What is music as Westglade?

Music is considered a universal language embodying high creativity which one of our core values. We aim to engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and increase confidence and sense of achievement. 

Our music curriculum allows children to enjoy and have an appreciation for music, can sing and use their voices to create different effects, create music using instruments, use a range of musical language and given the opportunity take part in performances in front on audiences. Our vision is to provide the best music education for our children and support them to become their very best. We are committed to providing inspiring musical opportunities and progression routes that are accessible and inclusive and to overcome any barriers caused by the economic disadvantage of our city.

You can find out more about how we teach our music curriculum by viewing our policy. 

School Development Plan for Music

The government now requires schools to have a school development plan for music. The aim of this is to set out a vision which enables ALL children to:

• learn to sing, play an instrument and create music together
• have the opportunity to progress their musical interests and talents

Please see the attachment to view our development plan for music. 

How is music progressive?

The National Curriculum for music sets out to provide a broad, balanced and adaptive curriculum ensuring the progressive development of musical concepts and knowledge. Our music curriculum reflects the National Curriculum requirements and provides children with a love for this subject. We believe that high quality music provision should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with knowledge and skills to add to their cultural capital and pave the way for them to become the best they can be. 

To achieve our aims, the knowledge path was created to map out the minimum knowledge our children should have in music for each year group. The skills ladder demonstrates how children's skills will build from one year to the next. Our secure professional knowledge of the children underpins our curriculum making it meaningful and appropriate for all children. As children progress, they think more in depth and have a deeper understanding of music. 

How do we teach music?

Music is taught through these specific strands:

• Performing: Singing and Instruments 
• Composition 
• Listening and Appraising 
• Knowledge and Understanding 

The delivery of music at Westglade is provided by a combination of external providers which include the fantastic Nottingham Music Hub and Jimmy Evans. 

The Nottingham Music Hub delivers instrumental lessons on the clarinet for all children in years 4, 5 and some children who elect to continue learning the instrument in Y6. The Music Hub also provides our Area Band which is an extra ensemble group alongside extra, bespoke clarinet sessions for children who have opted to master their instrument and pursue further musical knowledge and opportunities. 

Mr Evans delivers the whole music curriculum for years 1, 2, 3 and 6. Mr Evans also delivers the singing/vocal elements to all children in KS1 and KS2 via separate, adaptive singing assemblies. 

Children learn about the inter-related dimensions of music such as rhythm, pitch, temp and dynamics alongside composition, music notation as well as singing and performance opportunities. 

EYFS children are provided with regular opportunities to explore music within the provision where they have access to a variety of untuned instruments to experiment with, areas to perform and plenty of singing opportunities on a daily basis. Additionally, EYFS children access musical interaction sessions to further support musical knowledge and listening. They move to and talk about music singing or playing instruments in groups or on their own. Music is part of the Expressive Arts and Design area of the EYFS framework.  

What does music look like?