Intent

At Crosby Ravensworth, we intend that each and every child leaves our school able to read musical notation and perform for an audience.  It is our ambition that we can find a generation of musicians who may go on to excel in future years. 

Our curriculum intends to inspire creativity, self-expression and encourage children on their musical journeys as well as giving them opportunities to connect with others.  We hope to foster a lifelong love of music by exposing them to diverse musical experiences and igniting a passion for music.  By listening and responding to different musical styles, finding their voices as singers, performers and as composers, we will enable them to become confident, reflective musicians.

Implementation

The music curriculum ensures children sing, play, create and listen with a critical ear.  This is embedded in our  classroom activities as well as singing each week during collective worship, performances for parents and the learning of instruments. 

In Class 1, we deliver inclusive weekly lessons for Reception and Key Stage 1 pupils using the musical program Charanga in a fun and engaging way which promotes a love of the subject.  The Charanga programme is designed specifically for the teaching of music in primary schools and supports the non-specialist teacher with planning and delivery.  Charanga lessons are planned in sequences to provide children with the opportunities to review, remember, deepen and apply their understanding. The elements of music are taught in classroom lessons so that children are able to use some of the language of music to dissect it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. 

Our teacher in Class 2 is a music specialist who has designed a 4-year cycle of teaching suitable for the mixed-age Key Stage 2 pupils.  This encompasses the essential elements of singing, playing, creating and listening.  Pupils are able to make creative compositions using a range of on-line digital programmes such as Ableton Loops, Incredibox, Songmaker and Beatbox.  Instrument tuition includes ukuleles, chime-bars and a range of tuned and untuned percussion.  In addition to this, all children in Class 2 are given weekly recorder lessons from a peripatetic music teacher in small groups.  A small voluntary contribution is sought from parents to help support the cost.  The children follow musical notation and are prepared to perform pieces for parents and members of the public at our termly Community Lunches.   Parents are also able to enroll their child in weekly after-school tuition throughout the school year to learn keyboard, guitar or flute.

Each Christmas term, the pupils receive extra daily singing practice to rehearse songs for our musical nativity production.  All children participate in our annual festive carol singing at Tebay Services and children in Class 2 perform for the luncheon club at The Butchers Arms.  This develops a sense of belonging within a wider community. 

Impact

Music enables children to develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to children individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world.  Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose – either as listener, creator or performer.  Children have the opportunity to discuss and share their own thoughts, opinions and ideas, acknowledging and respecting that these may vary and that this is positive. They can dissect music and comprehend its parts.   

The impact of our Music curriculum is constantly monitored through formative assessment and recorded using  our own in-house formative assessment grid (FAG) system.