Music at Fawbert & Barnard’s

Intent

Music holds a special place at Fawbert & Barnard’s Primary School. With a long-standing tradition of musical excellence, music is woven through our culture, our celebrations and our curriculum. It is at the heart of our school identity.

We believe every child is a musician. Our intent is to provide a rich, high-quality music curriculum that enables all pupils to:

• develop a deep understanding of musical concepts such as rhythm, pitch, timbre, dynamics and pulse
• perform with confidence, expression and control
• compose creatively, experimenting with and shaping musical ideas
• listen actively, critically and with appreciation across a wide range of genres
• build essential skills such as teamwork, resilience, risk-taking and problem-solving
• foster a growth mindset through rehearsal, refinement and perseverance

Through our music curriculum, children gain not only musical ability but also emotional awareness, creativity and self-belief—skills that support learning across all subjects and throughout life.

Implementation

Our music curriculum builds skills and knowledge year-on-year, enabling children to progress at their own pace while experiencing a broad range of musical styles and traditions. We follow the Charanga scheme of learning, which provides clear progression, engaging resources and high-quality guidance for teaching singing, composition, listening and instrumental skills. Cross-curricular links make learning relevant and meaningful, while specialist leadership ensures high-quality teaching.

Practical music-making every year

Pupils experience singing, composing and performing throughout EYFS, KS1 and KS2. All children learn instruments during their time at our school, including ukulele, percussion, tuned instruments and recorders. They also develop skills using music technology and iPads.

Performance culture

Performance is celebrated and valued at Fawbert & Barnard’s. Throughout the year, pupils take part in:

• Whole-school music concerts
• Christmas performances across EYFS, KS1 and KS2
• The Year 5 and Year 6 summer production
• Class assemblies featuring musical elements
• Young Voices at the O2 Arena – a highlight of our music calendar

Children learn that performances of all levels are valued, helping them develop confidence and pride.

Clubs, ensembles and enrichment

We offer a range of musical opportunities beyond the classroom:

• KS2 Choir, performing both in school and at external venues
• Recorder and ukulele clubs
• Songwriting opportunities for KS2
• Rocksteady bands
• Peripatetic lessons in piano, guitar, and drums, with reduced fees for Pupil Premium pupils

These experiences broaden pupils’ musical horizons and nurture emerging talent.

Assessment and progression

Teachers assess pupils throughout the year using skills progression grids and ongoing observation. This ensures pupils receive targeted support or challenge, enabling everyone to make strong progress.

Impact

The impact of our music curriculum is seen in:

• children who sing, play and perform with enjoyment and confidence
• high levels of engagement and enthusiasm during lessons and clubs
• performances that showcase progression, creativity and teamwork
• pupils who can talk confidently about music using accurate vocabulary
• developing musicians who are not afraid to take risks, try new skills and persevere

The breadth of musical opportunities—including concerts, productions and participation in events like Young Voices—ensures pupils leave Fawbert & Barnard’s with a strong sense of achievement, creativity and pride in their musical identity.