Statement of Intent: Music and the Expressive Arts

At the heart of our holistic and innovative curriculum is the development of the expressive arts: music, media, art and design, dance and drama. As a UNICEF Rights Respecting School, we believe that all children should have access to a broad range of learning opportunities, in order that they might discover and develop their own individual talents and interests and to foster confidence, self-expression and a growth mindset. We aim to nurture all children’s talents, so that they are very well prepared for the next stage of their education.  Our work to promote the expressive arts is perfectly encapsulated in our school vision.

Implementation

Article 29

Your education should help you use and develop your talents and abilities. It should also help you learn to live peacefully, protect the environment and respect other people.

Our exciting curriculum aims to immerse children within the chosen theme, providing  authentic learning experiences that are relatable and meaningful for children. Across all phases, opportunities are provided for children to engage positively in discussion and debate; to learn a musical instrument (violin in Year 3, recorder in Year 4, ukelele in Year 5 and music tech in Year 6); to express themselves through singing, music and movement and through opportunities to explore art and design. We carefully plan experiences that are engaging, rich and stimulating, for example: Year 5's 'Golden Threads' singing and art workshops; Year 4's 'Say Cheese' media project and Year 6's visit to the Polka Theatre to watch 'Twist'.

Article 13

You have the right to find out things and share what you think with others by talking, drawing, writing or in any other way unless it harms or offends other people.

Our curriculum themes are chosen to link areas of learning across all subjects, which enables teachers to plan opportunities to develop pupils’ skills, to acquire new knowledge and to fully engage with the topic. We plan subject 'immersion' days across the whole school to further  stimulate children's curiosity. There are many transferable skills learned through expressive arts, including the development of children’s oracy, listening, collaboration and team-work, problem solving, writing, sharing and taking turns. Children develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments, learn the value of practice to perfect a skill, are provided with opportunities to perform in front of an audience and to work with children from other schools within the local authority.

Article 17

You have the right to get information that is important to your well-being from TV, radio, newspaper, books and computers. An adult should make sure that the information you are getting is not harmful.

We work closely with the Merton Music Foundation to develop arts opportunities within our school and are very excited to have achieved the Gold Arts Mark in September 2022. 

Please click on the links below to find out more about our work with Merton Music Foundation and to view our progression of skills maps for music.

Impact

Children's progress and attainment in Music is continually assessed through a range of means, including performance in a group or individually, using timing, pitch and tone, children's proficiency in playing a musical instrument and an ability to recall musical terminology. Self, peer and teacher assessment strategies are used throughout the year and is reported to parents and carers in termly consultation evenings and in end of year reports.