Our vision for Music at DBJA is for children to be able to……….

✓ Access an inclusive, high-quality music education.

✓ Experience a diverse musical diet that stimulates, engages and challenges.

✓ Develop a love of music that nurtures musical talents and creativity.

✓ Know that every child is a musician!

We firmly believe that every child has the right to study music as a “proper” subject and are proud that our children receive weekly one-hour lessons with a specialist classroom teacher. Units of work are bespoke and are not only written to reflect the requirements of the National Curriculum for Music (including the non-statutory guidance for KS2 learning) and the National Plan for Music Education guidelines, but observing the needs, interests and engagement of our children is central to our music curriculum. Simply put, we aim to be as inclusive as possible and for our pupils to enjoy their lessons and be proud of their achievements.

Broadly speaking, each project focuses on a main practical outcome (either creating a performance, composition and/or improvisation) whilst developing active listening and analysis skills, widening subject-specific vocabulary and expanding historical awareness. Written work is routinely marked and assessed, and pupils keep their work in individual folders. Practical work is also formally assessed with individual pupil levels logged on class tracking sheets. At the end of each unit, pupils are awarded a mark of “Working Towards” or “Met/Expected”, which helps to inform end of year attainment levels and a cumulative end of KS2 music level in Year 6. By the end of their time at DBJA, we aim for all our pupils to have developed into confident and able musicians, so that by the time they leave, DBJA children should be musically curious, competent and well informed.

As a Church of England school, hymns are a regular feature of whole school Collective Worship, and we are very much a singing school. Music plays an important part in our Christmas and Easter church services, with carefully chosen solos, ensemble performances and congregational singing. In addition, we have fantastic Music Ambassadors who attend weekly lunchtime rehearsals and engage in numerous performances, both in and out of school. Uptake for instrumental lessons is strong, with lessons offered on voice, recorder, flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, piano, keyboard, guitar - electric and acoustic - and drum-kit. These are facilitated by lovely teachers from Independent Music Solutions and True Music (guitar). We also have links to Rugby Philharmonic Choir, Dunchurch Brass, iSingPOP and Warwickshire Music who also provide additional music opportunities that enhances our main classroom music curriculum.

Every child has the opportunity to perform in front of an audience during their time at DBJA, be it through productions, carol concerts, instrumental showcases, church services, in assembly or for the Year 6 leavers’ show. We truly wish to encourage all pupils at DBJA to get involved in making music, whatever that looks like, so that they know and understand the joy it can bring. We also recognise the wider skills it can help to develop such as confidence, resilience, teamwork, discipline and communication.

We don’t take anything for granted at DBJA, and alongside developing reflective learners, we understand the importance of reflective teaching, too. We firmly believe that every child is musical in some way, and it is our responsibility to develop their musicality. Please refer to the music curriculum map for more details on units taught, as they ensure progression throughout KS2. Termly published music knowledge organisers provide additional detail for each scheme of work, alongside individual class pages for those with access to Dojo. Finally, our Music Development Plan Summary further outlines what we do and how we could be even better! Please do get in touch via the Office if you’d like to know more.

Ofsted May 2025 

Music lessons are “inclusive with clear progression........and build on previous knowledge”.  

“All pupils take part” and that there is “clear lesson structure and expectations” delivered with “clarity and ownership by the teacher”.  

Pupil Voice April 2025 - 2026

“Music has improved my confidence.”

“Anyone can make music!”

“In class, I learn lots of different skills. It’s interesting and I learn lots, such as the history.”

Each year group covers a range of topics, listed below: Please click on the topic to see the Knowledge Organiser. This will give you information about the knowledge and skills that the children will be learning. It will also give you information on the vocabulary taught and how this unit links with prior learning.