Intent

At SS. Mary and John’s Catholic Primary Academy we believe that each child should be taught a broad music curriculum throughout their whole school journey with us. Music provides the children several opportunities for personal expression. Through our teaching of music, we allow children to understand the world we live in and the history behind some of the music that surrounds them. Our intention is that children gain an understanding of what music is through listening, appraising, performing and composing across a variety of historical time periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. We want music to inspire our children through development of an engaging and safe learning environment, as well as allowing them to strive for excellence in all they do.

The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils are able to:

  • Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music
  • Be taught to sing, create and compose music
  • Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated

Implementation

Music lessons are delivered at regular opportunities in order for pupils to practise skills and to build on prior knowledge at SS. Mary and John’s. Music also enhances school masses, assemblies, liturgies and performances showcasing what the children have learnt. It is taught throughout the school from EYFS up to UKS2.

Classroom music is taught using the online scheme ‘Charanga’ and we also receive specialist input from a music teacher and the Wolverhampton Music School delivering instrumental teaching in lower KS2.

Charanga’s scheme follows a spiral approach to musical learning. During each unit of learning, children have the opportunity to revisit existing knowledge and skills and then build upon and extend these.

Impact

Children will have opportunities to explore a range of music from different genres and eras. They will also gain a better understanding of musical vocabulary and how to use it in context when talking about a piece of Music. Children will be provided opportunities to develop their performance skills through playing a range of instruments across the curriculum and performing them to an audience. By doing so, children will gain a love of music through the knowledge they have of musical history.

We support the music curriculum by offering additional musical opportunities such as clubs, assemblies and masses. As well as providing memorable experiences with instrumental lessons, concerts, whole school performances and workshops.