Music Development Plan 2025-2026: Summary

Overview

This is a summary of how St Werburgh’s Primary School delivers music education to all pupils across three areas – curriculum music, co-curricular provision, and musical experiences – and what changes we are planning in future years. This information is to help pupils, parent,s and carers understand what our school offers and who we work with to support our pupils’ music education.

Part A: Curriculum Music

This is about what we teach at St Werburgh’s Primary School in lesson time, how much time is spent teaching music and any music qualifications or awards that pupils can achieve.

Reception Curriculum Development

Reception learn through units which are the foundation to the Oak Academy Music Curriculum. They were written collaboratively by our local music hub, Bristol Beacon, and Cathedral Primary School. They are informed by the Model Music Curriculum’s practice of collaboration and understanding that music is for all. The curriculum is built on a foundation of singing where songs are ‘caught not taught.’ Units introduce the musical elements through songs and texts linked to themes.

Years 1 – 6 Curriculum Development

Years 1 – 6 have adopted the Oak National Academy Music curriculum this year. It is informed by the Model Music Curriculum’s breadth and depth of genres, cultures and composers in a clearly sequenced, ambitious approach. The scheme is enriched with good progressive musical practice such as using Ta-ka-di-mi to understand rhythm. Each unit focuses on developing a collaborative and skills-based approach to learning – and enjoying – music.

Our Music Triple I statement, with an overview of curriculum progression from Reception to Year 6, can be found in The Curriculum section of our school website.

Curriculum Consistency

The themes of what music includes run from Reception to Y6. They are: singing, listening, playing, composing and performing. The sequence of learning for KS1 and KS2 classes includes units which focus on: singing and playing together, creating and composing, rehearsing and performing. Our curriculum is spiral in structure: knowledge of Pulse / Pitch / Tempo / Timbre / Texture / Rhythm / Dynamics / Duration / Structure is deepened within units and cumulatively over the year groups. Our curriculum is designed to progressively build pupils’ musical knowledge and develop their competence and confidence as musicians. Music units explore key songs and significant musicians. The methodology and approaches used in lessons are consistent across KS1 and KS2 and include: use of the CEEAAC model; knowledge organisers displayed in classrooms; a focus on oracy and vocabulary; lessons starting with a narration of the learning journey: last lesson / this lesson / next lesson; objectives placed in the context of the pupils’ musical journey: eg ‘When you were in Year 1 you knew pitch as higher and lower; now you know the pitch names Do – So’.

Time for Music

Music lessons are timetabled for Reception to Year 6 for each week in the school year. Reception lessons are 30 minutes and lessons from Years 1 – 6 are 45 minutes. Our 15-minute Singing Assemblies count towards curriculum time, with a termly focus on a different musical element. Music lessons are taught in the classrooms.

Whole Class Ensemble Tuition

All year groups receive instrument / Whole Class Ensemble Tuition during lesson time. Reception experience playing a range of untuned percussion and Boom whackers. Year 1 receive a half term of ukulele lessons and build on this knowledge with a further half term of tuition in Year 2. Year 3 learn to play the glockenspiel and continue to master their skills in Year 4. Year 5 receive a full term of steel pans tuition from our local music hub, Bristol Beacon. Year 6 play a range of instruments they have learned in previous years.

