Music

Music Development Plan for Pioneer

The national plan for music education sets out the government’s vision to enable all children and young people in England to:

• Learn to sing, play an instrument and create music together

• Have the opportunity to progress their musical interests and talents, including professionally

The plan sets out how we will achieve this vision by 2030, emphasising the importance of partnerships between education settings, music hubs and music organisations.

Overview

• Date summary published September 2024

• Date reviewed September 2025

• Name of school music lead Laura Phillips

• Local music hub Essex music hub

• Other Music organisations Charanga Music

At Pioneer School, music follows a bespoke curriculum suitable to the cognitive understanding of our pupils and is taught weekly in all classes. Children build on previous learning, which ensures a clear progression in music. Children perform, listen to, review, and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians. 

We aim for all our pupils to develop a life-long love of music, in a school with a musical atmosphere through a wide range of quality musical experiences which engage and inspire them. At the heart of the music curriculum are creativity, curiosity and excitement and children who are developing increased self-confidence, self-esteem and collaborative skills. Music opportunities support the children’s mental health and allow them time to express their emotions. 

Children learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence. Children understand and explore how music is created, produced, and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture and structure. 

All children take part in weekly signing assemblies and have the opportunity to join our school choir.

The choir meets weekly and also performs at all school events as well as at the local retirement home and local shopping centre.

Music is played daily as the pupils arrive at school covering a wide range of genres.

Our classes run Musical Communication sessions. These sessions leverage the emotional and sensory power of music to help our pupils develop their communication, social, and emotional skills. By engaging in structured and enjoyable musical activities, our pupils can improve their ability to interact with others, express themselves, and regulate their emotions, making it a highly effective therapeutic intervention.

Long term aims

To increase lunchtime clubs to include music lessons.

To add pianos to the playground for musical expression.

To widen the performances offered to other community partners.

To work with our local schools to offer joint music festivals and performances.