The number and variety of ensemble groups is a particular strength of the school’s extra-curricular provision.
The School Choir meets every week during the academic year, with separate rehearsals for the different sections of the Choir during the lunch hour as well as full rehearsals (SATB) after school. The Choir numbers over eighty voices and membership is open to all boys on completion of a short voice test, with reliability and commitment being of equal importance. We also have a Year 7 Choir as well as a Chamber Choir that rehearse each week. Some boys take advantage of our singing teacher who encourages boys to make the most of their vocal talent.
The Choir leads the service of Nine Lessons and Carols in December and also performs in Concerts outside school, including regular international tours. As well as appearing in the Music Society’s regular termly concerts, some members of the Choir also take part in joint performances with the adjoining Girl’s School’s mixed choir.
All boys who take part in musical groups in school are automatically members of the Music Society. The Society is run by a Forum, consisting of senior pupils and representatives of each of the instrumental/vocal groups. This Forum controls the day-to-day running of the Society’s activities under the direction of the teaching staff, as well as organising special fund-raising activities, trips to local musical events and the end of year dinner, which usually proves very popular!
The Department organises up to 4 exam sessions each year with the Associated Board, London College and Trinity Exam Board. Boys can then perform to an external examiner, receiving certificates for their achievement. Higher grade examinations can help with UCAS forms and applying for University.
A tradition that started back in 1997, musical tours are normally arranged every two years and the Department has now travelled to Canada, Italy (three times), Spain, Austria, Germany (three times), France (twice), Malta, Hungary and Belgium. In the summer of 2025, 65 boys (from all year groups) in the Choir and Concert Band and 7 staff travelled to Cochem, Germany, giving concerts all over the region. Tours always prove highly popular and a memorable experience for all concerned and this tradition is sure to continue for many years to come.
Three concerts are given by over 150 boys every year, involving seventeen ensembles performing music in a wide variety of styles. Concerts are normally in external venues, this year including Ellesmere Port Civic Hall, Gladstone Theatre and the Floral Pavilion, to an audience of almost 400. More informal concerts are also given in and outside of school, and groups and individuals often perform in assemblies, so there are plenty of opportunities for soloists as well as the various ensembles to perform. In addition, there are other opportunities each year to perform within the local community and Merseyside. Boys have travelled back to their old primary school to perform with ensembles to groups of junior school children, an event that has seen the school visit over 75 primary schools in the last 20 years. Finally, the school has a reputation for putting on shows of exceptional quality and this year’s musical production, Sunshine on Leith, will give its first performance in March 2026.
The Music Department has a music suite comprising two music rooms for classroom teaching. The largest of these is used by most of the ensembles for rehearsing and is the largest teaching classroom in the school. There are keyboards and computers along three sides of the room for use in class, and the second music room also has keyboards and computers for use by pairs of students in a more traditional desk set-up. These are all used extensively in composition and performance and form an essential part of the classwork. There is also a small technology room which can be used for recording purposes, three good sized practice rooms, an additional drum room over by the gym, two large storerooms, and a dedicated music office.
As you can see from the above list, we have teachers for a very wide range of instruments, and tuition for other instruments may be available on request. Subject to availability, boys can start lessons at any time of year, although September in Year 7 is by far the most preferable. Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Music Department at the School who will endeavour to answer any queries you may have.