Music

We are musicians!

At Burrington Cof E Primary School we believe that music is an integral part of everyday life and as such, we seek to provide children with as many opportunities to develop their musical skills as possible and to nurture a love of music. We love music and value its power to delight, soothe, transform and enhance life in all its fullness. Music is for everyone.

At the heart of our aims  is the desire to provide inspirational musical learning experiences which promote and build confidence, cooperation and a life-long love of music. 

We are passionate about the importance of music! For the impact of music to all children, see this short film, sponsored by Churchill Music, one of our music partners, 'How music helps us to learn'.

The arts are a vital aspect of society and we aim to help all children, regardless of race, gender, culture or class, be given equal opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to ensure they obtain the cultural capital necessary to become successful, educated citizens. Music has an important part to play in this.

To ensure children receive a comprehensive, progressive and enriching music curriculum, we follow a clear, planned and sequenced scheme of work, underpinned by the National Curriculum. We are currently in the initial stages of incorporating the new Model Music Curriculum into our school curriculum and are trialing a new scheme of work in Key Stage 2. 

 Implementation

Through our music curriculum, children are provided with the opportunity to become actively involved in music through a balance of listening, appraising, composing and performing. Progression and continuity through the school are ensured through a structured music curriculum which provides the children with a wide range of opportunities for them to develop this range of skills.  It comprises of the following aspects:

1) A main progressive scheme - We have chosen to use Charanga for the backbone of our music curriculum as it is a high quality, well resourced and diverse scheme, flexible, with a strong practical performance element, designed for both the non specialist and specialist musician. However, we have recently begun trailing a new scheme in KS2 - Oak Academy - across our federation.

2) Instrumental teaching for a whole class (Oak Class recorders biannually) for a term and a short chime bar course (Maple), both with specialist musicians.

3) An introduction to some key classical repertoire (through BBC 10 pieces)

4) Singing skills through participation and performance in singing regional celebrations such as Raise the Roof singing project with West of England Music Association, our music and poetry recital in November and our annual whole school Arts performances to parents (end of year production and the Christmas Nativity in KS1).

5) Additional special collaborations with Churchill Music Society such as the Power of Music Project with Y5/6 and opportunities for children to experience live performances of professional musicians where possible.

6)Children engage in our weekly 'Worship through Song' sessions which are led by our Music Subject Leader and feature musical teaching points as well as being a reflective act of worship.

Although music is taught as a subject in its own right, we seek opportunities to maximise cross-curricular links where possible, both to enhance learning through the power of music as a tool for learning as well as the important direct musical links with other subject areas eg. cultural associations in history and geography, scientific principles which govern instrumental sound production. etc. Children perform popular 'old time' songs of the past to entertain residents during a visit to St Monica's home.

The children will listen to and explore a wide variety of different styles of music to expand their knowledge, understanding and skill development. We are committed to enabling the children to develop an awareness of musical traditions and developments at different times in history and in a variety of cultures and genres. 

We have a stock of instruments, both tuned and untuned which are used in music sessions, and our  music scheme provides non-specialists with the support and subject knowledge they need to deliver a high quality curriculum. 

 The Power of Music Project

Partnerships

We value our collaborative working partnerships and are proud to take part in the Churchill Music!  Power of Music Project in Y5 and 6 (with professional musicians) and WEMA Workshops, festivals, productions and concerts form part of our music entitlement at Burrington as well as the opportunity to be part of the school choir. 

Extra-curricular opportunities

Children are encouraged to learn an instrument and opportunity is given for our young musicians to perform, whether accompanying children entering church for collective worship or taking part in our musical concerts, designed to give experience of playing in front of a sympathetic audience. Children take part in the Young Rotary Musician competition. We take full advantage of the offers from our local Music Service Hub, who also can provide a range of peripatetic teachers for individual music lessons (brass, wind, string and keyboard). 

Rotary Young Musicians 2025

Impact

It is a delight to see how many of our past pupils continue their musical adventures in their secondary schools as members of an orchestra, choir or as a soloist; however, to instil in all children the sheer joy of music and the recognition that everyone is musical which can be carried with them throughout life, is the greatest impact we should wish to have.

Through the delivery of our music curriculum, we want all children to have the self-belief to see themselves as musicians, have secure musical understanding and be inspired. We want them to be familiar with a wide range of musical genres and to be musically encouraging of others.

Through performance, music can develop greater confidence, team work, concentration, sensitivity and responsiveness to others and we hope that children at Burrington will, through their wide musical education, develop these additional transferable skills.

Whether a child is participating in a musical event as a performer,  listening to the music of others or experiencing music as a part of everyday life, we want all children to recognise the power of music and its universality; Music is for all!

“Music enhances the education of our children by helping them to make connections and broadening the depth with which they think and feel. If we are to hope for a society of culturally literate people, music must be a vital part of our children’s education.”  – Yo-Yo Ma