Music
‘Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything’ - Plato
Curriculum Intent
Music plays a vital role in the lives of all children. At Buckingham Primary School we aim to deliver high quality music provision through the specifications of the National Curriculum; providing a broad and balanced curriculum and ensuring the progressive development of musical concepts, knowledge, and skills in order that all children can benefit from a musically enriched education.
At Buckingham Primary School we believe that music plays an integral role in helping children feel part of a community, therefore we aim to provide opportunities for all children to create, play, perform and enjoy music both in class and to an audience to increase confidence, creativity and a sense of achievement.
Music is a unique way of communicating; it is a vehicle for personal expression, and can play an important part in personal and cognitive development. Music at Buckingham Primary School aims to reflect the culture and society that we live in, and so the teaching and learning of music enables children to better understand the world they inhabit.
Implementation
Music teaching at Buckingham Primary School delivers the requirements of the National Curriculum through the use of the Charanga scheme of work, ensuring consistency and progression throughout the school. 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.
Music is a foundation subject in the National Curriculum and the Music curriculum at Buckingham Primary School is in line with the 2014 Primary National Curriculum in England requirements for KS1, KS2 and the Foundation Stage curriculum. Music teaching follows the Model Music Curriculum as recommended in the National Plan for Music. Our curriculum plan allows children to develop new music skills and ideas whilst also revisiting and embedding established musical skills and concepts.
We are also part of The Buckinghamshire Learning Trust whole class practical musicianship program (wider opportunities). This is designed to support the KS2 curriculum, provide a wider range of pupils with excellent, practical musical experiences and inspire more of them to get involved in longer term music making. Throughout the sessions the interrelated elements of music are developed. The Music Service also use elements of Charanga in their sessions.
Performance is at the heart of musical teaching and learning at Buckingham Primary School and pupils participate in a range of performances during their school ‘career’. These include nativities (KS1) and a Leavers performance (Year 6). Pupils also take part in Harvest assemblies, celebration assemblies and singing assemblies. 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. Our peripatetic music teaching is organised by the Buckinghamshire Learning Trust as well as local music teachers. Pupils also have the opportunity to participate in the annual Young Voices concert.
Impact
Our music Curriculum is planned to demonstrate progression and build on and embed current skills. We focus on progression of knowledge and skills in the different musical components. Our children will inherit a rich and diverse musical palette that in turn will allow them to experience achievement, self-confidence, awareness of self and others, and self-reflection. Their musical experiences in school will ensure they have a broad and deep understanding of culture and history, both locally, nationally and internationally. Children will be able to talk passionately about their musical knowledge, preferences, abilities, and about significant figures in music history. Our hope is that children will develop a passion for music – as a listener, creator and performer.
We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:
- Pupil discussions and interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice).
- Governor monitoring with our subject music link governor.
- Annual reporting and tracking of standards across the curriculum.
- Photo and video evidence of the pupils practical learning.
- Use of the assessment tools provided within the Charanga scheme.
- Dedicated music leader time.
