At the Deanery, our music curriculum is designed to help pupils recognise themselves as musical and to nurture a lifelong love of music.

Out music curriculum develops the skills, knowledge, and understanding needed to become confident performers, composers, and listeners. The curriculum introduces pupils to music from across the world, encouraging respect and appreciation for the music of all traditions and communities.

Pupils have the opportunity to flourish and build musical skills through singing, playing tuned and untuned instruments, improvising, composing and listening and responding to music. They develop an understanding of the historical and cultural context of the music they encounter and learn how music can be notated.

Music lessons also support the development of transferable skills, including teamwork, leadership, creative thinking, problem-solving, decision-making and presentation and performance abilities. These skills are integral to pupils’ development as learners and have wide application in their lives beyond school.

At Deanery, our music curriculum allows pupils to creativity and expression which allows them to deepen their sense of spirituality. By engaging with diverse musical traditions and creating their own music, pupils develop emotional awareness, empathy and a deeper connection to themselves and others. Through singing, creating and listening, pupils experience moments of reflection and shared meaning that support their personal growth and sense of belonging.

Our music curriculum incorporates a spiral curriculum model, ensuring that pupils revisit and develop their understanding of key themes and concepts as they progress. This approach allows them to make meaningful connections, reinforce their learning and achieve mastery over time.

• Revisiting key concepts – pupils encounter the same ideas multiple times throughout their education, with each revisit adding more complexity.
• Progressive depth – concepts are not just repeated but expanded upon, helping pupils to make connections and develop a richer understanding over time.
• Knowledge retention – regular exposure to key ideas strengthens memory and prevents knowledge from being forgotten.
• Skill development – pupils refine and apply their skills in different contexts, improving their ability to think critically and solve problems.
• Adaptive learning – by building on prior knowledge, the curriculum meets pupils at their current level and supports all learners, including those who need extra reinforcement and those who are ready for greater challenges.

Oracy

Lessons in music provide rich opportunities for developing oracy, particularly through singing, group performance and musical discussion. Pupils learn to control their voice, adjusting pitch, dynamics and tone to sing expressively and clearly; an essential foundation for confident spoken communication.

Pupils are encouraged to think aloud, question and reflect on what they hear and create. Through activities such as evaluating performances, discussing musical choices and exploring the meaning behind lyrics or compositions, they develop their ability to articulate opinions, justify decisions and engage in collaborative dialogue.

Critical thinking

Pupils analyse musical elements, compare different genres and traditions, and evaluate performances and compositions. This helps them to question assumptions, develop musical judgement and form reasoned responses to a wide range of musical experiences.

British values

Lessons promote British values (democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance) by incorporating activities that encourage debate, respect for differing opinions and an understanding of societal structures.

Cultural capital

Our music curriculum at Deanery broadens pupils’ experiences by introducing them to influential musicians, musical traditions from around the world, and the historical and cultural contexts of different genres. This ensures they gain the knowledge and skills needed to engage meaningfully with music in society.