Music
At Fairlawn, children enjoy quality music lessons. A strong musical culture exists in the school. We celebrate music-makers in our own community and have found a strong appreciation for music.
Intent
A high-quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.
At Fairlawn, we understand the importance of music. Music and performance is central to the culture of our school – through music we come together, to learn, commemorate and celebrate. Through music and performance, we intend to explore the world and strengthen our community.
Music provides opportunities for children to be creative and express themselves. Equally, it develops discipline and control.
Music should be accessible to all, both as listeners and creators. At Fairlawn, we understand the importance that it can play in life.
Implementation
Music is used as a cross curricular tool for other subjects throughout the different Key Stages. Pupils’ skills are developed in performing and composition; which involves pupils working as a class, in smaller groups and individually.
The assessment of children’s musical learning is ongoing and each unit of music is assessed by the teacher through continuous observations during lessons. We follow the structure of the Oak Academy programme which covers the required skills from the national curriculum. Visiting teachers from Lewisham Music Service deliver whole class instrumental lessons with Pupil Premium children offered the opportunity to learn an instrument free of charge. All Year 5 children are given the opportunity to learn percussion through Samba in their lessons and perform what they have learnt to the school at the end of the term. In year 3, all children are taught the recorder and children learn to understand musical concepts through a repetition-based approach to learning. In year 6, the children are given a half day Rap Workshop, which is linked to mental health as it challenges children to be creative and expressive through an alternative genre of music.
In class and displayed around the school, children are exposed to the vocabulary they need to express musical ideas, making music more tangible and they are encouraged to think critically about it.
Progression routes are available for those children who want to develop their musical skills further by participating in extra-curricular music making activities. This includes choirs, singing lessons and instrumental groups and bands. Music is well resourced, with a range of instruments kept in the music room. Teachers are free to borrow resources as they require them. A variety of instruments are rented from Lewisham Music Service and are lent to children so that they can practise at home. The school also owns its own instruments which are also lent to children.
Fairlawn School has a commitment to equal opportunities. Pupils from all backgrounds enjoy sustained musical opportunities through regular classroom learning and music for all. This is complemented by additional tuition, partnerships and extra-curricular activities.
Differentiation is achieved through careful planning, appropriate resources, teacher input and outcome.
Impact
All children feel involved in the musical culture of the school and are inspired to enjoy music as an essential part of their lives.
All children feel involved in the musical culture of the school and are inspired to enjoy music as an essential part of their lives. They can express themselves freely and creatively and many find a passion in a place they may never have been able to access. This in turn helps to build self-confidence, curiosity and collaboration skills, enabling them to become the best versions of themselves.