Intent

We have developed a Music curriculum that gives children at Bethany Junior School the opportunity to develop their musical skills through practical experiences, exposure to high-quality music from a variety of genres, cultures, and historical periods, and the chance to perform and compose using a range of instruments and technologies.

We believe that the following are the key skills of a good musician, and we aim for all our pupils to develop these. A good musician has the ability to:

• Connect with and appraise pieces of music
• Compare and contrast between different musical styles and traditions
• Improvise using three or five given notes
• Compose short melodies individually, in pairs, or as part of a group
• Evaluate their own performances and those of others constructively

Alongside these skills, we aim to ensure that our curriculum is progressively challenging in terms of both musical knowledge and cognitive development. We have carefully planned a progression of skills and knowledge within each year group and across the whole curriculum. We have liaised with our feeder Infant school to ensure continuity and progression, avoiding repetition and building on prior learning.

We have carefully sequenced our Music curriculum to ensure a broad and balanced experience. Pupils explore a wide range of musical genres, including classical, jazz, folk, pop, and music from different cultures around the world. They also learn about the historical and cultural context of music, helping them to understand its significance and evolution.

We have embedded two key themes throughout our Music curriculum:

• Musical expression and creativity – through performance, improvisation, and composition
• Listening and appraisal – developing an appreciation of music from different times, places, and traditions

We also ensure that pupils have opportunities to perform regularly, both informally in class and in more formal settings such as assemblies and community events. These experiences help to build confidence, teamwork, and a sense of achievement.

 

Implementation

The learning in Music at Bethany is interactive and practical, allowing opportunities for pupils to work independently as well as collaboratively, both inside and outside of the classroom. Our curriculum is delivered through a combination of specialist teaching, class-based lessons, and enrichment opportunities such as choir, instrumental tuition, and performance events.

We follow the Charanga music programme, a comprehensive and progressive scheme of work that supports the delivery of the National Curriculum for Music. Charanga provides high-quality resources, structured units, and engaging activities that develop pupils’ musical knowledge, skills, and understanding across all year groups.

A key feature of our musical provision is our weekly singing worships, where the whole school comes together to sing and celebrate through music. These sessions not only support vocal development and musical memory but also foster a strong sense of community and joy in collective music-making.

We use a range of instruments and resources to support learning, including tuned and untuned percussion, recorders and ukuleles. Pupils are taught to read and write simple musical notation, understand rhythm and pitch, and develop their aural skills through singing and listening activities.

Each unit of work is carefully planned to build on prior knowledge and introduce new skills in a structured and engaging way. Pupils are encouraged to explore, experiment, and reflect on their learning, developing both technical ability and creative confidence.

We provide opportunities for pupils to listen to and appraise a wide range of music, including live and recorded performances. This includes music from different cultures, historical periods, and genres, helping pupils to develop a broad and inclusive understanding of the musical world.

Wherever possible, we make cross-curricular links with subjects such as History, English, and PSHE, to deepen understanding and contextualise learning. For example, pupils may explore wartime songs in History, or compose soundscapes linked to a story in English.

 

Impact

For each unit of work in Music, there are clearly articulated expectations for pupils to achieve, which we have identified as being appropriate expected outcomes. These outcomes identify both the knowledge that a pupil should have gained over the course of the unit and the skills that a pupil should have mastered in order to understand and apply their musical learning.

In reaching judgements against these outcomes, teachers draw upon a wide range of formative assessment, including observation, discussion, performance evidence, and pupil self-assessment. Sketchbooks, recordings, and written reflections may also be used to capture progress.

We recognise that not all pupils will achieve the expected outcomes at the same time. Therefore, we have identified expected outcomes for pupils working towards the expected standard, as well as for those working at greater depth. This ensures that all pupils are supported and challenged appropriately.

The impact of our curriculum is that pupils leave our school with a strong foundation in musical skills, an appreciation for a wide range of musical traditions, and the confidence to perform, compose, and respond to music. They understand the value of music in their own lives and in the wider world, and are equipped to continue their musical journey in secondary school and beyond.