Detail

Information

Academic year that this summary covers

2026 - 2027

Date this summary was published

October 2026

Date this summary will be reviewed

October 2027

Name of the school music lead

Sarah Dockerty

Name of school leadership team member with responsibility for music (if different)

N / A

Name of local music hub

WEMA

Name of other music education organisation(s) (if partnership in place)

North Somerset Music Service

 Sing Up Music curriculum

Music at Banwell Primary School is timetabled on a weekly basis in every class. Most terms, it is taught supported by the SingUp curriculum. In Autumn 2, our music learning revolves around the live performances that we do for family and friends. In Key Stage One a Nativity is performed and in Key Stage Two a celebration of Christmas is held at the local Church, where a range of Christmas songs are sung.

Staff are encouraged and supported to access the wealth of resources to enhance other aspects of the curriculum and at different times during the day. 

There is a mixture of 6-week and 3-week lesson blocks. 6-week units are based around a song and the musical learning flows through the features of the piece of music. These units usually combine singing, playing, listening and appraising, whilst the 3-week units have a strong focus on composing/improvising or on listening/appraising. 

Through teaching by our staff as well as whole-class instrumental lessons, the children have opportunities to use both tuned and untuned instruments during their time with us at Banwell Primary School. 

Music Tuition Lessons
Our school offers 1:1 or small group instrumental lessons for a range of different instruments, including voice, guitar, ukulele and piano.

Banwell Primary School Choir
Once a week a lunchtime choir is held for children of any age. This choir often performs in assemblies, as well as being able to showcase their talents further afield. Previously the choir has performed at Banwell Castle as part of their D-Day celebrations, as well as at Summer and Christmas showcases held by the PTA.

Banwell Recorder Club
This year we are implementing a recorder club, aimed at Key Stage Two children. The children will have the opportunity to learn to play the recorder with a once-weekly club, run throughout two terms of the school year.

Musician of the Year

Every March children in our school compete in a Musician of the Year competition. The children can work as a soloist, duet or small group and will perform to their year group as well as judges. The children compete for a range of trophies and shields, ranging from ‘Musician of the Year’ award, to ‘WOWed the judges’, ‘Highly Commended’ and ‘Most Original Performance’. The winners of the competition are recognised in a Musician of the Year Assembly, where they get to perform their chosen piece to the whole school, as well as parents / carers. This event is photographed and published in the local newspaper.

ELAN Music Festival

In June 2026, a range of children in both Key Stage One and Key Stage Two were able to perform in front of a large audience at the Winter Gardens as part of the ELAN Music Festival. These children performed two songs as a small group, as well as two songs as part of a mass ELAN choir. This was a widely publicised event, with pictures being shared with local newspapers and every child who participated receiving a certificate.

Our whole-school culture

At Banwell, music is a big part of our culture and brings a real sense of belonging as children sing together. Staff in classes in Key Stage One may use calming music to support mindfulness in the classroom, as well as using music to support transitions. We often sing in assemblies, and use a dedicated whole-school Singing Assembly once-fortnightly to come together and learn new songs. These assemblies often will coincide with our school’s core values, where we learn songs about respect or confidence or it will tie into an event, such as Harvest and being thankful.

 Christmas performances for EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2

All children in EYFS and Key Stage One take part in the Banwell Nativity which is performed in the School Hall to peers, staff and parents / carers. All Key Stage Two children take part in a carol service at the local church where every child participates in singing and the reading aloud of poetry. 

 Visits from professional musicians

In the past we have had the pleasure of Prelude Orchestra visiting and performing, which was a real wow moment for children for all ages, as they enjoyed hearing the live music as well as learning about a range of instruments. As well as this live performance, every class in Key Stage Two also has the option of watching a live stream of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra every year, where children can watch a spoken story performed online with musical accompaniment provided by the orchestra.

In the past we have also had a visit from Churchill Music who provided a workshop to two of our classes, offering team building exercises through the use of music.

We currently offer one whole-class instrumental class, which is delivered to our Year Five children each year. Previously children in Year Five have studied djembe drumming, and samba drumming. We endeavour to continue to explore musicians from many genres to broaden children’s experiences and joy of music. 

- Form relationships with local secondary schools and orchestras / bands who would be able to provide more opportunities for live music within our school.

- We are in discussion with WEMA, who are currently discussing the criteria for ARTs MARK awards this year. Last year we achieved the Music MARK award, which is awarded annually. We will reapply for this again this year when criteria is released.

- Music Lead to work with teachers in school in order to team teach / co-teach for members of staff to gain more confidence in teaching music.