--- title: "Blog Author: S Hinkley" url: "https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/author/shinkley" school: "Alston Moor Federation" --- # Blog Author: S Hinkley [![Image of Folk Music Inspiration](https://files.schudio.com/alston-moor-federation-2/imagecache/1440x880c/blog/IMG_6544.jpeg)](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-10-18-18-39-folk-music-inspiration) 18 October 2026 #### [Folk Music Inspiration](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-10-18-18-39-folk-music-inspiration) On Monday we welcomed in local musicians Nick and Helena Bazley to perform various pieces of folk music on their instruments. They were also joined by a special guest, Maya in year 7! Thank you for playing for year 8 and helping us to understand how folk music has evolved over time. [Continue reading](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-10-18-18-39-folk-music-inspiration) [![Image of Introducing the Gothic](https://files.schudio.com/alston-moor-federation-2/imagecache/1440x880c/blog/IMG_6550.jpeg)](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-10-18-18-35-introducing-the-gothic) 18 October 2026 #### [Introducing the Gothic](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-10-18-18-35-introducing-the-gothic) Mrs Sutterby and I are very excited about our up and coming trip to Dove Cottage in November with year 9. We'll be exploring The Gothic for the day, touring William Wordsworth's cottage and getting inspired with an exhibition and some creative writing. [Continue reading](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-10-18-18-35-introducing-the-gothic) [![Image of GCSE composition](https://files.schudio.com/alston-moor-federation-2/imagecache/1440x880c/blog/IMG_6416(1).jpeg)](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-10-04-19-25-gcse-composition) 4 October 2026 #### [GCSE composition](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-10-04-19-25-gcse-composition) Year 11 have been preparing their compositions for their brief task. One of the choices is to compose a piece of music for a new Robin Hood film. Here are some initial storyboarding thoughts and ideas. [Continue reading](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-10-04-19-25-gcse-composition) [![Image of Film Music Exploration](https://files.schudio.com/alston-moor-federation-2/imagecache/1440x880c/blog/IMG_6394.jpeg)](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-10-04-19-12-film-music-exploration) 4 October 2026 #### [Film Music Exploration](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-10-04-19-12-film-music-exploration) Year 9 have been working hard to learn different pieces of iconic film music on keyboards including The Imperial March from Star Wars and the Indiana Jones theme. They have been learning key terms such as 'Leitmotif' along the way. [Continue reading](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-10-04-19-12-film-music-exploration) [![Image of Music Festival Planning](https://files.schudio.com/alston-moor-federation-2/imagecache/1440x880c/blog/IMG_4778.jpeg)](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-04-24-12-58-music-festival-planning) 24 April 2026 #### [Music Festival Planning](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-04-24-12-58-music-festival-planning) Year 9 have been demonstrating their skills of teamwork, planning, adapting. leadership, problem solving, creativity, listening and speaking to create their music festival pitches. I have been really impressed with their focus and engagement. Perhaps some ideas for future careers will also… [Continue reading](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-04-24-12-58-music-festival-planning) [![Image of Year 9 Literacy](https://files.schudio.com/alston-moor-federation-2/imagecache/1440x880c/blog/IMG_4699(9).jpeg)](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-04-17-14-53-year-9-literacy) 17 April 2026 #### [Year 9 Literacy](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-04-17-14-53-year-9-literacy) Part of our literacy sessions at SKS involve learning and revising subject-specific spellings. This week the focus was DT and year 9 worked in teams to compete for the most correct spellings. Well done year 9. [Continue reading](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-04-17-14-53-year-9-literacy) [![Image of Romeo and Juliet](https://files.schudio.com/alston-moor-federation-2/imagecache/1440x880c/blog/IMG_4731(2).jpeg)](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-04-17-14-38-romeo-and-juliet) 17 April 2026 #### [Romeo and Juliet](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-04-17-14-38-romeo-and-juliet) Year 8 have been busy translating a scene from Romeo and Juliet between Capulet (Juliet's father) and Juliet. Translating Shakespearean language is a challenging skill, but the students were able to give it a good go and they hopefully now understand the relationship between these characters… [Continue reading](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-04-17-14-38-romeo-and-juliet) [![Image of Instruments of the orchestra ](https://files.schudio.com/alston-moor-federation-2/imagecache/1440x880c/blog/IMG_4461.jpeg)](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-03-22-21-11-instruments-of-the-orchestra) 22 March 2026 #### [Instruments of the orchestra ](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-03-22-21-11-instruments-of-the-orchestra) Year 7 have been learning to identify instruments of the orchestra. They used images of instruments around the music room to help them, and they came up with this way of working in the process! Well done year 7! [Continue reading](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-03-22-21-11-instruments-of-the-orchestra) [![Image of Year 7 composition](https://files.schudio.com/alston-moor-federation-2/imagecache/1440x880c/blog/IMG_3778(1).jpeg)](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-02-25-17-13-year-7-composition) 25 February 2026 #### [Year 7 composition](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-02-25-17-13-year-7-composition) Year 7 have blown me away today with their composition skills. We have been learning about different musical forms including binary, ternary and rondo. Today's final task of the unit involved learning the Pentatonic Rondo (using 5 notes of the scale) and composing a section B in response to it. … [Continue reading](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-02-25-17-13-year-7-composition) [![Image of Year 9 Composing](https://files.schudio.com/alston-moor-federation-2/imagecache/1440x880c/blog/Capture_2.PNG)](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-02-06-16-53-year-9-composing) 6 February 2026 #### [Year 9 Composing](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-02-06-16-53-year-9-composing) Year 9 have been working on their free music compositions and many students have chosen to use Band Lab to produce their music. There has been everything from video game music, to science fiction film music. Keep up the creative work year 9. [Continue reading](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-02-06-16-53-year-9-composing) [![Image of National Storytelling Week](https://files.schudio.com/alston-moor-federation-2/imagecache/1440x880c/blog/Capture.PNG)](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-02-06-16-46-national-storytelling-week) 6 February 2026 #### [National Storytelling Week](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-02-06-16-46-national-storytelling-week) Wow! What a creative week we have had in the English department! As part of National Storytelling Week, our Key Stage 3 students have been writing their own lyrics and songs about issues that are important to them. The work they have produced has been phenomenal and Miss Sutterby and I are very… [Continue reading](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-02-06-16-46-national-storytelling-week) [![Image of GCSE Poetry Analysis](https://files.schudio.com/alston-moor-federation-2/imagecache/1440x880c/blog/IMG_3541(1).jpeg)](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-01-30-18-39-gcse-poetry-analysis) 30 January 2026 #### [GCSE Poetry Analysis](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-01-30-18-39-gcse-poetry-analysis) Year 10 have blown me away with their GCSE poetry analysis this week. They have been comparing Percy Shelley's 'Ozymandias' with William Blake's 'London'; both Romantic poets, and both giving strong messages about the abuse of power. Keep up the great work year… [Continue reading](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/blog/2026-01-30-18-39-gcse-poetry-analysis) ![Alston Moor Federation](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/images/logo/AMF-icon_white.png) #### Alston Moor Federation Church Road Alston Cumbria CA9 3QU Email: Tel: 01434 381236 #### Schools - [Alston Primary School](https://alston-moor-federation-2.schudio.com/schools/alston-primary-school) - [Nenthead Primary School](https://alston-moor-federation-2.schudio.com/schools/nenthead-primary-school) - [Samuel King’s School](https://alston-moor-federation-2.schudio.com/schools/samuel-king-s-school) #### About Us - [Welcome](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/about-us/welcome) - [Governors](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/about-us/governors) - [SEND](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/about-us/send) - [Report an Issue as a Pupil](https://forms.office.com/e/31YEcfkxNu) #### Parents - [Support For Parents](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/parents/letters-to-parents) - [Newsletters](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/parents/newsletters) - [Remote Learning](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/parents/remote-learning) - [PTFA](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/parents/ptfa) #### Safeguarding - [Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership](https://cumbriasafeguardingchildren.co.uk/) - [Childline](https://www.childline.org.uk) - [CEOP](https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/) © Copyright 2022–2026 Alston Moor Federation School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://alstonmoorfederation.org.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)