At St Augustine’s, the intention is that children gain a solid understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions and musical genres.  Our objective is the development of a curiosity, understanding and a respect for a wide variety of music from the Early Years through to Year 6.  We truly believe in ensuring that music enriches the lives of children, as individuals, as well as in the wider community, and are given the opportunity to use their musical skills, knowledge and experiences to involve themselves, in a variety of different contexts.

Music is taught as part of cross curricula work themed around topics, through the schemes of work provided by ‘Charanga’ throughout the school and support provided by the Coventry Music Hub.  The music curriculum ensures that pupils develop the key skills of singing, listening, composing and performing.  This is embedded in the classroom activities as well as weekly hymn practices, assemblies, Holy Time and Mass and, from Year 4 onwards, the opportunity to join the School Choir.

The extra-curricular musical opportunities offered via the school choir provide scope to sing in the local community and at large venues with professional musicians through Young Voices and links with Armonico Consort.  This has provided immeasurable benefits in terms of team building and confidence boosting as well as the privilege of singing on stage at venues such as Warwick Arts Centre, the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, Resorts World Arena in Birmingham and The Royal Albert Hall in London.

All year groups, from Reception to Year 6, will be taught the skills of singing, listening, composing and musicianship or performing (individually and collectively).  These skills will be taught through the Charanga Scheme and are in line with the Department of Education Model Music Curriculum (DoE MMC): Key Stages 1 and 2 (non-statutory guidance published in March 2021) and the Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (published in March 2021 and effective from 1 September 2021).

Within each of the units, the Charanga Scheme identifies a number of different songs to be learnt and music of different genres (Western Classical Music, Popular Music [within a broad definition] and Traditional Music from around the World) to critically listen to in line with the guidance issued by the DoE MMC.  In addition to the repertoire identified by Charanga, the DoE MMC also makes suggestions of music to sing and to actively listen to – these can be found in Appendix 2 and 3.  Suggestions of additional music repertoire, if required (for example for a specific project), can be sought from the Music Co-ordinator.

Please click below to  view our music knowledge and skills progression: