Music at Parochial
'Parochial Cares', our mission is to prepare children for the future by living, learning and growing together in God.
To live life... life in all its fullness- (John 10:10)
Vision:
At Parochial, we aim to inspire a love of music in all pupils and develop their talents as musicians. Through our curriculum, we build pupils’ self-confidence, creativity, and sense of achievement, ensuring they leave us with a lifelong appreciation for music. Children engage critically with a diverse range of musical traditions, genres, and historical periods, including the works of great composers and musicians, helping them understand the rich heritage and evolving nature of music.
Implementation:
Click an image below to see how we embed our school values through Music at Parochial.
At Parochial, we are:
Music-At-Parochial- (ID 1037)
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Educating for Dignity and Respect through Music
Educating for Dignity and Respect through Music
Children are taught to listen and appraise music with care, developing the ability to give and receive feedback respectfully. They learn to articulate how musical choices achieve intended effects, showing empathy for different perspectives and the courage to share their own ideas. Pupils learn that music is a universal language that connects people, and they are encouraged to explore and express their own creativity while valuing the work of others.
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Educating for Hope and Aspiration through Music
Educating for Hope and Aspiration through Music
We encourage pupils to think critically about their own and others’ musical ideas, fostering a growth mindset and an openness to feedback. From Early Years to KS2, children develop the confidence to perform, compose, and improve, supported by clear progression in skills such as vocal performance, part-singing, and instrumental playing.
By introducing pupils to a diverse range of composers, musicians, and genres, we open their eyes to aspirational figures in the music world—showing them what’s possible and inspiring ambition. Our use of technology and modern resources exposes pupils to real-world applications of music, including music production, digital composition, and collaborative projects.
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Educating for Wisdom, Knowledge and Skills through Music
Educating for Wisdom, Knowledge and Skills through Music
Our curriculum is delivered by specialist music teachers from Tameside Music Service, ensuring high-quality, expert teaching that builds progressively from EYFS to Year 6. Musical learning begins in the Early Years, where children develop foundational skills in hearing and listening, vocalising and singing, moving and dancing, and exploring and playing.
As pupils progress, they build knowledge of how music is created, produced, and communicated, exploring the interrelated dimensions of music: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure, and appropriate notation. Our teaching is informed by the latest research in music education, ensuring pupils receive a broad, balanced, and ambitious curriculum that meets the demands of the National Curriculum and beyond.
We also integrate technology into our music curriculum, using 1:1 iPads in KS2 to support composition, listening, and appraising, reflecting the ways music is created and shared in the modern world.
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Educating for Community and Living Well Together through Music
Educating for Community and Living Well Together through Music
Music is at the heart of our school community. Pupils have regular opportunities to perform in school events such as the Nativity, Easter performances, and assemblies. Our choir, recorder club, ukulele club, and Parochial’s Got Talent provide further platforms for pupils to develop their skills and confidence as performers.
Through performance, children learn to rehearse collaboratively, take pride in their achievements, and develop a sense of belonging. By exploring music from different cultures, traditions, and historical contexts, pupils gain an understanding of the role music plays in bringing people together.
Impact:
Our curriculum, delivered by Tameside Music Service specialists and enriched with 1:1 iPad technology in KS2, ensures that children leave Parochial with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes of confident young musicians. They have a strong foundation in musical understanding, the confidence to perform, and the ability to think critically about their own and others’ work.
By the end of Year 6, our pupils are ready for the secondary curriculum—able to read and create music, appraise with insight, and appreciate a wide range of music from different cultures and eras. They leave us as creative, expressive individuals with a passion for music that can stay with them for life.