Music

At Steeple Morden Primary School, our music curriculum is designed to inspire a lifelong appreciation of music and develop creativity, confidence, and collaboration among our children.

Curriculum by Year Groups

Intent

Music is fundamental to our humanity and civilization. Every child deserves the opportunity to engage with music of all styles and from all cultures. Children will have the chance to listen, sing, play, compose, improvise and perform.

In order to develop their own musical journey we aim to:

Develop Musicianship: Provide all children with a solid foundation in musical skills, including singing, playing instruments, composing, and engaging with a variety of musical genres and styles. We aspire for every child to become a confident musician by the end of their primary education.
Cultural Appreciation: Introduce children to a diverse range of musical traditions, both from British heritage and global perspectives, helping them to understand and appreciate the cultural significance of music.
Social and Emotional Development: Use music for social interaction and emotional expression, allowing children to build relationships, self-esteem, and resilience through collective making and performing. Children will feel and learn about social connectivity.
Encourage Creativity: Develop an environment where children can experiment with sound and composition, promoting innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.
Prepare for the Future: Equip children with transferable skills which will serve them well beyond primary education, nurturing their ability to communicate, collaborate, and think critically.

Implementation

Our music curriculum is implemented through a well-structured, progressive programme that is carefully planned and monitored to ensure high-quality learning experiences. Key components include:

Sequenced Curriculum: The curriculum is designed to follow the National Curriculum guidelines and references the government’s model music curriculum guidance from the DfE. Our curriculum ensures progression from year to year. Each lesson builds on prior knowledge and skills, enabling children to advance confidently. The spiral design provides the opportunity for children to be immersed in music-making activities that deepen over the course of six school years.
Diverse Learning Opportunities: Children engage in a wide range of musical activities, including singing, instrumental practice, music theory, and composition, both in the classroom and through individual music lessons from external providers. We offer opportunities for performance, such as school collective worship and standalone concerts, to help children showcase their talents.
Musical instruments: Children learn how to play the recorder and ukulele in whole class lessons. Individual music lessons are delivered by specialist music educators, from Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire Music Service.
Assessment and Feedback: Regular summative and formative assessments are conducted to monitor pupil progress, with constructive feedback ensuring continuous improvement. Summative assessments at the end of each unit help inform teaching and tailor support for individual children.

Impact

The impact of our music curriculum is evidenced through:

Pupil Engagement and Enjoyment: Observations show that children display enthusiasm and motivation during music lessons, often exceeding their expected progress levels and participating actively in diverse musical activities.
High Standards of Achievement: Data collected from assessments indicates that children are making good progress in music. A number of children take nationally recognised external exams such as those offered by Trinity and ARBSM examination boards.
Cultural Awareness and Appreciation: Children demonstrate an understanding of a wide range of various musical genres and cultural contexts, which is reflected in their discussions, performances, and compositions.
Teamwork: Through ensemble playing and group projects, children exhibit strong collaborative skills, forming positive relationships and demonstrating an understanding of teamwork.

Personal Development: Our children frequently express pride in their musical achievements and show increased self-esteem, indicative of their growing confidence in performance and creative expression.