“Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupil’s progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon."
National Curriculum, 2014.
At Sherburn Hungate we believe all children should learn to create, explore, perform and enjoy music, allowing them to develop the skills they need to become musicians. We encourage children to develop a love of music and provide opportunities for children to learn an instrument as well as having the experiences of hearing and appreciating a range of musical genres and cultures.
Key stage 1 Pupils should be taught to:
Key stage 2 Pupils should be taught to:
Children demonstrate their ability in music in a variety of different ways. Teachers assess children’s work in music by making informal judgements as they observe them during lessons. Video recordings are made of live musical performances for the children to use as self-assessment. Oral or written feedback is given to children after they have completed a piece of work. As you move through school, children are encouraged to make judgements about how they can improve their own work and that of others.
Music is taught with the aims and objectives of the National Curriculum 2014. At Sherburn Hungate, we use the online Music Scheme Charanga, which supports progression and breadth of coverage whilst allowing children of differing abilities to access the music curriculum and develop their skills.
In our Early Years Foundation Stage, we relate the musical aspects of the children’s work to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals; these underpin the curriculum planning for children aged 3-5 years old. Our Early Years team encourage and enthuse young children to find and use rhythm and music in many aspects of the curriculum as a means of increasing a child’s knowledge and understanding of the world around them.
Music lessons are taught by class teachers, with two music specialists in upper key stage two. Throughout the academic year, children are offered the opportunity to study a musical instrument with peripatetic teachers. These lessons, which usually take place in curriculum time, are taught to small groups of children, who have chosen to study a range of instruments, including guitar and flute.
We believe that music enriches the lives of people, and so we encourage as many children as possible to take part in musical activities. Our Christmas and summer productions enable children to showcase their music talents and perform to an audience.
Throughout the academic year, our school hosts celebration assemblies which incorporate whole-school singing and provide the opportunity for teachers to share their love of music by playing their own instruments. This, we hope instils in them the desire to engage in this enrichment activity whilst enhancing their appreciation for musical performances.
Our successful school choir, organised and ran by our headteacher, meets regularly, enabling children to enjoy singing together and performing within our local community. We also support national events such as Young Voices and attend alternate years.