Intent

At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that music is for everyone. We aim for our children to gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. At our school we are committed to developing a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance that all types of music are important. We hope that our children will see themselves reflected in the musicians and composers that we listen to. We support children to ensure that they know the role that music plays in each person’s life and provide them with an opportunity to express this through the music curriculum at our school. Our intention is that we inspire musicians of the future and create a passion for music in all our children that will stay with them for a lifetime.

Implementation

Every class from EYFS to Year 6 participate in music lessons and we use the Charanga scheme of work for music, which covers all the required objectives from the National Curriculum. Charanga lessons allow children to learn music in a fun and engaging way and the lessons are planned in sequences to provide children with the opportunities to review, remember deepen and apply their understanding whilst also building on the children’s prior knowledge. During these lessons children sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate and are exposed to the vocabulary and terminology associated with the elements of music. All pupils at St. Joseph’s Primary School will have the opportunity to access the music curriculum, irrespective of social background, culture, race, religion, gender or ability.

A specialist music teacher from Lancashire Music Services comes in on a weekly basis to work with LKS2, they are taught how to play the cornet as well as learning how to read musical notation and they end their block of lessons with a performance for their parents. Weekly ukulele and guitar lessons are offered to our children and these children regularly showcase their skills to the rest of the school, again these are taught by a specialist music teacher.

Music at St. Joseph’s is also very important outside of the classroom, the children sing in assemblies, in church and during performances at Christmas and Easter. Once a year we invite an outside agency to come in to perform for the children such as African samba drumming or Theatre Companies, this is an opportunity for the children to experience and appreciate different genres of music and dance. The children at St. Joseph’s have the opportunity to attend musical extra-curricular opportunities through an after school choir club where they perform at a range of inter-school concerts.

Music is assessed through a mixture of formative and summative assessments. Teachers will assess the children during the lessons and provide in the moment feedback where possible. Video recordings are made, as these allow the teacher to track progress and inform their assessment data.

Impact

By the time a child leaves St Joseph’s they will have enjoyed music in as many ways as they have chosen to – either as a listener, creator or performer. Children will have developed an understanding of culture and history through music and will have had the opportunity to discuss and share their own thoughts, opinions and acknowledge that these will vary amongst people. Children at St. Joseph’s can appraise and dissect music using appropriate terminology, as well as being able to sing along to a song and also find the beat and pulse within it. They will have had the opportunity to play a musical instrument as well as watching professionals perform through visiting productions. We aim to instil a lifelong love of music within the children.

Year 3 are currently learning to play the cornets with Mr Booth. 
The children are improving each week and they are really are enjoying the opportunity to learn a new skill.
These pictures are from their first lesson.