Music – Curriculum intention
Intent
The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:
- Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions.
- Learn to sing and use their voices, musical instruments and technology to create and compose music on their own and with others.
- Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated through the inter-related dimensions of music.
At Thoresby Primary school, our intention is to deliver a high-quality music education with these same aims and aspirations. We endeavour to help children develop fluency in the inter-related dimensions of music: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture and structure. With a strong understanding of these music dimensions, children can effectively listen to, perform, compose and improvise music from all styles and traditions. Music is both a powerful and enjoyable outlet for creativity and expression. Our music curriculum aims to foster a lifelong curiosity and love for all types of music.
Implementation
At Thoresby, there are many different opportunities for children to develop their skills and understanding of music. A large part of our curriculum is implemented through the Charanga music programme. Charanga is a high-quality music programme with a bank of bespoke music pieces and resources designed to teach students how to hear and use the inter-related dimensions of music. Through the programme, students develop a range of musical skills, including listening, singing, composing, improvising and music notation, and learn how to play tuned and un-tuned instruments.
In Year 4, all children receive whole-class clarinet lessons from one of the Hull Music Service’s expert musicians. These are weekly lessons in which the children will learn how to care for a clarinet, how a clarinet works and how to perform some simple songs. Many of our students go on to learn other instruments as a result of enjoying these lessons so much. Our longstanding relationship with the Hull Music Service allow us to offer pupils the chance to learn brass, string, woodwind and percussion instruments in small groups with peripatetic teachers. We offer this opportunity to Key Stage 2 students and try to ensure the costs are affordable for all our families. As a result of this tuition, many of our students have been awarded music medals by the ABRSM.
Our assemblies are an invaluable chance to appraise and perform music as a group. The music children listen to as they enter and leave assemblies is carefully planned over a four-year cycle to ensure that pupils hear a varied diet of music from all periods, styles and traditions. The songs that pupils learn together have been chosen to help foster a love for singing, no matter their musical ability.
All children participate in whole-school singing performances throughout the year, like our Christmas Carol Concert or the exciting finale to our summer Kaleidoscope festivities. In addition, every year group rehearses and performs a production for their parents. These performances give music learning an authentic value and a chance to celebrate everyone’s musical talents.
In addition to the music taught within the school day, children can continue to practise their performing skills in after-school clubs. Our school choir is very popular and all age groups are welcome. At choir, the children have the chance to enjoy singing as a team, as well as opportunities to perform to audiences outside of the school community. In previous years, the school choir has performed at local events, including the Vista Festival and the Song for Hull concerts, and were even invited to contribute to the 2019 charity single Winters Dream for Viking FM. In addition to choir, a small group of students can join our Steel Drum ensemble. The Steel Drums perform at many school events throughout the year including our Christmas Carol Concert and Kaleidoscope Finale.
Impact
As a result of the music curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities, children at Thoresby learn to analyse, appreciate and enjoy music of all different varieties. The children are able to progressively develop their understanding of the inter-related dimensions of music and use them to perform and create music in their own way. Music is an outlet for creativity and expression, as well as a vehicle for developing self-confidence, teamwork, respect for other and mental health. All children become well versed in musical skills but many pursue music further through instrument tuition or by joining choir.
Additional support, resources and information:
Our son has been coming here for 8 years. He will be doing his SATs soon. He loves coming here and loves the food. He has so many friends and loves all his classes too. He gets on well with everybody and all his teachers have been brilliant with him. Thoresby is a good school.
The teachers are supportive, honest and provide help and encouragement to all needs of the children and parents.
My daughter enjoys all aspects of school life, she involves herself in many activities and represents the school in various team sports. We are pleased with all her progress.
Thoresby gives me the opportunity to have a great education. The topics are great!
We love Thoresby. Both of our girls go there and have had a fantastic time. It is very supportive and nurturing.
My daughter has been coming here since nursery and has always loved the school, she is doing really well in all her subjects and I couldn’t be happier with her progress.
My daughter started in September and she has flourished. Not only in an academic sense but in terms of her social skills and her open-mindedness to others – it’s been a fantastic experience for her!
Thoresby management team ensure that the school is inclusive and forward thinking. I have always been impressed by the way this school is run and continue to be – especially their dedication to child protection and wellbeing programmes.
Thoresby gives us opportunities to spend time with the coaches and develop our sports skills.
Everybody is welcome at Thoresby.
This school offers varied education in an environment with so many children from so many parts of the world, and do it very well you see happy smiling children every day! Hats off to this school!
Thoresby is a brilliant school and my kids love coming here.
Both of my daughters have thrived since coming to Thoresby. I am so pleased with their progress.
My daughter really loves going to Thoresby. She is doing brilliantly and I am beyond grateful that she goes to such a good school.
Excellent communication from the school. Amiable, knowledgeable and caring staff. A strong school with an impressive ethos.
Thoresby is a special place.
Thoresby gives me the opportunity to have a great education. The topics are great!
Thoresby has been brilliant for my boys, really supportive and encouraging.
Thoresby gives me the opportunity to have a great education. The topics are great!
I am proud to be part of the Thoresby community.
My son and daughter are both very happy at Thoresby. The staff are approachable and helpful and the children are offered a good variety of different opportunities.
It has a really supportive, friendly and relaxed atmosphere. It is inclusive and family orientated.
My son has loved attending Thoresby. He takes the Thoresby values with him and has turned into a lovely boy. I know the school has contributed to him.
Thoresby helps us to learn that we are all unique and special in our own way.
Our daughter started Thoresby in September 2018 – she has grown in confidence and the support from her teachers is constant. We are very happy with everything the school offers and provides.
It’s a great school. My child is settled and any problems are dealt with quickly.
Thoresby is an amazing school and the best aspect of the school are the brilliant selfless teachers who put the children at the forefront of everything.
My daughter is making great progress at Thoresby. Overall I am very pleased with every aspect.
I think Thoresby is a very good school. My boys always enjoy coming to school. The teachers are very helpful ad friendly.
Thoresby is amazing! Everyone is made to feel welcome and part of the community. I’m so happy that my son gets to attend this school.
The outside area is so much fun!
I adore the nursery and the different learning areas. I really appreciate the kitchen making specials treats and meals for children with allergies.
We are lucky to have Kaleidoscope every year! We learn so much and everyone comes together for a celebration.
We are very happy with Thoresby, lovely staff and teachers.
I feel the school is a blessing for parents who have the opportunity to send their kids here as they provide the best education and pastoral care possible.
I would like to say that both our children – daughter in year 4 and son in year 6, enjoy attending their lessons and their topics they are being taught.
My daughter has had a fantastic education at Thoresby and her teachers have supported her emotional development as well.
Exceptional! So supportive. Staff go above and beyond for both of my children and it is much appreciated.
I think Thoresby is an amazing school. The teachers are approachable and my son loves school.
My children are very happy at school.
Thorersby combines academics, crafts and sport to bring out the best in their students. Good Job!
The support from the teaching staff is very good and the pastoral care of our children, especially when needed for our son. Overall very positive.
Our son is absolutely thriving at Thoresby. He has really got on well with his teachers and enjoyed lessons. If asked he would say the dinners are best but his progress speaks for itself. Thank you.
All three of my children have been taught at Thoresby with my youngest leaving this year. I have fond memories of Thoresby over the years and found staff helpful and very supportive.