Music is the study and creation of sound. Pupils perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians.

Music Statement of Intent

‘Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon’. (The National Curriculum) 

Intent

At SKPS our intent is to follow the specifications of the National Curriculum; providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum and ensuring the progressive development of musical concepts, knowledge and skills. We believe that music plays an integral role in helping children to feel part of a community, and pupils should be given the opportunity to create, play, perform and enjoy music both in class and to an audience. Through Assemblies and Key Stage performances, children should showcase their talent and their understanding of performing with awareness of others. Lessons enable children to develop their skills, appreciate a wide variety of music and begin to appraise a range of musical genres.

The aims of our Music curriculum are to develop pupils who: 

• Enjoy and have an appreciation for music. 
• Listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, cultures, styles and traditions. 
• Can sing and use their voices to create different effects. 
• Create and compose music, both on their own and with others. 
• Use a range of musical language. 
• Make judgements and express personal preferences about the quality and style of music. 
• Take part in performances with an awareness of audience.

Implementation

SKPS delivers the requirements of the National Curriculum through the use of the Charanga scheme of work. Music lessons are broken down into half-termly units and an emphasis is placed on musical vocabulary, allowing children to talk about pieces of music using the correct terminology. 

Each unit of work has an on-going musical learning focus and lessons usually follow a specific learning sequence: 

• Listen and Appraise 
• Musical Activities (including pulse and rhythm) 
• Singing and Voice 
• Playing instruments 
• Improvisation / Composition 
• Perform and Share 

Within the EYFS setting, music is an integral part of children’s learning journey. Rhyme and rhythm are utilised throughout the learning of phonics, handwriting and mathematics. Children learn a wide range of songs and rhymes and develop skills for performing together. Singing and music making opportunities are used frequently to embed learning, develop musical awareness and to demonstrate how music can be used to express feelings. 

Performance is at the heart of musical teaching and learning at SKPS and pupils participate in a range of performances during their school ‘career’. These include nativities (KS1), Chirstmas Carol Services (Years 3 – 6) and Leavers Production (Year 6). Pupils also take part in weekly singing assemblies and collaborative singing events with other school in the local area. Parents are invited and welcomed to watch all of these performances whether at school or outside of school. Alongside our curriculum provision for music, pupils also have the opportunity to participate in additional 1:1 music teaching by being offered the opportunity to learn a musical instrument with peripatetic teachers.

As an enrichment, pupils also have the opportunity to join the SKPS school choir and to participate in the annual Young Voices concert. The school choir is open to KS2 children on a weekly basis, with the average number of pupils being in the range of 10-20. Pupils in the school choir meet after school and focus on singing in unison, developing harmony, solo performances and having fun! The school choir also have the opportunity to perform in school performances, carol concerts and have sung at a range of events both in school and at other venues. The Young Voices choir is extremely popular with KS2 pupils who are enthused by the opportunity to learn a wide range of songs, to be performed alongside other schools at the London O2 Arena.

Impact

At SKPS we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

• Photo and video evidence of the pupils practical learning.
• Pupil discussions and interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice).
• Use of the assessment tools provided within the Charanga scheme.
• Dedicated music leader time.
• We use the Charanga progression expectations to assess pupils’ attainment and to inform our future planning.

SKPS Music Programme of Study

Cycle A - Long Term Plan 2022-2023Cycle B - Long Term Plan 2023-2024