Our Music curriculum is carefully sequenced so that pupils develop musical knowledge, build practical skills and grow in confidence progressively over time. We follow the Kapow Music scheme, updated for 2026, alongside specialist provision through the Diocese of Leeds Whole School Singing Programme, providing a clear progression of knowledge and skills aligned with the National Curriculum.

Progression is measured across five key musical strands: Listening and Appraising, Creating Sound, Notation, Improvising and Composing, and Performing, underpinned by an increasing understanding of the inter-related dimensions of music. Across these strands, pupils progress from exploring and identifying musical features to applying them with increasing accuracy, fluency, control, independence and expression. 

In Key Stage 1, pupils develop the foundations of musicianship through singing, playing instruments, listening and responding to music, creating sounds and beginning to use simple forms of musical notation. They develop an understanding of key musical elements including pitch, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, structure and instrumentation, while experiencing music from a wide range of cultures and historical periods.

In Lower Key Stage 2, pupils build their musicianship through increasingly purposeful listening, creating, performing and composing. Specialist singing teaching through the Diocese of Leeds Whole School Singing Programme supports the development of vocal technique, pitch, repertoire, ensemble singing and musical confidence. Alongside this, pupils develop instrumental technique, begin to read and create staff notation, maintain individual parts within an ensemble, and develop their ability to improvise and compose within given parameters. They increasingly use musical vocabulary to describe, explain and evaluate what they hear and create.

By Upper Key Stage 2, pupils become increasingly independent and intentional musicians. They develop greater accuracy, fluency, control and expression in singing and instrumental performance; read and create increasingly sophisticated notation; and improvise and compose using deliberate choices about rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, structure and instrumentation. Their understanding of harmony develops, alongside their ability to explain how composers use musical elements to create mood, contrast, tension and effect. Pupils also evaluate their own and others’ performances using appropriate musical vocabulary and reasoning.

Across the curriculum, pupils have regular opportunities to listen and appraise, create sound, use notation, improvise and compose, and perform. These strands are deliberately interconnected, allowing pupils to apply their developing knowledge in practical musical contexts. Progression within each strand is reflected in pupils becoming increasingly able to listen with greater attention to detail, create and manipulate musical ideas, read and represent music, perform with increasing confidence and control, and explain and evaluate their musical choices.

Our curriculum also develops pupils’ understanding of the inter-related dimensions of music. In KS1, pupils establish foundational understanding of dynamics, rhythm, structure, melody and pitch, instrumentation and tempo. This develops through KS2 towards understanding how these elements can be combined and deliberately manipulated to create contrast, mood, tension, structure and musical effect, including an increasing understanding of harmony.

Pupils encounter a diverse range of live and recorded music from different cultures, traditions and historical periods, developing an understanding of the social and historical contexts in which music is created. They learn not only to perform and create music, but to listen critically, appreciate different musical traditions and understand how musical styles and technologies have developed over time.

Our Music curriculum is therefore carefully sequenced, practical and progressive, with clear progression across the key strands of musicianship. It develops pupils from enthusiastic musical explorers into increasingly knowledgeable, confident, creative and independent musicians who can listen critically, create and perform music, communicate their musical ideas and appreciate the diverse musical world around them.

The National Curriculum aims to develop pupils as confident, creative and knowledgeable musicians, giving every child opportunities to enjoy, create, perform and appreciate music. Across Key Stages 1 and 2, pupils learn to sing and play instruments, listen and respond to a wide range of music, compose and improvise, and use and understand musical notation.

As pupils progress, they develop increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression when performing and become more confident in creating and communicating their own musical ideas. They develop an understanding of the inter-related dimensions of music, such as pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo and structure, and learn how these can be used together to create different effects.

Pupils also experience music from a wide range of traditions, cultures, composers and historical periods, developing an understanding of the history of music and learning to listen critically and appreciate music in its many forms.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils should have developed the knowledge, skills and confidence to perform, create, listen to and appreciate music, providing a strong foundation for continuing their musical journey beyond primary school.

