It’s well known that music provision at Nottingham Girls’ High School is pretty special. It starts at the Infant and Junior School so that incredible, musical talent feeds into the Senior School and beyond. So we’re really proud to have been shortlisted as finalists in these prestigious awards.

The Music & Drama Education Awards celebrate the extraordinary contribution made by professionals, companies, charities, schools and other organisations to the lives of others through the medium of these two key performing arts, and NGHS has been shortlisted in the Outstanding School Music Department category.

The nomination of NGHS focused on the extra curricular provisions at the Infant and Junior School particularly.  This of course falls under the larger whole school music department without whom this extra curricular provision would not be possible. The nomination was written to demonstrate the numbers of children playing musical instruments and in particular focused on the Da Capo programme which runs from Reception classes to Year 2.

Although this is based on recruitment in the Infant and Junior School, it does have a vital impact on the Senior School. Six years ago the Juniors began ‘targeted recruiting’ and had an action plan and strategy in place to ensure there was an even spread of instruments across all year groups.  This then made it possible for the development of really good, talented bands and orchestras.

The results of this plan are evident as the first of those groups has just graduated to the Senior School and are now in Year 7.  The nomination of NGHS in the category of Outstanding School Music Department had to show evidence of how strategic planning has a successful impact throughout the school, and if you’ve ever been to a concert or performance at the Senior School you’ll see (and hear) without a doubt what a great success this is.

This makes us very excited and confident in the knowledge that as our exceptional performers leave NGHS in Year 13, there will always be a steady supply of eager singers and musicians to eventually replace them.  This bodes really well and makes the future of NGHS musical performances and productions truly exciting. So we have our fingers crossed and wish the very best of luck to our Infant and Junior School Music Department when they attend these awards on Wednesday 4 March. Whatever the outcome, they’ll always be stars in our eyes.