‘St Francis Catholic Primary school clearly prioritises exceptional musical opportunities and strives to maintain a high standard of teaching and learning. This is sustainable by there being a shared staff vision for music being an entitlement for all alongside strong
Our Music Curriculum Intent:
At Saint Francis Catholic Primary School we aim to make music an enjoyable learning experience. We encourage children to participate in a variety of musical experiences through which we aim to build up the confidence of all children.
Our teaching focuses on developing the children’s ability to understand rhythm and follow a beat. Through singing songs, children learn about the structure and organisation of music. We teach them to listen and to appreciate different forms of music. Children develop descriptive language skills in music lessons when learning about how music can represent different feelings, emotions and narratives. We also teach technical vocabulary such as volume, pitch, beat and rhythm and encourage children to discuss music using these terms. As children get older, we expect them to maintain their concentration for longer and to listen to more extended pieces of music.
We are committed to developing a curiosity for music, as well as ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts.
Finally, we ensure every child has the opportunity to learn to play an instrument, in an ensemble, by a music specialist; Children learn to read music and perform as part of an ensemble.
Our Music Curriculum Implementation:
The music curriculum ensures children sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in the classroom activities as well as the weekly singing assemblies, various concerts and performances, the learning of instruments, and the joining of one of our many musical ensembles. Composing or performing using body percussion and vocal sounds is also part of the curriculum, which develops the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument.
The school has whole class ensemble teaching in Years 5 and 6, where children are taught a specific musical instrument for a school year through the Leicestershire Music Hub. Opportunities are taken to perform in class, in whole school assemblies and also to parents and the wider community, including an annual performance at DeMontford Hall, Leicester.
In Year 4, the children are currently taught the ukulele through group ensemble teaching. These lessons incorporate teaching musical notation, as well as learning to play an instrument. Follow on group music lessons are also available to pupils to continue to develop their skills and ability on a musical instrument the following year if they choose.
Additional opportunities are offered in music, such as the key stage 2 choir which performs regularly in school and at events in the local community. The Memphys choir, which collaborates with other local Catholic schools, to perform in the Christmas Carol concert at Demontfort Hall. Individual and group lessons are also offered on the Violin, Piano, Flute and Guitar by highly skilled peripatetic teachers.
Our Music Curriculum Impact:
Music will also develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to children individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world. Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose – either as listener, creator or performer. Children can sing and feel a pulse. They have an understanding of how to further develop skills less known to them, should they ever develop an interest in their lives.
Music assessment is on-going to inform teachers with their planning, lesson activities and differentiation. Music is monitored throughout all year groups using a variety of strategies such as folder/book scrutinies, lesson observations and pupil interviews.
