Introduction

Academic year this summary covers

2025-2026

Date this summary was published

15.09.25

Date this summary will be reviewed

14.09.26

Name of the school music lead

Mrs Rose

Name of school leadership team member with responsibility for music

Mrs Rose

Name of local music hub

Havering Music School

Name of other music education partnerships

Royal Ballet and Opera School

RAD Music/My Music Lessons

 

This is a summary of how St. Ursula’s Catholic Primary school delivers music education to all our pupils across three areas - curriculum music, extracurricular provision and musical experiences - and what changes we are planning in future years.

This information is to help pupils and parents or carers understand what our school offers and who we work with to support our pupils’ music education.

Part A: Curriculum Music

Timetabling

Curriculum music is music taught in lesson time.

Year Group

Time dedicated to curriculum music teaching each half term

EYFS (Rec)

6 hours per half term:

1 hour per week from a specialist music teacher (plus some additional time during continuous provision)

Year 1

6 hours per half term:

1 hour per week from a specialist music teacher

Year 2

6 hours per half term:

1 hour per week from a specialist music teacher

Year 3

5 Music units per year - Kapow:

An average of 3 hours per half term (see long-term plan)

Year 4

5 Music units per year - Kapow:

An average of 3 hours per half term (see long-term plan)

Year 5

5 Music units per year - Kapow:

An average of 3 hours per half term (see long-term plan)

Year 6

5 Music units per year - Kapow:

An average of 3 hours per half term (see long-term plan)

 

Curriculum music lessons are informed by the Model Music Curriculum (non- statutory guidance for music teaching) and provide pupils with opportunities to:

  • Listen to and evaluate music from diverse time periods and cultures.
  • Learn how to create and control sound using their voices, as well as tuned and untuned instruments.
  • Understand how music is communicated through various notation systems.
  • Improvise and compose music.
  • Perform musically in front of audiences of varying sizes

Select the following link to view the curriculum map:

Combined Computing and Music Curriculum Map

Part B: Extra-Curricular Music

Timetabling

Opportunities for singing and playing music outside of lesson time support pupil progress beyond the core curriculum.

Instrumental lessons are delivered by My Music Lessons/RAD Music and give pupils an opportunity to learn the piano, guitar, violin or drums, allowing them to develop technical proficiency on a single instrument.

We also have instrumental lessons from Rock Steady who deliver inclusive band lessons designed to amplify children’s self-belief, support wellbeing and help maximise their potential back in the classroom.

Year group

Assembly time dedicated to music learning each week

Extra-curricular club opportunities available to all

Music Tuition

£

EYFS:

Reception

Hymn Praise:

30 minutes per week

 

My Music Lessons/RAD Music

Rock Steady

Year 1

Hymn Praise:

30 minutes per week

 

My Music Lessons/RAD Music

Rock Steady

Year 2

Hymn Praise:

30 minutes per week

 

My Music Lessons/RAD Music

Rock Steady

Year 3

Hymn Praise:

30 minutes per week

 

My Music Lessons/RAD Music

Rock Steady

Year 4

Hymn Praise:

30 minutes per week

School Choir

My Music Lessons/RAD Music

Rock Steady

Year 5

Hymn Praise:

30 minutes per week

School Choir

My Music Lessons/RAD Music

Rock Steady

Year 6

Hymn Praise:

30 minutes per week

School Choir

My Music Lessons/RAD Music

Rock Steady

 

A pound sign (£) denotes that there is a cost to parents/carers associated with this extra- curricular activity.

 

Part C: Musical Experiences

Opportunities to participate and be an audience member

 

Autumn

Spring

Summer

EYFS:

Reception

Weekly Hymn Praise

Christmas Performance

Pantomime

Rock Steady Concert

Weekly Hymn Praise

Rock Steady Concert

Weekly Hymn Praise

Year 1

Weekly Hymn Praise

Christmas Performance

Pantomime

Rock Steady Concert

Weekly Hymn Praise

Rock Steady Concert

Easter Production

Weekly Hymn Praise

Year 6 Production

Summer Choir Performance

Year 2

Weekly Hymn Praise

Christmas Performance

Pantomime

Rock Steady Concert

Weekly Hymn Praise

Rock Steady Concert

Easter Production

Weekly Hymn Praise

Year 6 Production

Summer Choir Performance

Year 3

Weekly Hymn Praise

Christmas Performance

Pantomime

Rock Steady Concert

Weekly Hymn Praise

Rock Steady Concert

Easter Production

Weekly Hymn Praise

Year 6 Production

Summer Choir Performance

Year 4

Weekly Hymn Praise

Christmas Performance

Pantomime

Rock Steady Concert

Weekly Hymn Praise

Rock Steady Concert

Easter Production

Weekly Hymn Praise

Year 6 Production

Summer Choir Performance/Junior Music Festival

Year 5

Weekly Hymn Praise

Christmas Performance

Pantomime

Rock Steady Concert

Weekly Hymn Praise

Rock Steady Concert

Easter Production

Weekly Hymn Praise

Year 6 Production

Summer Choir Performance/Junior Music Festival

Year 6

Weekly Hymn Praise

Christmas Performance

Pantomime

Rock Steady Concert

Weekly Hymn Praise

Rock Steady Concert

Easter Production

Weekly Hymn Praise

Year 6 Production

Summer Choir Performance/Junior Music Festival

 

 

In the future

St. Ursula’s Catholic Primary School is committed to continually enhancing musical offerings to pupils. Below are the improvements we plan to implement in the coming years.

Improvement

Who will benefit?

Is the change to

A: curriculum music

B: extra-curricular music

C: musical experiences?

When will the change be introduced?

Arrange extra-curricular Music trips and/or workshops in order to provide additional opportunities to develop musical skill and talent and inspire young musicians.

All pupils

Musical Experiences

2025/2026

2026/2027

Arrange a yearly choir concert in order to further develop musical skill and talent, inspire young musicians and to provide additional opportunities for performance and appreciation of music.

All pupils

Choir – performance and musical skills

Rest of the school – listening and appreciation of music

Extra-curricular music and musical experiences

2025/2026

Seek funding to support pupils from low-income families in receiving opportunities to learn and play an instrument.

Pupils from low-income families

Extra-curricular Music

2025/2026

2026/2027

 

Additional Information and Support for Parents

(Taken from the DfE What the national plan for music education means for children and young people)

Music education outside of school

Where you have an interest, your school and local music hub can support you to:

  • take music lessons for instruments or singing outside of school
  • join groups, orchestras or choirs out of school
  • perform out of school
  • make your own music and learn music in your own time
  • share music you have composed, created or recorded in a live concert or online
  • go to live concerts and listen to music by your peers, local community or professionals

Music hubs

Music hubs provide music education opportunities in every part of the country. This includes:

  • working with teachers in the classroom to provide great music education
  • providing opportunities within schools for children and young people to:
  • learn instruments
  • sing, either on their own or in small groups
  • join choirs, orchestras, bands and other types of ensembles
  • providing opportunities to learn and enjoy music outside of school

To find contact information for your local music hub, visit Arts Council England. If you’re still not sure how to find your local music hub, ask your teacher.

Support to access musical opportunities

Speak to your teacher to find out what you can get involved in, and what help is available.

Support and guidance may be from your school, music hub or another organisation in your area. It could include:

  • access to musical instruments or music technology
  • space to practice, such as a quiet room in school, available to you outside of lesson time
  • access to facilities such as a recording studio or computer suite where you can record, produce or mix music
  • support with going to concerts and performances (including help to afford tickets or help with getting to venues)
  • guidance on how to take your next steps with music, including how to access national organisations where you can meet other young musicians
  • information about studying music in further education or at university and how studying music can support your wider career goals
  • information about careers in music and how to get into them

National Youth Music Organisations help to develop talented young musicians across a range of musical genres. They provide support to music hubs and many further and higher education settings.

Support with costs, fees and access

These organisations provide support with costs, fees and access to music. This includes:

  • costs for musical instruments, lessons and rehearsal spaces
  • financial support to take part in activities with youth music organisations beyond school

Your local music hub may provide financial support for some activities.

The Music and Dance Scheme provides grants for children and young people aged 8 to 19 with exceptional talent and potential. They help with fees at 8 independent schools and 21 centres for advanced training.

The Youth Music NextGen Fund offers young creatives aged 18 to 25 grants of up to £2,500 to launch creative projects, ideas or businesses.

Awards for Young Musicians offers grants to talented children and young people aged 5 to 17 to support with music-making.

Take it Away provides interest-free loans to buy musical instruments.

UK Music’s rehearsal spaces project supports rehearsal spaces across the UK. Each space provides instruments and equipment for free or for a minimal cost.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) offers advice on:

  • music education
  • employment
  • ABRSM braille exam pieces
  • buying and loaning music

Further information and resources

Read about other young musicians in the power of music to change lives: case studies. The ‘musical pathways: individual stories’ section shows how they first became involved in music and where it has taken them.

BBC Bitesize resources support the study of music across all stages and exam boards.

BBC 10 pieces includes classical music films, instrumental arrangements and live events.

You can also find resources and information to: