Music
Intent - what do we want for our developing musicians?
At Horn’s Mill, music is a vital part of a broad and balanced education. We aim to develop confident, skilled, and passionate musicians who leave primary school with a lifelong love of singing, playing, and composing, supported by a strong understanding of music.
Our curriculum ensures progression of skills and knowledge across all year groups, embedding key musical vocabulary and preparing pupils for the next stage of their education.
Through our music curriculum, children:
- Explore, listen to, and appraise a wide range of genres, styles, and historical periods.
- Sing regularly, developing confidence and enjoyment in performance.
- Play and compose using instruments including glockenspiel, violin, ukulele, and recorder.
- Build the skills and experiences needed to inspire a lasting love of music.
Implementation - How is the curriculum delivered?
Our bespoke curriculum ensures that every child listens, sings, appraises, composes, plays, and performs through engaging, progressive lessons. Key musical elements and vocabulary are revisited through spiral progression, enabling pupils to consolidate and extend their learning. Regular formative assessment and feedback help identify strengths and next steps.
Enrichment and Opportunities
- Professional partnerships: Collaborations with AmaSing and visiting musicians give pupils the chance to compose and perform original works, including Year 6 leavers’ songs such as Build a World.
- Performances: Weekly singing assemblies, school concerts, and community events build confidence and celebrate achievement.
- Clubs and events: Choir, band, Ho Ho Helsby, Young Voices, and the annual Musical Extravaganza offer opportunities to perform locally and nationally.
- Specialist tuition: Whole-class instrument lessons (Year 2 ukulele, Year 4 violin via Music For Life), with subsidised small-group or individual lessons available.
Reading across the curriculum
Music also supports reading development. Staff plan opportunities for pupils to engage with age-appropriate texts linked to musical learning. Whole-class reading lessons from Year 2 upwards include lyric study and exploration of different genres. For example, in Year 6, pupils study songs from musicals (Speechless from Aladdin, Defying Gravity from Wicked, Waving Through a Window from Dear Evan Hansen). In Year 5, as part of cross-curricular work on Walt Disney, pupils explore songs from Disney films (Be Prepared – The Lion King, Out There – The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Go the Distance – Hercules).
Impact - How do we know our Art curriculum is effective?
The impact of our music curriculum is evident in the skills, enjoyment and confidence shown by our pupils. Children develop a secure understanding of musical vocabulary and use it confidently to articulate their learning and reflect on progress. They demonstrate clear progression in singing, instrumental performance, composition and appraisal, with knowledge, skills and vocabulary securely embedded by the end of each key stage.
Pupil voice shows that music is highly valued across the school, with children reporting enjoyment and a strong sense of achievement in lessons, assemblies, clubs and performances. Participation is consistently high, and performances for parents, residents and the wider community strengthen links beyond the classroom. Partnerships with local musicians and organisations further enrich our curriculum and broaden pupils’ cultural capital.
Through music, children nurture transferable skills such as perseverance, creativity, teamwork and self-discipline. Confidence is strengthened through performance and collaboration, and pupils gain an appreciation of a wide range of styles, cultures and traditions, deepening their cultural understanding and respect for diversity.
Our music curriculum is reviewed regularly with input from staff, pupils and parents to ensure it remains innovative, inclusive and inspiring. As a result, Horn’s Mill nurtures talented, confident and engaged musicians, equipping them with the skills, experiences and enthusiasm to continue their musical journey beyond primary school.
For enquiries, please contact Miss Hayley Foster at hfoster@hornsmill.cheshire.sch.uk.
