St Paul's Catholic Primary School

At St. Paul’s Catholic Nursery and Primary School we provide a high quality music education which enables children to develop a love of music whilst increasing self-confidence, creativity and a sense of achievement. Our aim is to provide a high quality music education that engages and inspires pupils to develop a love of music and nurtures their talent as musicians.

Intent

The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:
• 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 Paul’s Catholic Primary School the intention is that children 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. Our objective at St Paul’s is to develop a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music, and an unbiased respect for the role that music may wish to be expressed in any person’s life. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts

Implementation

At St Paul’s Music is taught on a half termly basis and shared at any opportunity.  We offer a range of musical opportunites along with weekly hymn practice and the learning the Cornets! The teaching and implementation of our Music Curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and is linked to a wide range of topics using the scheme ‘Charanga’ to ensure a well-structured approach to this creative subject. Areas covered include a range of genre, including classical, pop and rock music. This is supported through the studying of key composers and the development of a knowledge of their work. The evidence of a wider culture and learning music linking with wider areas of the curriculum follows the children through the school.  The development of singing and skills progression can be seen by both the child, teacher and parents in our ‘Wow Musical Moments and Performances!

Impact

Our Music Curriculum is structures and is clearly planned to demonstrate progression year on year, giving pupils the skills and knowledge and vocabulary that they need to move forward in their learning.  Alongside this, we opportunities to apply their knowledge in show casing their musical talents. Each Music lesson has a clear objective and set learning targets for pupils in terms of a skills acquisition. Lessons are adapted to ensure all children are challenged, included and engaged. We ensure that when assessing pupils, evidence is drawn from a wide range of sources to inform the process, including: interaction with pupils during discussions, related questioning; day-to-day observations; the pupils’ musical achievements and playing of music instruments, responses and evaluations.

Our Music Curriculum

Through our scheme (Charanga Musical School) and topic work, pupils have the opportunity to perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions. They learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others and also have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

In KS1, the children enjoy singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes. They have the opportunity to play both tuned and percussion instruments which they use to create, select and combine sounds. They also listen and move to a wide range of music.

Children in KS2 build on the skills acquired in KS1 so that, by the end of year 6, they sing and play with increasing control and self-confidence. They deepen their understanding of music in the world and the significance of music through history. Children are encouraged to explore their own musical preferences and discuss these with confidence.

All children take part in weekly singing lessons and daily assemblies, which contributes to the Catholic Life of our School and ethos.  Harvest, Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter celebrations encompass a strong musical development and links across the curriculum.  Our use of ‘singing with hands’ provide an opportunity for the inclusion of our children with additional needs and enables them to share their love of music with parents, governors, parish priest and other friends of the school.

Below are some examples of our teaching and learning in Music.

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