Music Development Plan

Music curriculum intent: 

At Orchard House we recognise the value of musicmaking.

The overarching curriculum intent within all key stages and across all access groups is to inspire and support students to engage with music through experiencing a variety of styles and genres, as outlined in the national statutory guidance. 

Our long-term intent is to create opportunities for students to develop these skills through engaging with our broad curriculum offer. Each SOW is thoughtfully planned and resourced to offer meaningful activities within the - listening & responding - creating & composing - performing & sharing outlet. The opportunity to engage with musical talent and to visit and perform at well-established venues allows students to further develop transferable skills and knowledge acquired in the classroom. This is in line with the Music National Curriculum purpose of study. 

Music is taught once a week across the year for all Structured and Independent groups. Music is taught by classroom teachers. When accessing music lessons students will listen and respond, create, and compose, perform, and share music. Students will also develop their understanding of musical traditions and musical notation. Throughout the year there are opportunities for students to attend and participate in live music sessions both at Orchard House and well-known music venues such as The Bridgewater Hall and The Lowry.

Independent learners:

Independent learners have access to a wide range of instruments, electronic equipment, an interactive floor in the ILE and a music room equipped with a variety of instruments.

Structured & Experiential learners:  

Students access music in their own classrooms to ensure consistency and familiarity in their learning. Students who can access music in an unfamiliar space and are recognised as needing extra support to make progress are considered for 1:1 or group music therapy session. Some Experiential and Structured students access music in a small group with the Nordoff Robbins music therapist. This intensive package allows students better access and opportunity to make progress in music through building confidence, enabling communication, having an opportunity to be creative and having an opportunity to initiate and lead.

Music for our 16–19-year-olds: 

Music is an optional choice for independent learners at Post 16; it is part of the Music, Drama & Culture modules. The Music offer will run alongside two ASDAN accreditations, Towards Independence: Performing Arts & Towards Independence: Engaging with the world around me.

The modules for Structured learners are delivered alongside Towards Independence: Sound, Rhythm, and Music.

ASDAN’s mission is to engage young people aged 11 to 25 years, in greatest need, to achieve meaningful learning outcomes, which elevate them to go on to further education, training, or work, and empower them to take control of their lives.  

Our overarching goals for Post 16 learners are:

• To support the development of EHCP targets by developing further, independent enquiry, Self-management, Teamwork, Communication & Application of number.  
• To engage with outside music agencies, including Rocksteady, Live Music Now, Reform radio, DIGIT & One Education.

Music has a crucial role in equipping pupils with the language skills they need to become effective communicators and language users as members of the school community and the wider world. Within this context, Music for our 16–19-year-old learners continues to embed and consolidate the key skills and knowledge acquired within KS3 and KS4 whilst providing students with opportunities to transition this knowledge within functional and age-appropriate settings.

Extra-curricular opportunities 

In addition to curriculum music, we offer personalised sessions with specialist staff to students where additional support is needed. Interventions are delivered by our Nordoff Robbins music therapist.  

Guidance  

The curriculum offer is intended to deeply embed Music skills through substantial repetition, which is a fundamental tool of learning and particularly important for students with additional needs. The curriculum offer has been designed in conjunction with:  

• National Curriculum in England: music programmes of study, updated March 2021
• The power of music to change lives: A National Education Plan for Music Education, June 2022  
• Model Music Curriculum: Key Stages 1 – 3 (non-statutory guidance for the national curriculum in England), March 2021  
• We All Make Music, Drake Music, 2018 - Sounds of Intent Framework, 2001  

In line with the National Curriculum for Music, our overarching goals within KS3 and KS4 are to:  

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

Model Music Curriculum  

The music curriculum considers the Model Music Curriculum for Key Stage 3, with the inclusion of music technology as one of our five skills. Music Technology is highlighted as having ‘an increasingly important role … given its importance in opening routes to further study.’ Musical notation and Musical tradition are also key skills, as referenced in the Model Music Curriculum. These skills have been chosen to support our students to gain a better understanding of the wide and varied repertoire that they will experience within our music curriculum.  

As referenced in the Model Music Curriculum, our music modules are presented in chronological order of the year in which the piece or song was written and grouped by era. This is to support students to develop their knowledge of different musical periods and styles. 

Each music module establishes what learning is previously linked to the scheme of work. This relates to other music modules and subject areas. Music is taught discreetly once a week and is also utilised throughout the day. Music is used in other subject areas and may support transitions within lessons or to access different learning environments. 

Students can join ensembles as an enrichment activity: 

• KS3/KS4 Song and sign 
• KS5 Song and sign 
• KS3/KS4 Pop/Rock group 
• KS5 Music enrichment 

Local offer 

We share regular updates via the school website on the local offer and what musical opportunities are available for our families and students, both within and outside of term time. 

Saturday Sounds

Billy and Andy’s Music school 

Be Hear Now 

We encourage our students to share musical performances during celebration assemblies. Musical performances include class groups, enrichment groups, individual performers or 

compositions/performances from music therapy sessions. 

Students may also perform in the local community.  

Our students also access high quality music performances through our work with: 

• Irish Music Festival Roundup: In partnership with the Manchester Irish Education Group, One Education has hosted a variety of concerts and workshops for schools to take part in so that learners can gain a real sense of the history, traditions, and music of the Emerald Isle.

• Live Music Now: Live Music Now creates inclusive, measurable social impact through music. Our work enhances quality of life, health, and well-being, and promotes equity of opportunity by recognising the creative potential of every individual.  

• Jessie’s Fund: helps children with additional and complex needs or serious illness to communicate by using music. Music can provide a powerful and profound way in which children can express themselves and connect with the world around them. Jessie’s Fund is a registered charity working all over the UK.

• Musical Mondays: a perfect way to see and experience a variety of Live Music Now’s world-class professional musicians, send them questions and comments, and even send requests, all within a relaxed and informal environment.

• Dreams come true

Our Experiential and Structured learners primarily access additional musical opportunities at school, as transitions can be challenging for these learners. Musicians come into school to perform as part of a residency programme or concert. Our Independent students access high quality musical experiences off-site. Information for attending assemblies and external performances will be made available on the school website, orchardhouse.school or via a letter/text from our school office team. 

Future Developments