Music Students To Study The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

The Beatles' 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is considered one of the most iconic records of all time. 

And if England's biggest exams board, the AQA get their way, high school music students will study the album as part of their education. 

According to The Independent, the AQA will make the famous record a central theme in GCSE students' studies, with particular focus on the three hits — Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, With A Little Help From My Friends and Within You Without You.

Students will be asked to study all aspects of the music, as well as the lyrics — particularly 'Lucy' as its meaning to be a reference to the drug, LSD, has been debated for years. 

Seb Ross, the head of AQA’s music department said of the unique changes to the curriculum: “We’ve chosen The Beatles because John, Paul, Ringo and George helped to define popular music and the iconic Sergeant Pepper album has taken on a life of its own."

The new look GCSE exam will also include students demonstrating their DJ-ing skills, including the technique of 'scratching' as well as a live performance, either with voice or an instrument. 

The new syllabus is currently being submitted and it is designed to come into effect for schools by September 2016.