Music

Our school aims to provide an ambitious, rigorous and relevant music curriculum and inspires creativity and excellence in music. Pupils will foster a love of music by providing opportunities for pupils to engage with a wide range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians.

Our music curriculum both engages and connects to other learning through thematic study but is not limited to thematic study alone, ensuring that music education is delivered as a connected, yet at times, discrete entity through a Focus Day provision.

The E3L curriculum values music as one of the highest forms of creativity and provides opportunities for in depth, specialist teaching provision to equip pupils with the musical skills to become successful musicians. The curriculum has been informed by the model music curriculum.

In EYFS, music is an integral part of the E3L themes covered during the year and as part of the specific area, Expressive Arts: Being Imaginative. We relate the skill aspects of musicianship to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals (ELGs). Music is also used effectively to contributes to a pupil’s personal and social development. Singing and basic rhythm skills are incorporated to support mathematical ability and to enrich knowledge and understanding of the world through cultural diversity.

We encourage pupils to learn to play a musical instrument by providing opportunities within and beyond the music curriculum to support pupils’ creativity and musical thinking. Opportunities are provided for pupils to create and compose music, to sing and learn to use their voices, to explore how music is created, produced and communicated and to harness technology in the creation of music. Pupils are supported by organisations such as the CBSO, Birmingham Conservatoire, Sandwell SIPs and the Black Country Music hub.

Pupils are excited by their learning in music and develop a sense of self-confidence through composition and performance. They will develop an appreciation for a wide range of music and are able to offer their opinions about different musical styles.

Pupils demonstrate a high level of creativity, musical skill, knowledge and understanding through the creation of high-quality outcomes, including performance. As part of the music provision, pupils in years EYFS and Year 1 have the opportunity to access musical instruments.

Pupils make connections in their learning, both within music and with learning from other subject areas, such as history. They use these connections to support their understanding of music genre, composition and performance as well as to support their understanding of society, culture and change over time.

Pupils have a sound understanding of musical concepts, dimensions, composition and broad range of musical skill. They use their musical understanding to create, compose, evaluate and communicate and perform music. Our curriculum aims to remove barriers to learning for pupils with SEND. With support, and curriculum adaptations, SEND pupils are able to express themselves and take an active part in musical sessions. Scaffolding techniques and a variety of AfL strategies are adopted so that all pupils, including those with SEND can progress and flourish.

Their musical knowledge is developed through our use of key pieces of music which support all of our E3L themes and are in both whole class and whole school situations.