Subject Leader: Grace Stackhouse
1. Our Music Curriculum
At Coalbrookdale & Ironbridge CE Primary School, Music is a joyful and inclusive subject that brings our community together. We follow the Charanga scheme to ensure children develop musical skills in singing, listening, composing and performing as they move through the school. Music supports children’s confidence, creativity and wellbeing, while also enriching their spiritual and cultural development.
Children regularly perform in school, at church and within the local community, including annual year group performances and events such as the Ironbridge Christmas Light Switch-On. Through these experiences, music helps our children flourish, express themselves and develop a lifelong love of music.
2. Subject Vision and Intent
Music at Coalbrookdale & Ironbridge CE Primary School is a joyful, inclusive and enriching part of our curriculum that reflects our Christian vision and values. Music brings our school community together through shared song, celebration and performance, supporting our aim for children to live life in all its fullness. Through music, children develop confidence, creativity and self-expression, while learning to listen carefully, collaborate with others and appreciate a wide range of musical styles and traditions.
As children move through the school, they build secure musical knowledge and skills in listening, singing, composing, improvising and performing. Music supports children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development by encouraging empathy, teamwork and reflection. Our intent is to foster a lifelong love of music and provide children with meaningful opportunities to perform, celebrate achievement and express themselves creatively.
3. Implementation — How the Curriculum Is Delivered
We follow the Charanga Music Scheme from Reception to Year 6, ensuring a clear, progressive and engaging music curriculum. Lessons are carefully sequenced so that key musical knowledge and skills are built upon year by year, allowing children to revisit and deepen their understanding over time.
Children learn through a balance of singing, listening, composing, improvising and performing, and experience key musical elements including pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, structure and notation. Teachers adapt lessons to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged children, ensuring that everyone can access and succeed in music. Staff are supported through modelling, shared planning and CPD.
Music is embedded across school life through regular singing worship assemblies and performances in church and within the community. We also work with peripatetic music teachers, who provide specialist instrumental teaching for some pupils, enriching the curriculum and offering further opportunities for musical development. Strong links with Holy Trinity Church and the local community ensure that music is experienced in meaningful, real-life contexts.
4. Inclusion and SEND
Music at Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge CE Primary School is accessible and ambitious for all pupils. Lessons are adapted using adaptations, visual supports and additional adult guidance where appropriate. Children are encouraged to record and express their learning in a variety of ways, ensuring success from individual starting points.
Music plays an important role in promoting wellbeing, belonging and confidence. Our inclusive approach ensures that all children feel valued, can participate fully and experience pride in their musical achievements, regardless of ability or background.
5. Personal Development and Cultural Capital
Music makes a significant contribution to children’s personal development by fostering creativity, resilience and confidence. Pupils explore music from a range of cultures, traditions and genres, developing curiosity and an appreciation of diversity. Through ensemble work and performances, children learn teamwork, independence and perseverance.
Music enriches cultural capital through regular opportunities to perform for real audiences, participate in collective worship and engage with visiting specialists. These experiences help children develop confidence and prepare them to engage positively with the wider world.
6. Impact — Monitoring, Evidence and Outcomes
The impact of music is monitored through lesson visits, pupil voice, planning reviews and Music Floor Books, which capture learning, progression and celebration of achievements. Children demonstrate increasing confidence, enthusiasm and use of musical vocabulary, and are able to recall genres, instruments and musical elements they have studied.
Pupil voice shows that children enjoy music lessons and value opportunities to sing and perform. Recent developments include strengthening the use of Music Floor Books to clearly demonstrate progression across the school. Next steps include increasing opportunities for live music experiences and continuing to build staff confidence in teaching music.
7. Subject Leadership and Development
The subject leader ensures that music is well planned, inclusive and progressive across the school, supported by the Charanga scheme and high-quality resources. Ongoing monitoring and staff feedback demonstrate growing confidence in music delivery. Music Floor Books support consistency, reflection and progression and provide a valuable tool for celebrating pupils’ musical journeys.
Future development priorities include expanding enrichment opportunities, strengthening pupils’ understanding of performance and continuing to build links with musicians and the local community.
8. Music Enrichment and Performance Opportunities
We strongly believe that music should be celebrated and shared. All children have regular opportunities to perform and sing throughout their time at school. These include:
- Annual performances by every year group, ensuring all pupils experience performing for an audience
- Singing at local community events, such as the Ironbridge Christmas Light Switch-On and Little Wenlock Village Hall
- Half-termly services at Holy Trinity Church, giving all children the opportunity to perform in a meaningful setting:
- Reception & Year 1 – Nativity
- Year 2 – Harvest
- Year 3 & 4 – Easter Service
- Year 5 – Pentecost
- Year 6 – End of Year Leavers’ Service
These opportunities build confidence, support spiritual development and strengthen our links with families, the church and the wider community.
Curriculum Overview – Music