Woodside’s Music Curriculum

“Music is the universal language of mankind.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

At Woodside, music is the heartbeat of our school. It brings our community together, encourages expression and confidence, and gives every child the chance to experience the joy and power of making music. Our bespoke music offer blends high‑quality curriculum teaching with rich musical experiences that help children grow as performers, creators and listeners.

A Curriculum Led by Specialists Who Inspire

Music at Woodside is taught weekly across the school by two passionate specialists:

• John Lavis, Music Champion and subject lead
• Andy Welch, PPA Music Teacher

Every class also takes part in a weekly whole‑school singing assembly, enabling children to sing joyfully together, learn new repertoire and observe both specialists modelling live musicianship.

A High‑Quality Curriculum Built from Charanga and Enriched at Woodside

Our curriculum is underpinned by Charanga, ensuring full coverage of the National Curriculum and the Model Music Curriculum with clear progression in singing, playing, composing and listening.

Long‑term planning ensures a rich and varied musical journey from EYFS to Year 6, with units such as “Let Your Spirit Fly,” “Hands, Feet, Heart,” “Bringing Us Together,” “Ukulele,” “Djembe,” and many more across the year.

Repetition and carefully sequenced learning help children build secure understanding of rhythm, pulse, pitch, notation and musical vocabulary.

Instrumental Learning for All – A Standout Strength

All Key Stage 2 pupils learn two musical instruments during their time at Woodside:

• Glockenspiels – fostering early musicianship, notation reading and ensemble skills
• Djembe drums – developing rhythmic confidence, cultural understanding and group performance

This guaranteed instrumental entitlement ensures equity, high standards and unforgettable musical experiences for every child.

Growing Talent Through Peripatetic Lessons and Rocksteady

To extend musical opportunity beyond curriculum time, Woodside offers:

• Peripatetic instrumental lessons for children who wish to deepen their musicianship
• Free peripatetic lessons for pupil premium pupils, ensuring inclusion and access
• The newly launched Rocksteady programme, giving children the opportunity to form real bands, rehearse together weekly, perform as a group and build teamwork, confidence and stage presence

These opportunities encourage a love of music, nurture developing talent, and give children experience of performing in authentic musical settings.

Inclusive Music for Ivy Class (SRP) Pupils

Music is a powerful tool for self‑expression, communication and life skills.
Our Ivy Class (SRP) pupils take part in musical learning as part of their personalised life‑skills curriculum, with adjustments and support to enable full participation in lessons, singing assemblies, Rocksteady sessions and performances.
This ensures music is accessible, meaningful and joyful for every child at Woodside.

Performing at the Heart of School Life

Children at Woodside perform confidently and proudly throughout the year to a wide range of audiences, including:

• Parents and carers
• Parish and local community
• Whole‑school worship and church services

Annual musical events include:

• Young Voices – giving KS2 children the unforgettable experience of performing at a major arena
• The KS2 Musical Theatre Production – with recent shows such as Music Through the Ages and The Lion King, offering opportunities for singing, solos, acting, backstage roles, dancing and ensemble work
• Harvest, Christmas, Easter and end‑of‑year services as part of our church calendar

Every KS2 child has the opportunity to take part—there is a place for everyone in our musical community.

A Typical Music Lesson at Woodside

Our lessons are lively, structured and inclusive. A typical lesson includes:

• Warm‑up activities exploring pulse, rhythm and pitch
• Retrieval tasks revisiting previously learnt vocabulary and skills
• Introduction of new musical vocabulary
• Listening tasks using taught terminology
• Practical musicianship: singing, glockenspiel playing, improvisation and composition

This structure ensures children make excellent progress and develop pride in their musical achievements.

What Makes Woodside’s Music Curriculum Special?

• Specialist‑led teaching across the whole school
• A strong curriculum foundation through Charanga
• Guaranteed instrumental learning for all KS2 pupils
• Inclusive peripatetic provision, including free access for pupil premium pupils
• Rocksteady band opportunities to develop confidence and collaboration
• Musical experiences woven through the church calendar and wider community
• High‑quality performance opportunities, from school shows to major arenas
• Music as a core part of our identity—the heartbeat of Woodside

At Woodside, we don’t just teach music—
we grow musicians, performers and confident young people who find joy in the power of sound.

National Curriculum – Music key stages 1 to 2 (publishing.service.gov.uk)