Shireland Collegiate Academy

Shireland Collegiate Academy is a Secondary School located in Smethwick, West Midlands. The school was originally called Shireland High School, and later Shireland Language College. In 2007, the school was re-named Shireland Collegiate Academy.

The steelband has been operating since 2004.

The name of the steelband is Shireland Steel Pan Band.

The steelband was formed to allow pupils to explore something different in the music lessons.

The pupils practice every Saturday between the hours of 10am and 1pm as part of the school’s 'Saturday School Programme'

The pupils are taught by a specialist steelpan teacher.

To encourage the pupils to develop their pan playing and musical skills, the school has introduced a three tier badge system. Pupils begin by learning to play with two sticks, before moving on to the next stage which includes playing as part of a steelband. The final stage will include the pupils ability to play on at least two different steelpan instruments.

The steelband has recently performed at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham in December 2013.


Information supplied to My Panyard by Shirleand Collegiate Academy