Sibelius used at 93% of Top 100 UK state schools for GCSE and A-Level results in 2006

Leading schools equipped with multi-user licences of the music notation package

Sibelius music notation software is used in 93% of the top 100 state schools for GCSE results, and in 94% of the top 100 state schools for A-Levels, according to 2006 figures published by the official UK examination boards. On average, each of these schools uses 20 copies of the software to support teachers and enable students to learn, compose and perform music from age 11 onwards (the start of Key Stage 3).

Sibelius is now used to teach music at over 65% of secondary schools in the UK. In addition, Sibelius provides a range of music software for primary schools called Groovy Music. This product range is rapidly gaining adoption across the UK, and links seamlessly with Sibelius’s secondary school products.

“Sibelius is central to composition at both GCSE and A-Level,” says Kieron Howe, Head of Music at Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet, which came eighth in the country for A-Level results. “It enables students to produce professional scores and parts, and hear and record in a much more vivid sound world. This is great for public exams, but also for enhancing pupils' enjoyment and understanding of music, which continues long after the exams have finished.”

Latymer School in North London came third in the country for GCSE results. Jim Harrison, Head of Music at the school, says: “Sibelius underpins most of the composition work we do in the department. We have 20 copies in the music department and it has helped the students produce some amazingly professional results.”

 “We are delighted for our schools who have made it into the top 100, and for all the others who have had a terrific year for exam results,” says Jeremy Silver, MD of Sibelius Software. “We take great care in helping schools teach music with our software, and it’s great to see that this hard work is helping students across the UK to achieve these fantastic results.”

As well as being the choice of UK schools, Sibelius is the preferred notation package for the music professional.  World-famous composers such as Steve Reich and Michael Nyman, plus recording artists like Bjork and Jamie Cullum, are all avid users of the program. Sibelius has been used to compose the music for hit films including Pride & Prejudice, The Incredibles and Shrek 2.