Singing in Lessons

Singing is at the heart of our Music curriculum and all year groups have units dedicated to nurturing singing skills. Reception learn a repertoire of songs which include: echo, call and response, routine, pitch perfect, action, clapping, chants and performance. Year 1 discover the difference between their speaking, chanting, and singing voices. Through a diverse range of echo and call and response songs, children begin to pitch match songs that use a small range of notes. They learn how singing with different dynamics and tempos can change the feel of the song. Year 2 develop their understanding of pitch, pulse, beat, and rhythm through a variety of singing games with playful, interactive songs and movements. They explore how songs are used for work and collaboration and also learn chanted and sung ostinati. Year 3 learn how singing draws communities together to tell stories, comment on history, share experiences and to worship. Through rehearsing and performing a range of songs, they explore how different songs capture different emotions. They practise singing songs in two parts and rounds to build texture. Year 4 explore the different sounds and feelings associated with major and minor tonality. They sing a variety of songs, some in a major key and some in a minor key. Children explore how dynamics, tempo and pitch contribute to how meaning is conveyed using songs from theatre and opera. Years 5 and 6 focus on adding vocal layers to songs through rehearsing contrasting songs in parts and become confident holding the pitch and pulse of a line before layering this into four and five part textures. They explore how song is used in sacred spaces, sports arenas and live concerts. Children study songs with unity as their common theme and use the lyrics to guide an effective, emotive performance. They add syncopated rhythms to songs and learn how to feel the offbeats through movement. Year 6’s singing journey culminates in a summer term musical. Across all year groups, children experience singing in small groups, class ensembles and sometimes solo. Singing is used as a key tool for learning about, and deepening knowledge of, the musical elements. Where units do not have singing as a primary focus, vocal skills are used and developed through singing pitches, scales and melodies that are played on instruments. Some lesson time is also used to practise songs for the big singing events in each year group’s musical calendar, as set out in Part C.

CPD Through Collaboration

St Werburgh’s Primary makes the most of opportunities for CPD with our local music hub, Bristol Beacon. Training sessions have included Excellence in Singing Assemblies, learning new repertoires for Big Sing events and piloting the new Oak National Academy Music Curriculum for Reception and Year 1. We have undertaken Kodaly Foundation Level training which informs our approach to singing and music learning in Reception and KS1. Music training provided by Cathedral Schools Trust has included a session on Metacognition in Music – Practising Practising. This year, an Oak Music curriculum launch event will support both strategic curriculum leadership and confident classroom delivery. There will be an opportunity to attend a workshop and CPD session with Suzzie Vango, Conductor from The National Children’s Choir of Great Britain. The primary Music Leads in the Cathedral Schools Trust meet three times a year to share good practice through Music Curriculum Collaboration Group meetings. We are a supportive and musical family of schools.

Disabled and SEND Pupils

We consider how specific activities or pedagogy may need to be adjusted to ensure all pupils are able to access learning to participate fully. Making Music accessible to all, including SEND, disabled, disadvantaged and EAL pupils includes:

• having high expectations and promoting equal opportunities
• creating a positive environment of understanding, small-group and 1:1 support
• effective liaison with LSAs
• additional scaffolding, flexible grouping, longer attempts and more practise time
• differentiated support: e.g. using a simplified or reduced number of notes when learning an instrument
• facilitated access to instrument lessons

It is our aim for all children to see themselves as musicians.

Part B: Co-curricular Music

This is about opportunities for pupils to sing and play music, outside of lesson time, including choirs, ensembles and bands, and how pupils can make progress in music beyond the core curriculum.

Singing Assemblies

We have two weekly Singing Assemblies, one for Key Stage 1 and one for Key Stage 2. They are 15 minutes each and count towards weekly Music curriculum time. Children sing songs from a wide range of cultures and genres to: warm-up and develop the voice, connect to our school values and learn songs that help to progress musical skills including round and part singing. Key Stage 2 Singing Assemblies are sometimes used as a platform for children who are learning instruments to play to an audience.

Choirs

St Werburgh’s Primary School has two choirs which run as after-school clubs and meet weekly for 40 minutes. Silver Birch Choir is for singers in Reception and Key Stage 1. Willow Choir is for singers in Key Stage 2. Both are free of charge and open to all who would like to join. A summary of the numbers attending in 2024-25 in both choirs is below:

Silver Birch Choir performs to parents and carers three times a year. Willow Choir performs at the Key Stage 2 Carol Concerts, the Bristol Beacon Winter Sing event and the Trust Concert. Our choirs also perform at the Christmas Market, Summer Fair and in an end of year Thank You Assembly.

