Music Development Plan: 2024-25                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

We hope this Music Development plan for 2024-25 gives you a clear idea of the value we place on music at Benton Dene Primary School. Put simply, our children are taught to become better musicians and to think more musically. It is our intent that they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose and to listen with discrimination. We understand that music can inspire and motivate children and play an important role in their personal development as well as their emotional wellbeing. It can also help children develop a greater appreciation of the world we live in, by understanding different cultures and societies. We encourage pupils to develop a love of music by performing, singing, composing and listening to a wide range of music. All children in our school have the opportunity to perform through assemblies and shows in addition to optional 1:1 or small group peripatetic lessons which run throughout the week.

Curriculum Music:

We are very proud of the bespoke music curriculum we have at Benton Dene Primary School which is always under review in order to respond to the needs of the children. Through rigorous and thorough planning we develop children’s singing, composing and performance skills as well as their ability to listen and appraise music. Our lessons are supported with high quality resources such as Charanga and Singup.

All pupils in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) are taught music as an integral part of the topic work covered during the academic year. In addition to this, EYFS children receive a discrete 30 min lesson per week. Their musical objectives are underpinned by the objectives of the early learning goals (ELGs) and the music curriculum in the EYFS is delivered with particular reference to the ‘Development Matters’ & ‘Musical Development Matters in the Early Years’.

Key Stage 1 and 2 children receive a 1 hour music lesson per week taught by teachers with the required expertise and who are part of our staff team.

All pupils within KS1 and KS2 are taught music in line with the requirements of the National Curriculum as well as adopted elements of the non-statutory Model Music Curriculum and ‘The power of music to change lives: a national plan for music education’.

More information about exactly what is taught in each year group can be found by clicking the ‘Long term plan for coverage and progression’ at the bottom of this page.

We have been a Music Mark school continuously since 2021 in recognition of the high value we place on music education at Benton Dene Primary.

Throughout school, provision is made for disabled pupils and to support pupils with special educational needs (SEND). This can range from tailored resources to additional support to enable all children to make progress. 

Co-Curricular:

Benton Dene Primary offers extensive co-curricular music options taught by a range of experienced teachers and industry professionals.

Each year-group learns a new song every half term to perform in assembly with their class. Songs are carefully chosen to match the skills expected and their stage of development.

Clubs

Key Stage 1 children have the opportunity to join a music club where they can learn about a range of instruments and develop a real love of music.

Fees for this club are reduced for children in receipt of Pupil Premium funding.

We run an open-access Year 5 & 6 choir who rehearse for a performance at Whitley Bay Playhouse.

Additionally, we have an open-access Key Stage 2 choir for a large North Tyneside Learning Trust event.

Peripatetic Teaching

Children can access a wide range of 1:1 and small group instrumental lessons including:

Violin

Guitar

Drums

Trumpet

Once ready, children can work towards graded musical examinations by speaking to their tutor who will advise on the most appropriate options. We hold annual ‘Progress Assemblies’ for all of these lessons whereby the whole school community can attend.

Instruments can be borrowed at no additional cost for all children participating in these lessons and children in receipt of Pupil Premium funding can receive discounted fees.

Rocksteady enables children to join a rock band and rehearse weekly in order to perform to our school community each term. More information about Rocksteady can be found at https://www.rocksteadymusicschool.com/

We have a number of bursary spaces to help children in receipt of Pupil Premium funding to access Rocksteady.

We are proud to promote the excellent work of North Tyneside Music Hub.

More information on the opportunities they offer can be found at https://ntmeh.org.uk/activities-for-young-people/ and we recommend their weekend music activities.