Intent

At Our Lady of Fatima, we believe that every child is a musician and that music is a powerful form of expression, creativity, and connection. Rooted in our Catholic values, our music curriculum is designed to inspire a lifelong appreciation of music, while nurturing confidence, enjoyment and a sense of belonging through shared experiences.

We aim to ensure all pupils:

• Develop a love of music and experience the joy it brings;

• Grow as confident performers, thoughtful listeners and imaginative composers;

• Engage with music from a broad range of cultures, styles, time periods and traditions;

• Express themselves through singing, playing instruments, and composing;

• Understand music as both an individual pursuit and a collective, spiritual experience that reflects the light and love of Jesus.

Through a carefully planned curriculum and a wide range of enrichment opportunities, we strive to give all children, regardless of background or ability, the chance to flourish and discover their God-given musical talents.

Implementation

Music is taught from Reception to Year 6 through weekly lessons using the KAPOW Primary Music Scheme, which provides a coherent and progressive structure aligned with the National Curriculum. Lessons are creative, practical and inclusive, with a strong focus on enjoyment, participation and musical growth.

Key features of our music implementation include:

• Weekly music lessons for all year groups using high-quality resources from the KAPOW scheme;

• Progressive teaching of key musical elements including pitch, tempo, dynamics, rhythm, timbre and structure;

• Opportunities to compose, improvise, and perform using both tuned and untuned instruments;

• Regular singing as a whole school, with weekly hymn practice, class worship songs and music embedded in liturgical celebrations;

• Opportunities to learn musical notation and explore the history and cultural context of music.

Enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities include:

• Music tuition in partnership with Services with Education (e.g. upper, lower string, keyboard);

• Seasonal performances, including the EYFS/KS1 Nativity and KS2 Carol Service;

• Participation in large-scale events, such as the Catholic Schools’ Pyramid Concert at Symphony Hall; Birmingham Ensemble. 

• Opportunities to perform and share music within the community and in worship.

Teachers assess musical progress through observation, listening, performance and pupil engagement, ensuring lessons are adapted to support all learners effectively.

Impact

By the time pupils leave Our Lady of Fatima, they will have developed:

• A secure foundation of musical knowledge, skills and vocabulary;

• Confidence in performing, composing and appraising music;

• An appreciation for music as a form of personal and collective expression;

• An understanding of music's place in culture, worship and human experience.

Our children leave us not only ready for the next stage of their musical education but also equipped with the joy, creativity and spiritual understanding that music uniquely brings. They carry with them a love of learning that is rooted in our faith and our mission to live, love and learn together in the example of Christ.