At OLQH we recognise the opportunities Music provides for

children to learn together socially and to value one another's

contributions. We see Music as an excellent way of increasing

children's self esteem and also to be a part of the wider world

community.

We teach music to develop and stimulate pupil interest and enjoyment. We teach our children the necessary skills and knowledge to enable them to take part in creating music and in appreciating a variety of styles and genres.We regularly celebrate theCatholic faith through songs  and Mass services. This serves to bring us together through common values and celebrate our sense of belonging.

The Music Curriculum

Our curriculum meets the needs of the National Curriculm and the QCA national schemes of work are used as the basis for our planning. Music Express, founded on the Music QCA guidelines, is the scheme we use, from Reception to Year 6, to inspire and enrich learning experiences.  Lessons are tailored to meet the individual needs of different groups of learners.  Units of work are rotated in a balanced way as to ensure the development of basic skills such as singing, playing and appreciating.

The elements of composition, improvisation and performance are woven into this framework, creating a broad musical experience for our pupils.  We recognise the importance of the Arts in assisting learning in other curriculum areas and Music is integrated into other school topics throughout the school. The weighting given to on-going skills is taken into account.

Children in Years 3,4,5 and 6 are taught within the structure of a rolling plan on a two yearly cycle. This ensures continuity of learning within the mixed year groups of KS2.

How we teach music

At Our Lady Queen of Heaven school, we use a variety of teaching and learning styles. Children practise skills and investigate sounds in pairs,

small groups and in a whole class context. Music starts in Reception Year with singing, sound making and the beginnings of sound control. We build and develop these basic skills through KS1 and 2, aiming to develop within our children, sound musical skills, an appreciation of different types of music and an enjoyment of the subject.

We use different starting points as ways into accessing learning, ranging from games, the imagination, aural stimulus and visual prompts to questioning, hands on instrumental exploration and singing. We realise children learn in different ways and it is important to provide a variety of teaching/learning styles.

At OLQH we believe in the importance of children as active learners and share learning objectives with children. We encourage them to self-evaluate, to develop confidence and a sense of achievement and

openness. We assess children's ability at the end of a unit to inform parents and future learning and teaching objectives.

Access For All

Lessons are geared to include children of all abilities. Care is given in planning as to groupings, support structure for the less able. Tasks can be simplified. The more able are challenged, through task

differentiation where appropriate. All children in Year 4 are provided with recorder lessons. They have the option to continue learning at the end of the Year. This ensures all our pupils experience formal standard notation. All children are encouraged to take up an instrument of their choice.

Contexts

We create opportunities for children to share their music. Theses range from sharing in the classroom as individual performers/ensembles to concerts and musical productions. Every year group performs to the

whole school/parents at least once a year. We believe in creating confident performers within a nurturing environment, ready and motivated to explore music at secondary school.

The Wider World

Children are inspired by seeing and hearing other musicians and we seek to develop children's musical experiences by inviting musicians in from the wider community or take our children on visits. We embrace integrated Arts opportunities and take part in local music festivals.