Music

Music development plan summary:
Keystone Academy 

Overview 

This is a summary of how our school delivers music education to all our pupils across three areas – curriculum music, co-curricular provision and musical experiences – and what changes we are planning in future years. This information is to help pupils and parents or carers understand what our school offers and who we work with to support our pupils’ music education.  

Part A: Curriculum music 

This is about what we teach in lesson time, how much time is spent teaching music and any music qualifications or awards that pupils can achieve. 

Curriculum Intent 

The curriculum for KS1-3 is adapted from the Oak National Academy Music curriculum. Our intent is to encourage pupils to embrace creativity and expression and foster a lifelong connection with music as an essential tool in emotional wellbeing and connecting with others. The curriculum introduces pupils to different styles of music from a range of cultures, broadening their cultural capital and awareness of the wider world. Musical knowledge and skills are developed incrementally, with content suitably chunked.

Over time, pupils will:
* Use music as a tool for social communication and engaging with others.
* Develop their creativity and confidence.
* Build musical knowledge, techniques and specialist language.
* Understand a diverse range of genres, traditions and styles.
* Develop analytical skills in responding to different types of music.

Primary – Key Stage 1 & 2 

Lessons in KS1 and LKS2 are taught by the classroom teacher. Lessons in UKS2 are taught by a music specialist in a music classroom with access to specialist music equipment (such as a range of keyboards, drums and percussion instruments).

Music plays an important role in the delivery of our thematic primary curriculum, integrated into other lessons and project work to create a rounded understanding of topics. Learning actively and through play are key to our music curriculum. There is a focus on music-making and engaged listening tasks that develop aural skills.

The national curriculum has the aim that ‘pupils learn to sing and to use their voices’. We recognise that, in our context as a school with high levels of neurodiversity (65%+) and Speech, Language and Communication needs (70%+), finding your voice and sharing it with others can be challenging. We look to introduce the joy of music through a shared appreciation of different musical styles and by playing together in an ensemble. There is an emphasis on Music and Movement. Singing is introduced slowly and adaptively, allowing pupils to find pleasure in singing.

KS3 

Pupils in years 7, 8 and 9 have one timetabled lesson each week delivered by a music learning mentor employed by The Keystone Academy. There continues to be a focus on practical music-making and engagement with musical sound. We continue to develop pupils’ confidence in their own abilities to communicate and perform musically, understanding that for some of our pupils this can be challenging.

There are key ‘threads’ woven throughout the KS1-KS3 curriculum to provide continuity and depth.

Our threads in music are:
* Developing our singing voice.
* Playing together in an ensemble.
* Practising and preparing for a performance.
* Creating, composing and improvising.
* Notating and sharing music.
* Music over time and in different places.

Part B: Extra-curricular music 

We know that subjects such as music and sport are important within a school as they allow children an opportunity to explore and develop their interests and find a place of safety surrounded by like-minded individuals. Music recognises that gifts and talents are not always academic; this is of particular importance in a specialist setting. 

We want our music department to be a place of belonging, joy and sanctuary for our pupils throughout the school day. Opportunities for pupils to engage with music at Keystone are developing rapidly. The employment of a dedicated Music Learning Mentor has allowed us to expand our music offer outside of the standard curriculum through:

* Music lessons for disadvantaged pupils – our learning mentor delivers 1:1 music lesons to those who express an interest in music, but where families may not have the financial means to pay for lessons. He is currently supporting 9 pupils weekly with these lessons in a range of instruments.
* After school enrichment – there is a thriving music club open to all pupils.
* Weekly enrichment – pupils are able to choose music for their weekly enrichment slot. These sessions are delivered by staff with extensive music and music teaching experience to enable support across a wide range of instruments.
* Music at social times – the music department is available to all pupils at social times as a practice space. They have access to our range of instruments and specialist music staff.
* Peripatetic music lessons – we are delighted to be working with the Rock Music School to offer tailored individualised music lessons on piano, guitar, bass and drums. Interest in other instruments can also be supported. These lessons are arranged with and paid for directly to Rock Music School. Further information can be provided upon request.