Curriculum Statement for Music

At St Oswald’s CE Primary School, music is a valued part of school life, building children’s confidence, creativity and opportunities for personal expression. Pupils develop key musical skills through whole-class, group and individual performance, composition and regular singing in worship and school events. Performances strengthen links with the wider community, including St Oswald’s Church, while visits and workshops with musicians broaden experiences and inspire a love of music. Through varied listening, children explore music from different periods, styles and traditions, fostering reflection and lifelong interest. Practical opportunities, such as learning ukulele, recorder and tin-whistle, enhance skills and allow children to develop and excel.

Intent

The Threshold Concepts of Describe, Compose, Transcribe and Perform are underpinned and interlinked in everything we do. In addition to musical skill and expertise, both vocal and instrumental, the children will develop listening, collaboration and communication skills.

The children are given regular opportunities to practice and consolidate these skills through listening, composing and performing activities. Performance being the key skill – which demonstrates achievement in other areas and gives the chance for self- expression and confidence building.

We aim for children to develop a wide musical vocabulary to enable them to describe music and their opinions. By the end of Key Stage 2 the children will be able to choose from a wide range of music vocabulary to accurately describe and appraise music.

Implementation

Music is taught through a combination of topic-linked activities and Charanga. Topic linked music enables the children to learn key skills in the context of their current class learning, leading to a greater depth of understanding and interest. There is also much scope for creativity and a gain in cultural and historical understanding. In addition to this Charanga is taught across school – ensuring all key skills are revisited and developed across the Key stage. Through a combination of these approaches the children are experiencing a wide variety of styles and genres. All children in KS2 play a musical instrument as part of their music lessons providing opportunities for all children of all backgrounds to play an instrument.

Impact

Feedback from children shows they greatly enjoy musical activities and performances, gaining skills, confidence and a lifelong love of music. Pupils learn to reflect on the musical world, use appropriate vocabulary, and develop their own tastes and opinions while performing with assurance.

Musical skills are evident in performances and extend beyond the classroom, enhancing communication and confidence across the curriculum and in wider life. Classroom music provides opportunities for both enjoyment and challenge, supporting deeper understanding and the development of musical knowledge and skill.