Intent

Our Music curriculum at Woodfield is designed with the intent that learners:

• Are excited about music, developing an understanding of music through active musical response, composition and performance.
• Build children’s musical knowledge, skills, and understanding, becoming confident performers, composers, and attentive listeners.
• Explore a range of musical genres from different cultures and historical periods, including traditional favourites.
• Develop practical musical abilities through singing, playing tuned and untuned instruments, composing, and actively responding to music they hear.
• Make links with between music and other areas of the curriculum where appropriate.
• Gain valuable transferable skills such as teamwork, leadership, creativity, decision-making, and performance—skills that support them both in and beyond the classroom

Implementation

We believe that music should be taught as a practical subject with lots of hands on music making. Children are involved in singing and playing instruments in practically every lesson where they can learn to develop their varied musical skills and appreciate the music they hear.

Each class has a weekly music lesson, taught by a specialist music teacher. Lessons often take place in the hall which allows for plenty of space to explore sounds.  Each musical theme develops through a half term, building skills, understanding and knowledge, and the lessons involve the children in active listening, music making and evaluating.

The whole school sings together every week during singing assembly, when songs are often chosen to reflect and develop our core values, learning powers and cultural events.

We have an annual visit of musicians from Shropshire Music Service to play live music for us. They teach us about their instruments and offer inspiration for our future musicians.  Year 2 children are offered the opportunity to learn violin with a specialist teacher. This is available at a cost.  We have a thriving school choir which meets after school. We take part in singing events throughout the school year, going out into the local community to share our enjoyment of music with others.

To ensure high standards of teaching and learning in Music, we implement a curriculum that is progressive from EYFS to Year 6, through links with St George’s Junior School, and that is underpinned by the requirements of the National Curriculum. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children.

Inclusivity in Music

Effective quality first teaching is the key to enabling all children to participate and develop their knowledge and skills.

Adaptation within lessons is a vital component to ensure that a balance of support and challenge is achieved by all learners.

Challenge and support specific to music may include:

• Physical support to play instruments
• Alternative instruments or beaters.
• Providing picture clues or using Makaton

Pupils not secure within a lesson sequence are noted and helped to ensure that all children can succeed.  Similarly, added challenge is given to those pupils requiring it. This may be through questioning or the use of different instruments.

Impact

• Our children are excited and enthusiastic about music – they really enjoy getting involved and look forward to their lessons.
• They’ve grown into confident performers, composers, and listeners, and love expressing themselves through music both in school and beyond.
• They show a real appreciation for different types of music, from all kinds of genres, cultures, and time periods.
• As they move through the curriculum, they make great progress, building their skills and knowledge

Videos and audio recording shared on SeeSaw to show coverage and progression. Pupil voice questionnaires are carried out by the subject lead to monitor the teaching and learning taking place and planning is also monitored to ensure that the children experience the music curriculum as intended.