Intent, Implementation, Impact

Intent

The Power of Music – Music is all around us. It is the soundtrack to our lives. Music connects us through people and places in our ever-changing world. It is creative, collaborative, celebratory and challenging. In our schools, music can bring communities together through the shared endeavour of whole-school singing, ensemble playing, experimenting with the creative process and, through the love of listening to friends and fellow pupils, performing. The sheer joy of music-making can feed the soul of a school community, enriching each student while strengthening the shared bonds of support and trust which make a great school.
(Department for Education, Model Music Curriculum)

At East Dene, our vision is for children to become independent, confident, successful and life-long learners with high aspirations and the adaptability to make a positive contribution to their community and wider society now and in the future.

Through music, we aim to:

• Inspire creativity, self-expression, and a love of music that lasts a lifetime.
• Develop every child’s musicianship so they can sing, listen, compose and perform with increasing skill and confidence.
• Provide opportunities that foster collaboration, celebration, and belonging, both within school and the wider community.
• Nurture an understanding and appreciation of the diverse musical traditions and cultures that enrich our world.
• Prepare children with experiences that broaden their horizons and equip them for life beyond primary school.

Our music curriculum is built around the Model Music Curriculum, delivered through the Charanga scheme, which provides a clear, progressive and spiral approach to musical learning. This ensures children revisit and strengthen prior knowledge while gradually extending their skills in singing, listening, composing and performing.

Implementation

Key features of implementation at East Dene include:

• Weekly music lessons for all children, ensuring music is a consistent and valued part of school life.
• Spiral curriculum design, where skills and knowledge are revisited and deepened, building confidence and progression year on year.
• Specialist instrumental teaching:
  • Year 3 – Whole-class recorder lessons delivered by a specialist from the Rotherham Music Service.
  • Year 4 – Whole-class ukulele lessons, building ensemble skills.
• Extra-curricular opportunities: Children are encouraged to join the school choir, giving them the chance to collaborate across year groups and perform at internal and external events.
• Community and enrichment opportunities: Pupils take part in One Voice, Big Blast and community singing events, representing the school proudly in the wider community.
• Whole-school music-making: End-of-year whole-school showcases, where every child has the opportunity to perform and celebrate their musical achievements.
• Cross-curricular links: Where appropriate, music is woven into wider curriculum themes to enhance learning and provide real-world relevance.

Impact

The impact of music at East Dene is seen in the joy, confidence and sense of achievement it brings to our children. Music contributes to our school value of “We can and we will”, demonstrating to children that perseverance and collaboration lead to success.

Through our provision, children will:

• Develop musical knowledge and skills across singing, listening, composing, and performing.
• Gain the confidence to perform individually and collectively, in both formal and informal settings.
• Experience the discipline and teamwork of ensemble playing and whole-school music-making.
• Build cultural capital by being exposed to a wide variety of musical styles, genres and traditions.
• Strengthen their sense of identity, community, and belonging through shared musical experiences.
• Leave East Dene with positive memories of performing, collaborating and creating music. Skills that can be built upon in secondary education and beyond.

The end-of-year whole-school showcase is a key moment in the school calendar, bringing together pupils, staff, and families to celebrate progress and achievement in music. These performances highlight the progression of skills across year groups and give every child the opportunity to perform with pride.

The long-term impact is that children will carry forward the resilience, creativity, and confidence developed through music into all aspects of their lives.