Our Intent
At Monteagle Primary School, our music curriculum is a carefully crafted, inclusive journey that nurtures creativity, self-confidence, and cultural appreciation, reflecting our core values of trust, respect, and hard work. We provide a broad and balanced musical education that develops practical skills in singing, instrument playing, composing, and listening, alongside explicit teaching of musical vocabulary to build pupils’ confidence and communication. Through a well-sequenced approach from early years to Key Stage 2, pupils progressively master fundamental concepts such as pitch, rhythm, and dynamics with ‘little and often’ practice, advancing to more complex musical styles, historical contexts, and critical evaluation, ensuring strong knowledge retention and fluency. Our curriculum emphasises regular, meaningful music-making opportunities that foster teamwork, resilience, and oracy, supporting wider academic and personal development. By embedding music as a core part of our school experience, we inspire pupils to see themselves as capable musicians and active contributors to their community’s cultural life, equipping them with skills and enthusiasm for lifelong engagement with music and enhancing their well-being and sense of belonging.
Our Implementation
At Monteagle Primary School, we implement our music curriculum through the Charanga scheme of work, which provides a structured, progressive approach to musical development for all learners. Charanga’s engaging, interactive resources allow children to explore music through listening and appraising, composing, improvising, singing, playing instruments and performing. Each lesson is designed to build on prior learning, reinforcing musical concepts and linked vocabulary in a way that is progressive and accessible. Lessons are adapted by teachers to meet the specific needs of our children, ensuring that each child is able to participate fully and make meaningful progress. Through Charanga, children experience a diverse range of music genres and styles, promoting both cultural awareness and an appreciation for the arts. Regular opportunities for assessment help us monitor each child’s musical journey, celebrate their achievements, and identify areas for further development, so every child can gain confidence, enjoyment, and foundational skills in music.
Alongside weekly music lessons, we foster a love of music through enhanced and wider opportunities. We work alongside our local Community Music Service to provide opportunities for children to learn an instrument in Y4 and have the opportunity to join our school choir.
Our Impact
Sparking Curiosity – Our Music curriculum exposes children to a wide, diverse range of musicians, musical styles and genres. Children are encouraged to offer personal responses and develop their own musical taste.
Hands On and Active Learning – Children have regular opportunities to sing, play instruments (percussion, glockenspiels and recorders), compose and perform.
Independence – Charanga’s progressive spiral curriculum means that skills are regularly revisited and built upon, to build independence. For example, when learning to play the glockenspiels, children gradually increase the number of notes they can play throughout Key Stage One.
New Knowledge and Skills -The Music curriculum is sequenced progressively to ensure prior learning is referred to and built upon.
Empowering Experiences – Our Music curriculum enriched by a variety of different sources. Children have opportunities to listen to live music and to join our choir.
Early Years Foundation Stage
At Monteagle Primary School, music, singing, and rhyme are central to our Early Years curriculum, providing children with joyful and engaging ways to develop oracy and musicianship. Children in both Nursery and Reception sing everyday and also have multiple opportunities to make music, including through the introduction of tuned and untuned instruments. They understand that Music is a vehicle for creativity and self-expression. Through our currriulum our Reception children explore music through songs, movement, and rhythm-based activities that build confidence, focus, and coordination. These musical experiences lay a strong foundation for Key Stage One, where children continue their musical journey with Charanga, expanding their understanding of rhythm, melody, and expression.
EYFS Being Imaginative And Expressive Progression Grid – ADD
Music Tuition
We are delighted to offer music tuition through Rocksteady Music School as an integral part of our enrichment programme. This fantastic opportunity allows children to experience the joy of making music in a fun, inclusive, and engaging way. Led by expert musicians, children can join their own rock band, learning to play instruments such as the drums, keyboard, guitar, or vocals. Through Rocksteady, our pupils not only develop musical skills but also build confidence, teamwork, and a love for performing.
Music Knowledge
Our curriculum overviews detail the key Music content required for each unit of work. These are shared with children and families at the beginning of each half term to help enhance learning.
