Music
Music makes an important contribution to the life of every school and should be celebrated, promoted and encouraged.
Music helps build pupils’ self-esteem and self-discipline and leads to higher standards across the curriculum. Research clearly demonstrates the cognitive benefits that music gives young children particularly in Key Stage 1, suggesting music can support the development of literacy, numeracy and listening skills.
The Department for Education has stated that 'a high-quality music education can improve self-confidence, behaviour and social skills as well as improve academic achievement across the curriculum'.
At St James CE Primary Academy, we have invested in an award-winning programme that provides high quality, consistent music education throughout school.
Charanga Musical School is a world-leading music teaching and learning platform, which is recognised internationally as promoting a modern and vibrant class music programme across the whole school that supports all the requirements of the national curriculum and underpins Ofsted’s wish to see continuous genuine music making.
The Scheme provides assessment, clear progression, and engaging and exciting resources to support every lesson. In line with the curriculum for music and guidance from Ofsted, this Scheme adopts an integrated, practical, exploratory and child-led approach to musical learning. The interrelated dimensions of music weave through the units to encourage the development of musical skills as the learning progresses through listening and appraising, differing musical activities (including creating and exploring) and performing.
Community
As a school we strive to offer a varied range of opportunities for children to engage in music. This includes opportunities for children to be involved in performances at Lichfield Cathedral and local community events: For example, the school choir performs at Christmas to a wide variety of audiences such as local parish events.
St James Music Curriculum Overview
Due to having mixed ages classes we deliver a two-year rolling programme which alleviates any repetition and ensures full coverage of the music curriculum. Reception is the only programme which is repeated yearly, due to this being our only stand alone year group.