Rocksteady Peripatetic Tuition

Rocksteady offers children a route into instrument tuition through playing as part of a band. Rocksteady sessions are held on Fridays. There are 4 bands each with places for 9 band members. Children can play keyboard, electric guitar, bass guitar, drums or vocals and practise and rehearse as a band for their 3 x annual concerts. Sessions are 30 minutes long and charged at £35 per month with a minimum of 33 lessons held across the year. Pupils in receipt of Pupil Premium are given priority placement when spaces become available. We fund a space for a Pupil Premium band member; Rocksteady match fund a further space for another.

Bristol Beacon Peripatetic Tuition

Peripatetic tutors from Bristol Beacon offer lessons on: piano, guitar, violin, flute, saxophone and drum kit. Children are also able to sign up for cornet and contemporary voice lessons: these will be timetabled once enough pupils have signed up to allocate tutors. Lessons are 20 minutes long and available in both individual and small group formats. Individual lessons are priced at £159 for 11 weeks and Small Group lessons (of 2 – 4 children) are £80 for 11 weeks. Children in receipt of Pupil Premium funding are eligible for a 25% subsidy and free instrument hire. Children with an EHCP or who are in care are eligible for free lessons and instrument hire. These groups are given priority placement when spaces become available. Instrument lessons are held in our Dance Studio and other available teaching rooms. Children can work towards accredited grades: one child has passed Grade 3 on guitar; some are working towards Grade 1 on piano.

Instrumental Ensembles

St Werburgh’s Primary School offers two opportunities in the school calendar for instrumentalists in Years 3 – 6 to play in an ensemble. The first is the Key Stage 2 Carol Concerts in which musicians in Years 3 – 6 accompany the carols. The second is CST Concert where musicians from Years 5 and 6 rehearse and play alongside other primary musicians as part of the Camerata. Previous Camerata pieces have included ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’ and the ‘Dr Who’ theme tune. Pupils rehearse together as an ensemble and also individually / in small groups in lesson time with tutors. Pianists are involved through transferring their skills to glockenspiels. Some instrumentalists have previously taken part in Bristol Beacon’s Primary Orchestra Workshop, where children learn pieces then rehearse and play in a city-wide primary orchestra, supported by tutors and culminating in a performance to parents. We hope to take part in the experience again this year. Bristol Beacon have indicated they will charge £3 per child taking part; pupil premium children’s places will be free.

Space to Play and Practise

Peripatetic lessons take place in various spaces around the school. The Dance Studio is used for Rocksteady sessions, steel pans Whole Class Ensemble Tuition and some instrument lessons. Our peripatetic teachers make good use of a variety of smaller rooms to teach in to maximise our instrument offer. Ensemble rehearsals take place in the School Hall or another non-teaching room. We are creative with where we find spaces for children to play and practise.

Part C: Musical Experiences

This is about all the other musical events and opportunities that we organise, such as singing in assembly, concerts and shows, and trips to professional concerts.

Christmas performances

Reception delight their parents and carers with a Christmas Singalong in the playground. They sing a selection of Christmas and winter-themed songs with enthusiasm and enjoyment. It is their first opportunity to perform in front of a large audience. Year 1 perform a version of the Nativity story – Boogie Woogie Nativity – with confidence and commitment, combining songs and actions in front of their first large seated audience. Year 2 perform in Bristol Beacon’s ‘Winter Sing’ which is hosted in the Spiegeltent. They work hard to rehearse a larger repertoire of songs at school then sing them with a live band. The children perform as part of a mass choir alongside many other Bristol primary schools. They then perform this repertoire back at school to their adults. Key Stage 2 hold two Christmas Concerts in the Ivy Church: one for Years 3 and 4; another for Years 5 and 6. The Ivy Church is a local, community-focused organisation into which we are welcomed each year by Pastor Phil. All are warmly invited. The children sing a selection of winter and Christmas themed songs and parents join the singing for traditional carols. It is a joyful event with live accompaniment and performances from our KS2 Willow Choir. A growing number of our KS2 musicians play the traditional carols; parent musicians are also invited. It is a free event.

