“She was alive with stories of the bus, McDonalds and the event itself when I picked her up. It was a really special short drive home as she told me all about Nandi the drummer and the performance of sky full of stars with their torches. I wanted to say thank you for creating those memories for her and for creating that moment for me in the car –  hearing the pure joy and excitement she has experienced was really special.”  Young Voices 2024. A parents comment 

 

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we value Music as an integral part of our children’s education and their entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to be music producers, songwriters, composers or rockstars!

Music provides the opportunity to celebrate the children’s creative achievements as well as developing a love of a wide range of music. The social, emotional, moral and cultural development that Music can bring to our lives as a school and wider community is thoroughly embraced in our St Mary’s Vision and Character at St Mary’s, making a major contribution to the development of our pupils.

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we aim to provide an enjoyable and challenging music curriculum which gives all pupils the opportunity to sing, play, create and perform, both individually and collaboratively. Music is taught throughout the school by a music specialist supported by class teachers with each class receiving an hour’s music lesson every week.

Our music curriculum is designed to build a musical foundation and build on skills and knowledge throughout the years. Pupils will become confident in their ability to create, compose, perform and listen.  We aim to bring communities together through the shared endeavor of whole-school singing, ensemble playing and through the love of listening to friends, fellow pupils and those from outside our school performing.

To ensure our music provision at our school is high standard, our music curriculum lessons are delivered by music specialists from Sing Education. The music curriculum is made up of half-termly units, with step-by-step progression, always building on prior knowledge and skills, giving children the opportunity to consolidate, deepen and progress their rich musical skill set.  Sing Education teachers use the Kodaly method of teaching to ensure subject matter is presented logically and building on the children’s previous experience with music. This helps students to consolidate earlier learning and link new concepts to previous knowledge.

Children regularly have the opportunity to perform and record a piece of repertoire they have studied at the end of each half term, with the chance to describe and discuss what they have been learning and exploring in music lessons. This allows teachers to assess progression and embed the learning of the half term. Other annual year group performance opportunities give students the exciting experience of performing before an audience.

Teachers create a positive learning environment through positive classroom management, and singing led, child focussed lessons. Children receive access to high quality music resources and instruments to reinforce the ambitions of the curriculum.  Music is made an integral part of school life through a variety of extra curricular activities such as Singing Squad, weekly singing assemblies, Young Voices and performing at a range of music festivals. Many students also attend small group and one-to-one private tuition. Alongside the music curriculum, Sing Education online resources and lessons are used by class teachers and students regularly.

St Mary’s is also proud to be working in partnership with Rocksteady Music School. We currently have over 40 children enrolled and accessing private music tuition through Rocksteady. Our band leader comes to school for weekly band rehearsals, simultaneously teaching the children new instruments as well as learning how to play a chosen song as part of a collaborative group. The children perform at a termly concert which the rest of school and parents are invited to.

Enrichment

    • Young Voices KS2
    • Swinton band performance – Whole school
    • ‘Big Sing’ with Malton Secondary School – Singing Squad
    • Busking at Christmas
    • Ryedale Music Festival
    • International Make Music Day
    • Performances during liturgy and Masses
    • Performances during curriculum events
    • Performances from local schools
    • Carols at Rivermead Nursing Home – Singing Squad
    • Carols at Jack Berry House
    • Swinton Band’s 100 instruments – Whole school April ‘25
    • Year 6 End of Year Performance
    • Nativity Performances in EYFS, Y1 and Y2
    • Whole-School Pantomime Trip
    • Singing assembly every Friday – Whole school
    • Music Celebration Week Summer Term
    • Recorder lunchtime club
    • Rocksteady concert termly