Music
Intent
At Wistaston Academy, we aim to inspire creativity, develop self-confidence and enable a sense of achievement in every child through the universal language of music. We believe that it is important to make the learning of music enjoyable through a practical, exploratory and child-led approach to learning, therefore developing musical skills and self-esteem. Children, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, will build their musical talent at Wistaston Academy through the interrelated dimensions of music to develop skills such as: listening and appraising, exploring, composing, improvising and performing. We aim to have a high-quality music curriculum that builds upon the children’s cultural capital and demonstrates diversity, community and equality through understanding and experiencing a wide range of music from around the world and in history. During their time at Wistaston Academy, children are empowered to express their emotions and develop empathy through the media of music. This also allows children to develop their language skills through music to present feelings, emotions and narratives. We endeavour to instil a love for music and a confidence in the children that they can carry forward in their futures.
We have designed the music curriculum at WA with the intent that our pupils will:
- access a wide and rich set of experiences and musical genres from a diverse range of musical sources both historically and worldwide.
- Experience a curriculum which is ambitious and inclusive of all children, including disadvantaged pupils and SEND children, in order to provide opportunities for the future.
- Have a curiosity for musical understanding and expertise in order to make progress.
- Explore the interrelated dimensions of music and develop musical skills through listening and appraising abilities, musical activities (singing, composing, improvising, playing instruments) and performing to a variety of audiences.
- Experience learning to play musical instruments, as well as sing songs, and use of technology appropriately to ensure progress through the music curriculum.
Implementation
The curriculum is led and overseen by the Music lead who is supported by the Foundation Pod and works alongside class teachers, to plan, monitor and continually evaluate the Music taught at WA in order to ensure it is effective, exciting and continually improving. In order to broaden the rich experience of students, Wistaston Academy has embarked upon a continuous Artsmark journey, providing a vehicle through which the authentic creative learning experience of students is prioritised – within music lessons and across the wider curriculum. As a direct result of this, students have gained the opportunity to receive input from three professional artists who stand as Arts Patrons of the school, each providing expertise in diverse areas of fine art, music, singing and videography. Openings have been broadened to showcase work and provide performance opportunities in the local community and further afield, engendering a deep pride in achievements and raising aspirations regarding art as a viable career. Many partnerships have been developed with creative groups and educational establishments locally and nationally, enriching students’ cultural capital and enabling them to strive for higher standards.
The curriculum at WA is implemented through:
- A broad and balanced curriculum which comprises of well planned, exciting and coherent sequences of lessons to ensure progression through the key stages.
- Lessons providing an imaginative and stimulating environment which build upon the children’s previous learning and skills.
- A wide variety of enrichment opportunities including performances and experiences.
- Links to other areas of the curriculum. In particular, opportunities to read are encouraged where possible: teachers ensure texts studied in music support the knowledge and vocabulary to be learnt in the subject. Texts/songs are carefully selected and studied so that pupils have the chance to explore ideas from lessons in more depth.
- Units which centre around an age-appropriate Social Question and Musical Spotlight, ensuring children are encouraged to think deeply about the world, their communities, and their relationships with others.
- Children’s active involvement in the lessons to listen, create and perform to allow pupil focussed lessons where the children are able to self-evaluate and reflect on their learning.
- Encouragement of involvement with extra-curricular activities to allow access to high-quality musical experiences.
- A range of extra-curricular activities available to allow children to access a high-quality musical experience.
- Weekly music assemblies led by trained musicians.
The curriculum is implemented differently across the Key Stages to reflect the needs of the children:
- EYFS- Music is embedded into EYFS within whole class inputs and the provision. This is through the Expressive Arts and Design strand allowing children to create, explore, play and be active.
- In Year 1 KS1, Music is taught discretely through a scheme of work.
- In Year 2 KS1, Music is taught through topic-based learning to stimulate their interests and help them to internalise their learning.
- Music in KS2 is taught discretely through a scheme of work. This ensures progression between year groups and curriculum coverage for all strands of musical learning.
- In years 4 and 5, children are taught to play a variety of instruments (brass, woodwind and guitars) from specialist external music providers.
Impact
- Children will be enthusiastic about and enjoy Music lessons.
- Children will become increasingly confident, reflective and have a sense of self-achievement.
- During their time at Wistaston Academy, children will have encountered and participated in a wide range of musical enrichment activities and will have had the opportunity to complete musical activities outside of the curriculum, which is celebrated with the Platinum Artsmark Award from the Art Council of England.
- Children will make connections between what they have previously learned and what they are currently learning which will embed Music knowledge in their long-term memory.
- Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND achieve the best possible outcomes in Music.
- Children will leave WA with the skills, knowledge and attitude that will allow them embrace the next stage in their education.
- The attainment across both Key Stages is good and clearly shows progression.
- Within the subject, pupils of all abilities will be able to make independent and musical decisions for composition or performance.