Year 6 Production

Our Year 6 children work towards a musical production every year. In the past two years, they have performed versions of Oliver and Peter Pan. The children work hard to rehearse songs, some with parts and harmony. They take ownership of their production: their suggestions for actions and musical direction help shape it. Year 6 sing with character and pride. Many children put themselves forward to sing small solo and small-group parts. Children in Year 2 and Key Stage 2 are invited to watch the dress rehearsal of the performance. There are two final performances – a matinee and evening performance. It is a ticketed, free event.

Bristol Beacon Events

St Werburgh’s Primary is a Bristol Beacon Member School. Through this membership, we enjoy attending many exciting musical events in our city’s flagship concert venues. These have previously included:

• Key Stage 2 Winter Sing in Bristol Beacon Main Hall (KS2 Choir)
• Key Stage 1 Winter Sing in the Spiegeltent (Year 2)
• Key Stage 1 Summer Sing in Bristol Beacon Lantern Hall (Year 1)
• Orchestra workshop at Trinity Academy / Bristol Beacon Main Hall (KS2 musicians)

For events with an audience, ticket prices are set by Bristol Beacon. Support has previously been offered to our families in receipt of pupil premium through offering some subsidised tickets.

Collaborative Cathedral Schools Trust Events

There are two annual CST music events: Key Stage 1’s Celebration of Music and the CST Concert. We invite all Year 2 children to a Celebration of Music, held every June at Trinity Academy. They rehearse and enjoy singing warm ups, partner songs, rounds and performance songs with peers from across the Trust. The children are always excited to sing accompanied by live ensembles. In the past this has included brass and wind bands from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and a house band. They have experienced secondary instrumental performances from Trinity’s Trumpet and Trailblazers Ensembles and rock bands. This event offers our children the opportunity to sing as a mass choir and the chance to see a musical journey, from those just beginning to learn an instrument, to those who have chosen music as their career. There is no cost to parents and carers for this event.

Our Key Stage 2 Willow Choir and Year 5 and 6 musicians are invited to perform at the CST Concert: a collaborative showcase of primary and secondary school music. This has been held at Bristol Cathedral and Bristol Beacon. At past concerts, our Key Stage 2 Willow Choir has performed part, round, soul, and pop songs and songs in other languages with other primary schools. They have also performed songs as part of a Trust-wide singing ensemble. Our Year 5 and 6 musicians are invited to perform as part of a collaborative Primary Camerata. It is an inclusive and exciting evening where our primary musicians see aspirational performances from accomplished secondary musicians. Support has previously been offered to families in receipt of pupil premium through pre-sale booking and subsidised tickets.

The next Key Stage 1 Celebration of Music will be held on 22nd June 2026.
The next annual CST concert will be held on 29th April 2026.

Pupil Passports

All pupils at St Werburgh’s Primary School complete a Passport of Experiences throughout their learning journey. Music features in every year group’s experiences, to build the musical capital of every child.

• These are:
  EYFS: sing to an audience; watch live percussion being played; play a range of percussion
• Year 1: perform in a nativity; learn to play an instrument
• Year 2: learn a French song; watch live music being performed; perform with a band
• Year 3: play instruments in a performance
• Year 4: compose a piece of music and perform it to an audience; compose using technology
• Year 5: be in a Carnival-inspired performance
• Year 6: perform on a stage; take part in carol concert; make instruments and perform in a band

Collaboration with Trinity Academy

We aim to make the most of our link to Trinity Academy – the closest secondary school in our Trust. Through cultivating a collaborative relationship with their Head of Music we have invited Year 8 pupils learning the djembe to give a performance and workshop on two separate days. On the first visit they showcased their songs from Ghana and Guinea to Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, followed by a workshop to Year 2 culminating in a shared performance. On the second visit they performed to Key Stage 2, followed by a workshop to Year 6, culminating in another shared performance. This is a way in which we help our Year 6 children prepare for Music at secondary school. Both events are inclusive, aspirational and nurturing. They are supported by another primary school in our Trust, who lend us their djembe for the events. We hope to repeat the experiences this year.

