Music Intent, Implementation and Impact Statement
Intent
At Temple Grove Academy, we recognise the importance and value of music. We believe that everyone is musical, that musicality is not a gift or talent but something that we are all capable of, something that, with commitment and hard work we can all achieve. We believe that a high-quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to nurture and develop both musicianship skills and a love of music. Music education has the power to increase children’s self-confidence, unlock creativity, regulate emotions, build community and provide a sense of achievement.
Our children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing. We aim to introduce them, from the Early Years Foundation Stage to Year 6, to an increasing range of music from across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres.
We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community, and can use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts.
Implementation
At Temple Grove Academy, children engage with musical opportunities within regular class music lessons, assemblies, and performances both within school for parents and carers as well as alongside other primary schools at local music festivals and during our annual carol concert at St Philip’s Church.
Music lessons engage and inspire children to develop a love of different styles of music and develop their talent as musicians.
Teachers use the National Curriculum document for guidance as a basis and Charanga Musical School as a platform to resource and structure lessons. The Charanga Musical School scheme of work is used from Reception to Year 6, ensuring a wide exposure to different styles of music, with lots of practical activities to explore and develop as musicians and singers. Learning is sequenced to build knowledge, skills and vocabulary. Charanga lessons are planned in sequences to provide children with the opportunities to review, remember, deepen and apply their understanding. Charanga provides a classroom-based, participatory and inclusive approach to music learning. Throughout the scheme, children are actively involved in using and developing their singing voices, using body percussion and whole-body actions, and learning to handle and play classroom instruments effectively to create and express their own and others’ music. Through a range of whole class, group and individual activities, children have opportunities to explore sounds, listen actively, compose and perform. Children in Years 3 and 4 are taught to play a musical instrument for one hour a week for one term by a specialist teacher from the Kent Music Service. These lessons incorporate teaching musical notation, singing and learning to read music to play an instrument.
Staff have access to CPD and to development courses provided by the Kent Music Service.
We ensure that all children have the opportunity to play an instrument no matter their background or financial circumstances.
Impact
Our commitment to providing a high-quality music education has been recognised – we were awarded Music Mark Status in 2021.
Children engage in and are excited by a wide range of musical activities. They develop an enthusiasm for music, including composing and performing because our curriculum provides opportunities for these. They talk enthusiastically about their learning and about the knowledge and skills they have acquired.
Children have access to a range of opportunities to participate in musical performances, both within school and the wider community. This ensures they understand the significance and place of music within the wider world. During performances children demonstrate competence and confidence.