Music

At New Road Primary School, we deliver a bespoke music curriculum that combines cross-curricular planning with selected units from the Charanga Musical School Scheme of Learning, including Charanga Sing. Music is taught through weekly or blocked lessons, supporting clear progression from EYFS to Year 6 and enabling pupils to build on prior knowledge and skills.

Children develop musically from playing untuned percussion in small groups to performing in whole-class ensembles using glockenspiels and recorders, alongside participation in a weekly singing assembly.  

In EYFS, staff use a range of flexible Charanga units to meet pupils’ needs, alongside singing across other areas of the curriculum. In KS1, long-, medium-, and short-term planning supports continuous provision and a play-based approach. In KS2, pupils are familiar with the structure of music lessons and follow a long-term plan that incorporates both bespoke cross-curricular music and Charanga units. Across all key-stages enrichment activities are planned, including the use of natural resources for music in our Forest School area.

Planning and Coverage

EYFS

The Charanga Musical School Scheme provides week-by-week lesson support, including lesson plans, assessment guidance, clear progression, and engaging whiteboard resources. The scheme meets the requirements of the National Curriculum and Development Matters.

Each academic year is divided into six units (one per half term), with each unit broken down into six progressive steps. Units typically last six weeks and are often based around a specific song or piece of music. Learning is delivered through an integrated approach, linking musical games, the dimensions of music (such as pulse, rhythm, and pitch), singing, and instrumental work.

Each unit focuses on the following strands of musical learning:

1. Listening and Appraising
2. Musical Activities, including:

• Warm-up games
• Optional flexible games
• Singing
• Playing instruments
• Improvisation
• Composition​​​​​​​

 3. Performing

Charanga’s repetition-based approach allows pupils to revisit musical concepts through a range of activities, leading to deeper understanding and mastery of skills.

KS1

Music in KS1 is taught through continuous provision, with dedicated music spaces in both indoor and outdoor environments. Musical experiences are embedded within the daily flow of learning, encouraging pupils to explore, experiment, and develop skills independently. Carefully planned resources and prompts support creativity, self-expression, and integration with other areas of learning.

Pupils also take part in regular whole-class music sessions focused on listening, appraising, and developing musical vocabulary. Singing plays a central role in the KS1 curriculum, supported by Charanga Sing resources, which introduce pupils to musical notation. Pupils learn songs for whole-school celebrations, including Harvest and the nativity performance.

KS2

The KS2 long-term music plan combines bespoke cross-curricular units with carefully selected Charanga units. Music teaching emphasises progression from small-group ensemble work to whole-class performance. The long-term plan ensures a balanced approach to singing, listening and  appraising, composition, and performance. Pupils are taught to play the glockenspiel and recorder, alongside a range of untuned percussion instruments.

Enrichment and Performance Opportunities

New Road Primary School works in partnership with the Medway Music Association (MMA) to provide pupils with opportunities to perform to live audiences. KS1 and KS2 pupils participate in MMA choral festivals at the Central Theatre, while Year 6 pupils perform annually at Rochester Cathedral. Additional singing sessions are provided to prepare pupils for these events, alongside the weekly music lesson. Pupils are also encouraged to attend MMA holiday music clubs.

Whole-school performances include Harvest celebrations at the local church, KS2 Christmas services, and Easter celebrations. Singing is an integral part of school productions such as the EYFS and KS1 nativity, EYFS showcase, and the Year 6 end-of-year production, which combine music and drama.

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We hold a weekly singing assembly for Years 1–6, during which pupils learn an expanding repertoire of songs. Music from the Model Music Curriculum and a range of popular genres is played at the start and end of these assemblies, with contextual information shared to enhance pupils’ understanding.