Music News 2021-2022

At Smannell & Enham we place great emphasis on music around the school, valuing the pleasure and joy it brings and its pivotal role in developing creativity, and we ensure all children have a rich and broad experience of it.  Post-Covid we are getting back on track with singing and performing together in class and in worship.

The Charanga Musical School Scheme provides teachers with week-by-week lesson support for each year group in the school. It is ideal for specialist and non-specialist teachers and provides lesson plans, assessment, clear progression, and engaging and exciting whiteboard resources to support every lesson. The Scheme supports all the requirements of the national curriculum. In line with the curriculum for music and guidance from Ofsted, this Scheme moves away from the previous levels and learning objective/outcome concepts to an integrated, practical, exploratory and child-led approach to musical learning. Ofsted have stated that “We will not always know the learning outcomes” so segregated learning objectives at the start of each lesson are not appropriate. Instead the interrelated dimensions of music weave through the units to encourage the development of musical skills as the learning progresses through listening and appraising, differing musical activities (including creating and exploring) and performing.

We also aim to provide wonderful opportunities for children to experience quality live music either through listening, performing or both. Pre-Covid, the whole school was treated to an annual performance by professional musicians from Hampshire Music Service - we hope this will recommence in the coming year.  In the past, Swallows class have spent an exciting afternoon at the Anvil Theatre in Basingstoke participating in a thrilling performance by the London Philharmonia Orchestra.  We hope this will return soon.  Comments from children  included:  "I would definitely, definitely listen to an orchestra again."  "This really set the standard."  "I learned about different new types of instruments that I didn't know about before."  " I enjoyed this because I had to try and unpick the music."  "It sounded amazing."  There are also opportunities for Skylarks and Puffins to participate in a mass singing event with other schools, again, at the Anvil.

Singing in worship is a joyful experience for the whole school and the children sing a range of songs from a wide variety of genres and countries, often in two or more parts.  The music leader, Sarah Davis, attends frequent professional development training, including the Wessex Vocal Conference, in order to extend and strengthen repertoire and confidence. 

Our Ukulele Club started up again this year and has  developed into a committed and talented Ukulele Band.    They will have the opportunity to perform in church, at the Christmas concerts and in worship. 

We are committed to ensuring that children have high quality musical experiences and as a result have high expectations of their musicality.  We have received many very positive and highly complimentary comments about the children's singing and general musicianship.   KS1 children have the opportunity to take part in a school play at Christmas and KS2  a Summer production.

Michael Cladingbowl, director of schools policy at Ofsted, said: 'Music is a demanding academic discipline, developed through exciting practical musical activity...All children, not just the privileged few, should enjoy a good music education.'  This is something we at Smannell & Enham strongly believe in and are constantly developing.  We strive to resist the sidelining of arts subjects which, we believe, would result in a narrow and joyless curriculum.  Music touches all children and research shows that it can have a significant effect on achievement in other areas both academic and emotional.  Participating in performance and singing helps children discover strengths they might not otherwise have recognised, thus increasing self-esteem.  As an inclusive school, we encourage all children to participate particularly those with a SEN or are eligible for pupil premium funding.

We believe that a musical school is a happy, vibrant and creative school, giving children skills and experiences they will cherish forever.