Curriculum Statement for Music
Intent
Music is a way of communicating that can motivate children, providing them with a means of expression and creativity. It can play an important part in the personal and social development of all children, encouraging confidence, participation and a sense of achievement. It is our intent that all pupils, without exception, will be able to enjoy music lessons in a positive and supportive environment.
At Clee Hill Community Academy, it is our aim to offer all children a broad and balanced music curriculum that exposes them to a range of different musical styles, allows them to reflect and provides the opportunity for them to express themselves. We aim to enable all of our pupils to feel that they are musical and to help them to develop a life-long love of music. We intend to facilitate the learning of new, and development of existing skills, knowledge and understanding that children need in order to become confident performers, composers and listeners.
We recognise the positive impact that the study of music and the arts can have on a pupil (Education Endowment Foundation 2021). We recognise that participation in the arts can have a positive impact on academic outcomes in other areas as well as wider benefits such as more positive attitudes to learning and increased well-being.
We intend to enable all children to have access to high quality music lessons, regardless of their socioeconomic background. We aim to provide children who may not have previously had the opportunity to learn a musical instrument the experience to do so. Removing this barrier will help to reduce the disadvantage gap and will provide pupils access to a rich and stimulating arts education (Education Endowment Foundation 2021).
Implementation
Each class has a music lesson each week. We use Charanga as a music scheme of work to support staff in delivering high quality first teaching. The scheme builds on previous knowledge and skills, whilst having a link to particular styles or genres of music. As children move through school, they will experience a range of music from classical to Hip Hop, and from Beethoven to The Beatles.
It is important that children also have an opportunity to see and hear live music performances. Across the Shropshire Gateway Educational Trust, we have experienced live music assemblies and through our Reading Miles experiences we have had African Drumming workshops in school and even had the bagpipes played around the classrooms!
In Year 4 and 5, all pupils have weekly music lessons from Shropshire Music
Service on tuned instruments, which provide additional opportunities for performing with increased accuracy and expression. Children are encouraged to look after their instrument, learn how to read appropriate notation and develop an understanding of how to play the instrument as well as developing their personal and collaborative performance skills.
We value to importance of expert subject knowledge; we believe that working with an expert to deliver whole class instrumental lessons will provide an invaluable experience and help children to develop their musical understanding considerably.
The Model Music Curriculum
The Model Music Curriculum is a non–statutory document developed by an
expert panel to provide teachers with additional guidance on their delivery of Music lessons. Clee Hill Community Academy recognises the importance of this document in supporting teachers with their planning and delivery of lessons as well as ensuring progression for pupils. It highlights the importance of singing, listening, composing and performance as well as listing suggested repertoire for each year group (1 – 6), with a broad range of musical styles and genres to enhance children’s musical journey. Teachers are encouraged to refer to the Charanga MMC scheme to enhance their lessons as and when required.
Our Early Years Curriculum
As part of our EYFS curriculum, there are milestones which have been carefully constructed with an end goal, to reflect our own dynamics and environment to meet our children’s needs, whilst ensuring a stimulating, challenging and diverse curriculum. Although many aspects of the Early Years Curriculum develop a solid understanding for Music in Year 1, 'A Confident Creator' is of particular importance to show the progression of learning through Nursery and Reception.
EYFS Curriculum milestones and goals
Enrichment Opportunities
The school offers additional weekly music sessions, which are run by a
qualified music teacher from Shropshire Music Service. Termly performances are given to the rest of the school to showcase what has been taught and learnt.
Music enrichment activities also include:
Stompers: Shropshire Music Service run a weekly ensemble in Cleobury Mortimer as part of the Shropshire Gateway Educational Trust links. These are free of charge to all participants. For more information, visit the Stomper website.
Music lessons: Guitar and piano lessons run on a Tuesday morning by Mr Ashcroft, a lead Music teacher for Shropshire County Council. If you are interested in starting a musical instrument, please contact the school office.
Live music: Shropshire Gateway Educational Trust provides opportunities 
for the three primaries to listen to live music from a range of different genre. In 2022-2023, we were lucky to listen to a rock and pop band performing at Lacon Childe School.
Choir: In 2022-2023, in addition to the school choir, our the school joined the Young Choir vocal project, as part of Ludlow New Voices, ran by the Shropshire Music Service. It was highly successful and, as a result, the school has been selected to continue to work with Ludlow New Voices in 2023-2024.
Shropshire Sings: Clee Hill Community Academy supports Shropshire sings. Organised by Shropshire Music Service, Shropshire Sings brings children from a number of Shropshire primary schools together to sing together as one huge choir.
Music Workshops: In 2022-2023, we had an African Drumming workshop as part of our reading miles. The children really enjoyed the hands on session.
Ludlow Piano Festival
In May 2023, we were invited to a special concert at St Laurence Church in Ludlow, as part of the first ever Ludlow Piano Festival (organised by Alistair McGowan). The children were fascinated to watch the performers play a range of music on the Steinway grand piano. They also answered questions posed by the professional pianists and helped compose a new piece of piano music based on their ideas. It was a brilliant and engaging concert and we look forward to returning next year!
Impact
The impact of teaching music will be seen across the school with an increase in the profile of music.
• Whole-school and parental engagement will be improved through performances, extracurricular activities and
opportunities suggested in lessons/overviews for wider learning.
• Participation in music develops wellbeing, promotes listening and develops concentration.
• Music is loved and/or appreciated by teachers and pupils across school.
• Pupils and staff will be confident to explore their creativity through music and singing.
• To inspire musicians, singers and performers.
