Music Development Plan

Music development plan summary :
Gilbrook School

All schools should have a music development plan from academic year 2023-24. Schools are expected to publish a summary of their plan on their website from academic year 2024-25.

This template is designed to support schools to produce the summary. It should set out how the school will deliver high-quality music provision in curriculum music, co-curricular music and musical experiences, taking into account the key features in the national plan for music education:

· timetabled curriculum music of at least one hour each week of the school year for key stages 1 to 3

· access to lessons across a range of instruments, and voice

· a school choir or vocal ensemble

· a school ensemble, band or group

· space for rehearsals and individual practice

· a termly school performance

· opportunity to enjoy live performance at least once a year

The summary should reflect your school’s music provision for the given school year and your plans for subsequent years. It should also refer to any existing partnership with your local music hub or other music education organisations that supports the school with music provision.

Before publishing your completed summary, delete the advice in this template along with this text box.

Overview

Detail	Information
Academic year that this summary covers	2024/25
Date this summary was published	Sept 2024
Date this summary will be reviewed	July 2025
Name of the school music lead	John Myatt
Name of school leadership team member with responsibility for music (if different)	Kirsten Brown
Name of local music hub
Name of other music education organisation(s) (if partnership in place)

This is a summary of how our school delivers music education to all our 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 and parents or 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 in lesson time, how much time is spent teaching music and any music qualifications or awards that pupils can achieve.

At Gilbrook we aim for all our pupils to develop a love and understanding for music through experiences and engagement. We aspire for them to develop increased self-esteem, self-confidence, self-regulation of behaviour and creativity. The curriculum will offer musical opportunities and create a knowledge journey for each individual child and give support to their mental health, allowing them to express their emotions. Children will have the opportunity to perform in front of others, understand staff notation and composition. Listening will be a key aspect which in turn, will lead onto repertoire and singing.

All this will be achieved by following suggestions in the Model Music Curriculum (MMC.) These building blocks are followed and form the scheme of work conducted by Kapow.

Several classes have had music led lessons by the music co-ordinator for at least half a term, they have followed Kapow’s scheme of work and where possible linked with topic work. In KS1 music is delivered through holistic practice, listening and repeating rhymes, singing and dancing. Music is also played throughout the day to encourage a calm environment. Festive assemblies are a chance for the children to perform in front of the whole school and parents (Harvest, Easter and Christmas.)

In KS2 more focussed lessons have been delivered on a weekly basis, building the children’s knowledge and music skills. A school choir has been set up with regular attendance from several children. Several performances have been conducted using a range of different instruments to the whole school, parents and outside community. The development of listening skills has been increased through various forms of music - Peter and the Wolf, Joesph and his Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat and War of the Worlds. KS2 has also developed an understanding of the history of music through the aid of the WW2 topic and different forms of music - classical, jazz and pop. Musical notation has also been delivered, leading to the children composing their own pieces of music with the use of instruments and music tech (garage band) on iPads.

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.

Due to the needs of the pupils we do not currently offer this. However it is something that we will consider in the future if we feel that it would be appropriate for our pupils. They are still becoming comfortable playing and singing with familiar adults and we feel that to bring in outside lessons would be detrimental.

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.

The whole school had the opportunity to listen to live music as part of a whole school music day, based on instruments of the orchestra. Two classical violinists performed and following the visit KS2 went on to visit a performance by the Liverpool Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Liverpool. Tickets have already been purchased for both KS1 and 2 to visit next year.

Pupils will continue to perform within school in assemblies and at school events.

At Gilbrook we do not charge parents for trips such as these. We see them as part of the curriculum and as such are funded by FOG or school.

In the future

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

For music to be taught consistently for every class on a weekly timetable, delivered by the music lead. Continue using the kapow scheme of work, with every child’s individual progress monitored and assessed. More focus on KS1 music development, supporting the four musical areas; singing, listening, composing and performing. Greater use of music tech appropriately for pupils to make their own choices about independent listening (Team Armstrong let the children listen to their own playlist at their birthday party.)

Look for more opportunities to increase live music in and outside school, enquire about The Big Sing at the Floral Pavilion. Contact local Secondary Schools about visiting with their music groups. Use the School website more to showcase the musical talent of the children and increase the range of musical instruments (bugles and keyboards.)

Start work on the school music room for bespoke music lessons, carried out by the music lead, either at break time or timetabled during the day. Look into music therapy and how it would benefit our children and just have somewhere to go and chill at lunchtime to listen to music. Have music boxes in KS1 classes and on the playground with a stage to perform the children’s favourite pop song or dance. Offer a music lending library, CD players (£23 Amazon) and CDs. Continue with performances in assemblies and have more music days, focussed on different themes.