Music
Great Horwood School Music Development Plan 2025-2026
At Great Horwood Church of England School, we believe that music is a universal language that fosters creativity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. Our Music curriculum follows the National Curriculum and the Model Music Curriculum (2021), ensuring a broad and balanced approach that develops pupils’ skills, knowledge, and understanding as musicians. Using the Kapow music scheme, our teachers deliver high-quality lessons each week across Key Stages 1 and 2, with plans to extend all classes to one hour of music per week by 2025–2026. In the Early Years, children explore music through songs, rhymes, and hands-on instrument play. Key Stage 2 pupils will also have the opportunity to learn pitched instruments, with Years 3 and 4 learning recorder during 2025–2026. Alongside curriculum lessons, pupils enjoy weekly whole-school singing assemblies, peripatetic guitar lessons, and enrichment opportunities such as Jabadeo music and movement sessions, the Great Horwood Silver Band, and Stagecoach Buckingham. Our thriving musical community celebrates participation, performance, and the joy of making music together.
During the school year a range of exciting musical experiences are planned. Please see details below for our plans for 2025-2026. The full music development plan for 2025-2026 can be found below.
Autumn Term:
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Silver Band Concert ‘Proms in the Playground’
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Carol singing at the Great Horwood village hall. A special time to perform to members of the village community.
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Carol Singing at the school Christmas Fayre around the Christmas tree. A community sing-along for pupils, staff, and parents.
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EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) and Key Stage Nativity performance – An opportunity for our youngest pupils to tell the greatest story ever told to their parents and the rest of the school.
Spring Term:
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A visit from the Pantomime; An opportunity for the whole school to watch a pantomime and join in the songs, actions and dances.
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Candlemass and Easter services offer opportunities to perform poems and songs.
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Experience Easter concert – performed by the whole school choir and singing ensemble groups.
Summer Term:
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Guitar Ensemble concert – an opportunity for those having guitar lessons to showcase what they have been learning during the year.
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Silver Band Concert ‘Proms in the Playground’ - Great Horwood Village silver band perform a concert to the whole school an opportunity to learn about and listen to a wide range of brass instruments.
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Buckinghamshire Music Hub Schools Music Performance. An opportunity for the whole school to listen to an orchestra play and then sing some practiced songs whilst being accompanied by the performers.
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Hawthorns (Year 5 & 6) End of year production – an opportunity for year 5 and 6 to perform to the rest of the school a range of songs and movement.
Review of the Music Development Plan 2025–2026
Great Horwood Church of England School
The 2025–2026 academic year has been a highly successful and enriching year for music at Great Horwood Church of England School. Building upon the aims outlined in the Music Development Plan, the school has continued to provide a broad range of musical experiences, curriculum opportunities and performance events which have enabled pupils to develop their musical skills, knowledge and understanding whilst fostering confidence, creativity and enjoyment. The provision reflects the school's commitment to ensuring that every child has opportunities to participate in, perform, listen to and appreciate music as an important part of school life.
Curriculum Music
Weekly music lessons have taken place throughout Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 using the Kapow Music Scheme of Work, ensuring progression in musical knowledge and skills across the school. Through these lessons, pupils have developed their understanding of pulse, rhythm, pitch, dynamics, tempo, notation, composition and performance. Children have had opportunities to sing, play instruments, listen critically to music and compose their own musical pieces, helping them to become increasingly confident and knowledgeable musicians.
In addition to classroom provision, weekly recorder lessons were provided free of charge for pupils in Years 3 and 4 throughout the year. These lessons enabled children to develop instrumental technique, notation reading, breath control, ensemble playing and performance skills. The programme culminated in a live performance at The Stables, Milton Keynes, on 4 June 2026, providing an authentic performance experience and a significant achievement for participating pupils.
Singing and Vocal Development
Singing has remained at the heart of musical life at Great Horwood School. Weekly singing assemblies and acts of worship have enabled all pupils to regularly participate in a wide repertoire of music, including hymns, popular songs, inspirational pieces and two-part singing. Through these experiences, pupils have developed key vocal skills including:
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Pitch control and tuning
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Breath control
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Diction and projection
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Listening and blending with others
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Singing in harmony and parts
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Performing confidently before an audience
The whole-school approach to singing has ensured that every child experiences the joy of collective music-making whilst reinforcing the school's Christian vision and values.
Performance Opportunities
One of the strongest aspects of the year's provision has been the breadth of performance opportunities available to pupils.
The school Talent Show, held on 14 November 2025, celebrated the musical talents of pupils across the school. Performances included solo piano, singing, singing and dance routines, and guitar performances. This event demonstrated pupils' growing confidence and provided an opportunity to showcase musical achievements beyond the classroom.
A range of additional performance opportunities included:
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Carol singing at the PTFA Christmas Fayre on 28 November 2025.
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Participation in the Dressing of the Tree Service on 5 December 2025.
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Christmas performances by Early Years and Key Stage 1 pupils on 9 and 10 December 2025.
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The whole-school Christmas Concert on 11 December 2025.
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Performances at Harvest, Remembrance, Candlemas, Ash Wednesday, Easter, Leavers' and End of Year services.
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Nursery Christmas performances for parents during December.
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Guitar Ensemble Concert on 6 July 2026.
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Rock Steady introductory concert on 13 July 2026.
These opportunities have supported the development of resilience, stage presence, audience awareness and self-confidence whilst helping pupils understand the discipline and preparation required for successful performances.
Instrumental Learning
The school has continued to offer one-to-one and small-group instrumental tuition in singing, keyboard and guitar. These lessons have enabled pupils to deepen their musical understanding and make sustained progress in specific instruments.
The Guitar Concert on 6 July 2026 provided a valuable opportunity for five pupils to perform live to the school community, demonstrating the skills, commitment and perseverance they had developed during the year.
Following a live Rock Steady demonstration on 29 April 2026, pupils began learning within a band setting involving singing, guitar, keyboard and drums. Their first performance, delivered on 13 July 2026, showcased not only instrumental skills but also ensemble playing, teamwork and collaborative musicianship.
Live Music and Musical Appreciation
The school has provided pupils with valuable opportunities to experience live music and develop their listening skills.
A particular highlight was the visit from the New Mozart Orchestra on 3 June 2026. Pupils listened to live orchestral performances and learned about a range of orchestral instruments and how they produce sound. This experience enhanced pupils' understanding of timbre, orchestration and musical styles while inspiring interest in instrumental learning.
On 4 June 2026, pupils in Years 1 and 2 participated in a violin workshop, allowing them to experience playing a string instrument first-hand. Such opportunities help pupils develop curiosity about music and broaden their understanding of instrumental families and musical traditions.
The school also benefited from the contribution of the Great Horwood Silver Band during Christmas celebrations, exposing children to brass performance and community musicianship.
Early Years Music Development
Music continues to play an important role within the Early Years Foundation Stage. Nursery and Reception pupils regularly engage with singing, movement, rhythm and action songs. The Early Years Nativity and Nursery Christmas performances demonstrated their growing ability to:
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Sing familiar songs from memory.
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Follow rhythm and actions.
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Perform in front of an audience.
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Listen and respond to musical cues.
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Participate collaboratively with others.
These experiences provide strong foundations for future musical learning and support wider communication, language and social development.
Knowledge, Skills and Qualities Developed
Throughout the year, pupils have developed a wide range of musical knowledge, skills and personal qualities.
Musical Knowledge
Pupils have gained knowledge of:
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Musical vocabulary and notation.
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Different musical genres and styles.
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Instrument families and orchestral instruments.
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Performance conventions and audience expectations.
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Rhythm, pitch, pulse and dynamics.
Musical Skills
Pupils have developed:
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Singing and vocal technique.
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Instrumental performance skills.
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Ensemble and group performance.
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Reading simple notation.
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Listening and appraising music.
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Composing and improvising.
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Performance and presentation skills.
Personal Qualities
Music provision has supported the development of:
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Confidence
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Creativity
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Resilience
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Perseverance
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Teamwork
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Self-discipline
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Respect for others
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Pride in achievement
These qualities reflect both the aims of the National Curriculum and the school's Christian values of love, perseverance and respect.
Overall Evaluation
The 2025–2026 music programme has been exceptionally successful in providing pupils with a rich and varied musical education. There has been a strong balance between curriculum learning, instrumental tuition, live music experiences and performance opportunities. Pupils have not only developed their musical skills and knowledge but have also grown in confidence, resilience and self-expression.
The wide range of concerts, services, workshops, instrumental lessons and community events demonstrates the school's commitment to ensuring that music remains a vibrant and valued part of school life. As the school moves forward with plans to expand singing opportunities, develop additional ensembles and increase instrumental participation, it is well placed to continue building a thriving musical culture where every child can flourish and achieve their musical potential.