“I have come so that you may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

Subject Lead - Martin Smyth 

Intent

 The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all children:

• 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

At St John’s Catholic Primary School, we want to create a passion for music in our children that will stay with them in their future lives. We want to ensure that music is not just a ‘subject’ but is an inspiring and engaging experience that not only enables every child to develop their musical potential, but also helps them develop an appreciation of the value of music that is deeply personal to them. We want our children to have a curiosity about music and a respect for the role that it may play in a person’s life.

In our school, we endeavour to provide a variety of musical experiences through a curriculum which develops learning, improves knowledge and promotes pupil well-being. As a Catholic school, our values are at the heart of everything we do. We want our children to show their understanding of those values through music and to use music as a tool to express themselves and their beliefs, highlighting issues that are important to them. Music also plays an important part in helping children to feel part of a community and a parish. We want to ensure children understand the value and importance of music beyond school, and so we encourage them to use their musical skills, knowledge and experience to involve themselves and others in music in the local community and parish.

Implementation

Our music curriculum is planned carefully to ensure that it addresses the National Curriculum. It is mapped out to provide our children with wide exposure to musical styles and genres from different times and places, and it promotes the exploration of the language of music. There are numerous opportunities to listen and appraise; to explore interrelated dimensions of music; to sing; to play instruments; to improvise, compose, perform and share.

There is a clear curriculum map which sets out the skills and knowledge covered and shows exactly how the children progress throughout the year, and year on year. Opportunities for cross curricular learning are used whenever possible. Lessons are timetabled regularly with our specialist music teacher. In addition, we provide other opportunities for children to learn an instrument using peripatetic support and have whole class recorder lessons in year 3.

Impact

As a result of our curriculum, children at St John’s Catholic Primary develop a love of music and an increased understanding of the impact that music can have on their own and others’ lives. Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose – either as listener, creator or a performer.  They can demonstrate a clear progression of knowledge and skills in music and have an understanding of how to further develop skills, should they develop an interest in music beyond school. In addition, our children also develop an understanding of the culture and history of music in relation to themselves individually, in relation to the church and from ethnicities around the world.

Examples of our learning in EYFS

 Coming soon. . . 

Examples of our learning in KS1

Coming soon. . .

Examples of our learning in KS2

 Coming soon. . .