Music

At Paulton Junior School all our students deserve a broad and ambitious music curriculum, rich in skills and knowledge, which ignites curiosity and prepares them well for future learning and moreover engenders a lifelong love of music.  
Our primary curriculum driver and core scheme is Sing Up Music, which provides a fully sequenced, high-quality, song-based framework supporting both the National Curriculum 2014 and the Model Music Curriculum. Music teaching and learning involves a constant revisiting of skills and knowledge. As such, our progression document sets out how these skills are added to and embellished over the 4 years of KS2 through Sing Up’s progressive units. To aid teacher assessment and support learning, we use the Progression Snapshot assessments detailed in the Sing Up scheme of work. These enable teachers to: 
•    Track Pupil Progress and Attainment: Monitor how students are developing their musical skills, knowledge, and understanding across various areas as they move through the year and progress through school. 
•    Support Formative & Summative Assessment: Gauge how well children are meeting expected musical milestones without needing overly complex or burdensome testing, as snapshots are built directly into the curriculum units. 
•    Align Learning Outcomes: Ensure that practical music-making, listening, appraising, and technical abilities are consistently evaluated against clear, age-appropriate benchmarks mapped to the Sing Up scheme and the Model Music Curriculum. 

Implementation
Each child receives at least 1 hour of music teaching each week. This typically involves a 45-minute (minimum) music lesson in class and a 20-minute singing assembly every Tuesday afternoon. 

1.    Comprehensive and Inclusive Curriculum (Sing Up Music as Core Pillar): We use Sing Up Music as our core scheme to deliver a progressive, structured, and inspiring curriculum inclusive of all students. It incorporates a wide range of musical genres, styles, and traditions—including both Western and non-Western music (e.g., Latin dance, Bengali folk, Scottish sea shanties, Gospel, and Balinese Gamelan). 
o    Year 3 Provision: Children build foundational musicality through Sing Up’s Year 3 units (exploring pitch contours, call-and-response, rounds, pentatonic structures, world folk music, Latin dance, Cuban salsa rhythms, classic orchestral works like 'March' from The Nutcracker, and vocal/body percussion). 
o    Year 4 Provision: Children continue through sequenced units and integrated instrumental blocks (such as This little light of mine and The Pink Panther Theme), engaging in global pentatonic exploration while developing notation, appraising, and compositional skills. 
o    Year 5 Provision: Students build upon prior learning with units like What shall we do with the drunken sailor? and Balinese Gamelan, further expanding harmonic understanding, vocal styling, and instrumental ensemble work. 
o    Year 6 Provision: Pupils engage with advanced units such as Hey, Mr Miller, complex structural listening, and protest song compositions, cementing mastery of notation, appraising, and musical independence. 
2.    Skilled and Passionate Staff & Instrumental Access: We utilise Sing Up Music across all year groups, providing digital tools, audio tracks, visual aids, interactive resources, and backing tracks to ensure high-quality delivery by all teaching staff. Our children play glockenspiels, tuned/untuned percussion trolleys, recorders, and tin whistles to participate practically in classroom music lessons. 
3.    Ukulele Tuition: In addition to our core offer, pupils in Years 4, 5, and 6 receive a 45-minute weekly 10-week ukulele course delivered by WEMA specialists, featuring warm-ups, singing, chords, and melodies that progress across year groups and culminate in a parent concert (scheduled for Terms 5 and 6 in Year 4, Terms 1 and 2 in Year 5, and Terms 3 and 4 in Year 6). 
4.    Co-curricular Music & Performance Opportunities: We invite children to take up individual instrument tuition (orchestra instruments, guitar, keyboard, and voice) provided by peripatetic teachers from WEMA (West of England Music and Arts / West of England Music Alliance). We also facilitate Rocksteady music rock band tuition (electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals), culminating in termly concerts. 
5.    Choir & Assemblies: We maintain a long-standing tradition of taking part in Young Voices, delivering a choir of 50–90 children from across KS2 who attend weekly after-school practices and perform at the 6000+ strong arena concert. Outdoor percussion trolleys are provided for musical play during breaktimes, and weekly singing assemblies embed seasonal songs and popular repertoire across the whole school. 
6.    Seasonal and Community Performances: At Christmas, all year groups participate in Christmas concerts designed to encourage performance to an audience and bring music to the community. Additionally, Year 6 children put on a summer musical production celebrating their journey, culminating in a performance of a song written specifically for their cohort. 

7.    SEND Provision: We ensure our music curriculum is inclusive and accessible for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and disabilities. Using Sing Up’s multi-sensory approach (combining movement, vocal games, visual graphic scores, and listening), we adapt lessons to accommodate diverse learning needs. Support staff collaborate with teachers to provide targeted assistance, and ongoing professional development equips staff to support SEN students. 
 

Through a comprehensive and inclusive music education, our students develop high levels of musical proficiency, confidence, and a lifelong love for learning. Participation in music fosters emotional well-being, teamwork, and strong social connections while deepening cultural understanding through diverse musical traditions. Ultimately, these experiences equip children with the technical skills and creative expression necessary for lifelong enjoyment and appreciation of music.
1.    High Levels of Musical Proficiency: Our students demonstrate a high level of musical proficiency, as evidenced through their compositions, performances, and ability to appraise and evaluate music critically. They have a secure understanding of fundamental musical concepts, including rhythm, pitch, harmony, and dynamics. Students develop excellent technical skills on their chosen instruments and show the ability to improvise and express their ideas creatively. 
2.    Confident Performers: Through regular performance opportunities, students develop confidence in their musical abilities and are unafraid to showcase their talents to others. They exhibit excellent stage presence, expressiveness, and a strong connection with their audience. 
3.    Love for Music and Lifelong Learning: Our students develop a genuine love for music and continue to engage in musical activities beyond their time in the Junior School. They appreciate and seek out a wide range of musical genres, attend concerts, and participate in community music-making groups. They are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary for lifelong enjoyment and appreciation of music. 
4.    Positive Impact on Well-being and Teamwork: Participation in music positively impacts students' well-being, promoting resilience, self-expression, emotional regulation, and a sense of achievement. Collaboration within ensembles and musical groups fosters teamwork, communication, and mutual respect. Music becomes a vehicle for students to connect with others and establish meaningful relationships. 
5.    Cultural Understanding: Through exposure to diverse musical traditions, students develop an appreciation for different cultures and traditions, promoting inclusivity and empathy. They understand the role of music in shaping societies and value the richness and diversity it brings to their own lives and communities. 
 

To sign up for music lessons, please see the links below:

Rocksteady – https://www.rocksteadymusicschool.com/

Other Music Lessons – https://uksouthglos.speedadmin.dk/registration#/

Email: music@wema.org.uk