Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent

“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.” (National Curriculum, 2014)

At Eastgate Academy we believe that all of our pupils should be able to find their personal strengths and succeed, developing the whole child and building their confidence, self-worth and pride. We feel that music offers a unique opportunity for this, giving pupils the chance to build resilience, be creative, acquire and demonstrate critical thinking, and to show leadership as well as cooperating and collaborating with others.

Our music curriculum aims to build both knowledge and skills through progressive sequences of work that draw on a range of musical traditions, allowing pupils to understand the cultural importance and significance of music in the UK and beyond. Pupils are encouraged to ask questions about the music they experience, including around its creators and performers, helping teachers to shape the material taught to pupils’ curiosity and interests.

Implementation

Over the course of Key Stages 1 and 2, pupils will explore a variety of musical genres from a range of cultures. They will become familiar with the cultural capital of music, while also making links between their musical learning and their learning in other subject areas. Sequences of learning will build on those taught previously, providing opportunities to consolidate and deepen pupils’ skills and knowledge.

As in all areas of our curriculum, we emphasise learning through experience wherever possible, and as such we use Charanga to spark and engage pupils’ curiosity by developing their skills in the practical aspects of music and music-making, including singing, playing instruments, improvisation and composition. Through these practical approaches, we also develop our pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the theory and history of music, including knowledge of the interrelated dimensions of music, musical notation, key composers and pieces, genres and periods, including the correct use of vocabulary linked to these. We make explicit connections between these two areas of skill and knowledge throughout music lessons, as well as between music and other areas of the curriculum.

We take advantage of opportunities for the pupils to perform both in and out of school, to peers and to wider audiences. We also offer extracurricular activities and clubs where possible to expand pupils’ experience of music in different contexts.

Impact

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils have a good grounding in the theory, history and practical aspects of music, preparing them to study the subject at Key Stage 3 and beyond, as well as to follow their own musical interests. They are able to discuss their personal preferences in relation to music and reasons for these, linking their reasons to their knowledge of the subject and using appropriate vocabulary. They celebrate their achievements including through taking part in performances.