Music for all? Pupils' perceptions of the GCSE Music examination in one South Wales secondary school
Abstract
This article originated from a research project examining pupils' perceptions of the GCSE Music examination (for pupils aged 15–16) in one large secondary school in the United Kingdom. The research explored the hypothesis that pupils considered it necessary to have additional instrumental or vocal tuition outside class music lessons in order to secure a high grade in the examination. The research also hypothesised that, despite the egalitarian philosophy underpinning the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examination system, the music course was still viewed by pupils as being élitist. It was concluded that although there were some very positive comments from pupils, GCSE Music was still not the intended examination for all.
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Previous research shows that music typically appears as the least important subject alongside other arts, mainly because of career and future employment concerns.
“This finding is well aligned with previous research, as in a number of relevant studies, music typically appears as the least important subject alongside other areas of the arts (Harvey, 1984;Stables and Wikeley, 1997;Lamont & Maton, 2008) mainly because of career and future employment related concerns (Stables and Wikeley, 1997;Wright 2002).”
From Enjoyment of music and GCSE uptake: survey findings from three North East schools in England (2024) · cites this paper as Wright 2002
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Enjoyment of music and GCSE uptake: survey findings from three North East schools in England
Whitford, H., & Kokotsaki, D. (2024) · British Journal of Music Education · doi:10.1017/s0265051723000438 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
- Authors
- Wright, R.
- Affiliations
- Cardiff Metropolitan University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Wright, Ruth
- ORCID
- Wright, Ruth
- Venue
- British Journal of Music Education
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2002-10-28
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 227-241
- ISSN
- 0265-0517 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-2104
- OpenAlex
- W2145482033
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- British Journal of Music Education (publishedVersion)
- Scholarship@Western (Western University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Music › Diverse Music Education Insights
- Social Sciences › Education › Music Education and Analysis
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Visual Arts and Performing Arts › Art Education and Development
- Keywords
- music examinations, student perceptions, elitism, secondary school music
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