We are proud to be part of the Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme. Year 3/4 and Year 4 receive weekly singing sessions delivered by an expert Choral Director from the Diocese, focusing on positive engagement with singing and supporting the Catholic life of the school through sacred music. The sessions offer practical and incremental coverage of areas of the music curriculum - including notation - in a two-year curriculum framework developed by the Diocese and the National Schools Singing Programme.

As a result of this, our pupils also have the opportunity to join one of the Diocese’s acclaimed after-school choirs, which offer an incredible opportunity to pursue a passion for singing and music. You can find online resources that support this work on the Schools Singing Programme’s YouTube channel (www.schoolssingingprogramme.org.uk). Our local Diocese choir is Leeds Cathedral Choir - please contact office@dioceseofleedsmusic.org.uk for more information about joining.

Music plays a vibrant role in school life and enrichment, providing pupils with opportunities to experience, participate in and share music within school, our local community and beyond. Through a wide range of experiences, pupils develop confidence, creativity and a sense of belonging, while developing an appreciation of music as an important part of culture and community.

Opportunities include:

• Music Spotlight of the Week, introducing pupils to a wide range of musicians, composers, genres, traditions and musical cultures.
• Choir as an after-school club, providing opportunities to develop vocal skills, ensemble singing and performance confidence.
• Singing in Church during school Masses, celebrations and liturgies.
• Singing at the local community centre, sharing music with members of our wider community.
• Singing in local care homes at Christmas, using music to connect with and bring joy to others.
• Our annual Christmas Sing-Along, bringing the whole school community together through shared singing and inviting families to celebrate with us.
• Participation in wider events linked to the Church and the sacraments, using music to celebrate important moments in the life of our school and faith community.
• Winter Voices Concert through Artforms, providing pupils with opportunities to perform and experience live music alongside other schools and musicians.
• Yearly desk bell workshop, led by Mrs Stuart-Collins, giving pupils the opportunity to develop practical musicianship and experience an instrument they may not otherwise encounter.
• Opportunities to join the Junior, Girls' or Boys' Cathedral Choir, extending musical opportunities beyond school.
• Events linked to the Leeds Diocese of Music, enabling pupils to participate in wider musical experiences and performances.
• Performances on the radio, both through our links with the local community and through the Diocese of Leeds Music.
• Music throughout the school day, with carefully selected music used during early gates, soft starts, brain breaks and movement breaks, allowing pupils to regularly listen and respond to music in different contexts.
• Music within daily worship, where pupils regularly listen to and sing along with music as part of prayer and reflection.
• Music-rich class assemblies, with every class having the opportunity to perform each year, developing confidence, collaboration and performance skills.
• Dance through PE, providing opportunities for pupils to respond creatively to music through movement, rhythm and choreography.

These experiences help pupils to build confidence, develop a lifelong appreciation of music and experience the joy of performing and listening. They enable children to use music as a means of expression, celebration, connection and communication, while creating opportunities for families and the wider community to share in and celebrate children's achievements. Through these experiences, music becomes an important part of the culture and identity of our school.

Our Music Spotlight gives children the opportunity to experience a wide range of music throughout the school year. Each term, we explore a different musical focus: Western Classical Music, Popular Music and Traditional Music from Around the World. Each week, children are introduced to a particular composer, artist, genre or musical tradition and hear their music at different points throughout the school day. This helps to broaden pupils’ musical experiences, develop open-mindedness and deepen their understanding of the history and cultural context of music.

EYFS

Key Stage 1 and 2:

Music supports reading in a variety of meaningful ways across our curriculum. Pupils read song lyrics, hymn texts, instructions and key musical vocabulary, helping them to build fluency, confidence and understanding. Learning through songs, chants and rhymes also strengthens memory, rhythm, rhyme and phonological awareness, which support early reading development. As children talk about music, composers and performances, they are encouraged to read for information, explore new vocabulary and deepen their comprehension. In this way, music helps pupils to become more confident readers, while reading also enables them to access, understand and enjoy musical learning more fully.

Some music related picture and story books: