The Edward Betham CofE Primary SchoolMusic
Intent
At Edward Betham, we are dedicated to providing an enriching and comprehensive music education that instils a lifelong passion for music in our students. Our music curriculum is carefully crafted to foster creativity, nurture talent, and develop a deep understanding of music across various cultures and genres. We aim to empower every student to express themselves through music, building their confidence, teamwork, and self-expression.
Our intent is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and cultural awareness necessary to appreciate and engage with music in a meaningful way. We aspire to cultivate well-rounded musicians who can sing, play, compose, and perform with proficiency and enthusiasm. Through our music curriculum, we seek to instil in our students a sense of curiosity, an appreciation for diverse musical traditions, and the ability to connect emotionally with music.
Aligned with the Development Matters and the Model Music Curriculum, our curriculum is designed to provide a sequential and coherent music education. It aims to ensure that every student, regardless of background or prior experience, has access to a rich and varied musical education. We believe that music is an essential part of a well-rounded education, contributing to students' intellectual, emotional, and social development.
Implementation
To realise our music curriculum's intent in KS1 and KS2, we have partnered with Sing Education, a specialist provider of music education. Our curriculum is thoughtfully structured with half-termly units, each building upon the foundation of prior learning while introducing new concepts and challenges. This scaffolded approach ensures a logical progression of skills and knowledge, enabling students to consolidate, expand, and refine their musical abilities.
The Kodaly method, integral to our curriculum, ensures that musical concepts are presented systematically and aligned with students' prior experiences. Our specialist music teachers facilitate lessons that are child-centred, inclusive, and foster a love for singing. These lessons are enriched with high-quality resources, instruments, and dedicated spaces for music within our school.
Regular performances and recordings at the end of each half term provide students with opportunities to showcase their musical growth and articulate their learning journey. We also offer extracurricular activities, such as after-school choirs to further immerse students in the joy of music.
To enhance our curriculum, students opt for small group tuition to receive personalised instruction in guitar.
Through our comprehensive music curriculum, we aim to nurture confident, skilled, and culturally aware musicians who are well-prepared for a lifelong journey of musical exploration and expression. Our curriculum aligns with the Model Music Curriculum's principles, ensuring that students receive a high-quality, balanced, and inclusive music education.
In EYFS Music is delivered weekly. Children have opportunities to learn through song, experiment with instruments and develop their own musical interests. Teachers plan for child led music opportunities within the continuous provision. The Music Express scheme of learning is used in Reception.
Children's musical talents are celebrated regularly. Children have many wider opportunities to perform in Collective Worship, Mass celebrations, and there is a concert in the summer term which gives the opportunity to perform to an audience.
Children have extra-curricular opportunities to develop their musical skills including: guitar lessons, school choirs (Years 1&2, Years 3&4 and Years 5&6) and Young Voices. The Young Voices experience is the largest children’s choir in the world. Children perform in Wembley alongside incredible artists to an audience made up of family and friends.
Impact
In EYFS the children’s musical creativity is assessed regularly through detailed observations and questioning of the children. In KS1 and KS2 pupils’ progress is assessed using ongoing formative assessment eg performance, high quality questioning and teacher observations throughout the unit. Teachers inform pupils, parents and teachers of their progress annually. Music is monitored by the subject leader throughout all year groups using a variety of strategies such as, lesson observations, staff discussions and pupil interviews. Feedback is given to teachers and leaders use the information to assess pupils’ progress and identify next steps for development of the subject. It is expected that the majority of pupils in the school will meet the expected level for their age within the National Curriculum.
Key Documents
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