Collaboration with Parents and Community Members

Every year we invite an accomplished or professional visiting musician/s to give a performance and talk about their instrument/s. This has previously included a blind music therapist, a cellist, a secondary school trumpeter and a parent who gave a demonstration on how sound is made, using a multitude of woodwind instruments. These events are for Key Stage 1 and 2 and include Reception whenever possible.

Experiencing Performances

Experiencing performances, from the low-key to the polished, is at the heart of Music at St Werburgh’s Primary. Our children experience many performance opportunities, both as musicians and audience members. Reception and Key Stage 1 watch Year 5 perform on the steel pans who also do a separate performance to the rest of Key Stage 2 and another for their parents. Year 3 invite their parents to showcase their learning on the glockenspiels and teach them how to play a song. Year 4 perform their compositions on the glockenspiels to Year 3 to show what they will be learning the following year. Key Stage 2 have previously done pop-up Singing Assembly performances to share their learning. Year 5 have previously watched the LEAP Ensemble from the Birmingham Conservatoire perform at Trinity Academy – a truly unique and aspirational event.

St Paul’s Carnival

St Paul’s Carnival is a truly celebratory event of Bristol’s Caribbean community. St Werburgh’s Primary School’s community is closely linked to and involved with the carnival. We have previously been invited by the St Paul’s Carnival Schools and Education Programme to take part in the main parade as samba musicians and dancers. This has involved children in Key Stage 2 taking part in a samba percussion and dancing workshop to learn a song and routine. On the day, the children dressed in carnival costumes they had made to represent our school. The event is a unique and incredible experience to be part of where our children also get to see aspirational performances. Last year, Year 5 took part in the St Pauls Carnival Experience event, performing and dancing alongside other primary schools from across our city.

In the Future

This is about what the school is planning for in subsequent years.

Curriculum Music

Over this academic year, we will engage in coaching sessions from Oak Music to facilitate us becoming a Curriculum Champion school. We will receive strategic and tailored support which will enable us to work with teachers from visiting primary schools to share good practice in classroom delivery. Having adopted the Oak Music curriculum, we intend to adapt it and innovate with it.

Co-curricular Music

Boys’ Music Club: To build on the success of the growing numbers of boys in KS2 Choir, we would like to start a club focused on Year 5 and 6 boys making music together. Specific PP children will also be personally invited to join.

Ukulele Club: We hope to start a Ukulele Club in 2026-27, with a possible focus on PP children.

Key Stage 2 Ensemble: It is our aim to start a Key Stage 2 / Willow Ensemble which meets weekly, building on the two current performance opportunities. We are currently looking into this and hope to set it up in the summer term of 2025-26.

Instrument Showcase Evening: To showcase instrumental achievements in peripatetic lessons, we would like to arrange an annual recital evening, possibly in Term 6. This would be a platform for more polished performances. It is our aim to trial this in 2025-26. Music tutors, parents and children will be invited. It will be a free event.

Musical Experiences

Pop Up Performances during Arts’ Week: We would like to give an opportunity for performances on the school gate at the start of the school day during Arts’ Week. Children could share a song or two on their instrument to our school community as they arrive. Musicians in Key Stage 2 would also be able to perform to parents and children arriving on the Key Stage 1 site.

Performances from Visiting Musicians: We would like to give more opportunities to watch a diversity of performances from professional musicians.

Further Information

Our local music hub, Bristol Beacon, has an extensive programme of CPD sessions and collaborative events which can be found here.

The link to find further information from the government about Music education can be found here