Music

Music Curriculum

At St Mark’s we value the power of music and the way it connects us to each other and our communities. Music surrounds us. Music education encourages persistence, resilience, focus and memory, which leads to lasting benefits and positive effects.  We aim for our music curriculum to help develop these life skills through creative experiences which are collaborative, celebratory and challenging.

Through singing, performing, composing and listening and appreciating, we encourage the love and joy of music making and self-expression. We provide a wide range of musical experiences and opportunities for individual and group work and the sharing of ideas and talents. Music enriches the community spirit of our school.

The children's experiences are extended beyond the classroom when they participate in weekly whole school singing practices and when they perform in our many concerts and Church Services throughout the year.

For more detail, please see our Music Development Plan 2024-25

Music Intent, Implementation and Impact

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”
Plato

Intent- what are we trying to achieve with our curriculum?

• At St Mark’s we strive to cultivate a real enjoyment and love of singing, performing, composing and listening through the provision of a wide range of musical experiences and styles that have a cross curricular link.
• We provide opportunities for children to be curious when making music. To explore their own musical expression, spirituality and musical ideas when composing in groups and as individuals.
• We have high expectations of all our children and encourage them to be confident, resilient and reflective, in order for them to reach their own potential.
• We aim to make learning memorable and fun by ensuring there are opportunities to share the music they perform, compose and /or appreciate, within the school and wider community.
• Music brings people together, improves health and wellbeing, and at St Mark’s we link music to the whole school curriculum, ensuring that it forms part of our school community.

Implementation- how is our curriculum delivered?

• Weekly class lessons with specialist Music teacher ensures consistency and differentiated learning where necessary.
• Progressively planned yearly overviews, medium term plans and individual lesson plans are structured to implement our musical intent. This supports the Year Group’s Topic Plan through cross curricular links and reflects the National Curriculum KS2 subject content.
• Weekly singing assemblies/ hymn practice is delivered to the whole school.
• Key musical performances are led by each year group within the academic year.
• Weekly choir groups meet and perform in a variety of settings to different audiences.
• Use of the Wiltshire Music Connect First Access subsidy: Every child learns to play the recorder in Year 3. They are all then encouraged to continue learning a musical instrument in subsequent years with our specialist peripatetic music teachers.
• Opportunities are provided for children to share their own interest or talent in music, e.g. class settings/assemblies.

Impact- what difference is our curriculum making?

• Children are independent, able to use musical language, compose and sing confidently. They can efficiently plan, organise, rehearse and perform to a high standard.
• Children build on the progression of knowledge and skills learnt in previous years, which is evidenced through audio, video, photo documentation and graphic scores.
• We have approximately 25% of children learning instruments within school as an extra-curricular activity.
• A number of our vulnerable learners are accessing subsidised music lessons.
• Approximately 25% of our school children regularly attend the weekly choir sessions in their lunch times.
• Children articulate their enjoyment of a wide range of musical activities and experiences through pupil voice sessions.

Peri Teachers 

Music Development Plan

St Mark's School Music Development Plan

Music Curriculum Overview

Music Overview 2024/2025