Music

Intent

This policy and the linked progression ladder, aims to support teachers in the delivery of class music lessons, providing all learners with access to the music curriculum.

The policy also aims to acknowledge the importance that music plays in the life of the school, its place in addressing school strategic objectives and the vision of the school.

Implementation

All teachers have a good knowledge of the music objectives for the year group they are teaching, as well as for the previous and following year so that they understand what the children have been taught previously as well as where their learning will be moving to next. The teaching of music is designed to help learners to remember, in the long term, the content they have been taught and to integrate new knowledge and skills into their work.

Music is usually taught weekly in class groups, often with one year group teacher teaching both classes opposite P.E. teaching. Sometimes music provision is taught in a block to fit in with a particular cross-curricular topic or event such as a production.

Learning is typically organised around a half termly sequence often supporting the topic being covered by the year group. WCET is built into the yearly overview and typically covers a term of teaching. Teachers use a variety of resources – Charanga, Music Express, WCET resources and also are able to refer to ‘Knowledge Organisers’ provided by the music Lead Sarah Sowden.

Years 5 and 6 have access to ‘Garage Band’ on the ipads to support their learning.

Each year group has a ‘music progression ladder’ to refer to with expected standards at WTS, EXS and GDS details on. Moving forward our aim is to be recording live performances onto our central drive to support this.

In addition to class taught music lessons, we recognise at St Michael’s that music is also integral part of our school. Music is a key part of whole school collective worship, singing assemblies, church services, whole school music events, class performances, outside learning, playtimes, peripatetic lessons, productions, choirs, staff choir and training, orchestra and external music events.