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In science this week, we were building our own circuits with cells, wires, bulbs, switches and even buzzers! We had to work out how to make the bulb light up or the buzzer make a sound. Afterwards, we drew the circuit diagrams in our books using the proper electrical symbols.

Our school curriculum is driven and shaped by our school vision, which informs everything that we do.

St Nicholas provides a welcoming, inclusive and aspirational learning environment at the heart of its community. We nurture, encourage and support all children, adults and their families to be the best as God intended. Following God’s example of love and trust, we develop resilience and creativity in all we do.

Learning, loving and encouraging through Christ.

An uncompromising focus on pupils’ personal development has made St Nicholas Church of England Primary Academy a place where pupils always come first. Ofsted 2019

We love music here at St Nicholas whether that be music lessons, singing practice, choir or choosing our celebration song in Friday’s celebration assembly and value its place as an important part of our school life.

We all feel the enjoyment that listening or dancing to our favourite music can create, singing our favourite songs, and understand the power that a great soundtrack has to build drama or add tension to a film.

At St Nicholas we aim to give every child the opportunity to experience the power of music to enhance our lives, as well as capitalizing on the benefits it gives in other areas of the curriculum. We follow the Kapow scheme of work throughout the school in order to provide clear progression.

Singing, playing instruments, performing, and composing are enjoyable, creative and fulfilling learning experiences in their own right, but research shows that this learning extends beyond the musical curriculum.

• Making music in the early and primary years increases listening and concentration skills, and enhances a child’s ability to discriminate between sounds. This improves phonetic awareness and helps to develop language and literacy skills.
• There is a positive impact on spatial reasoning, which is linked to mathematical thinking and on physical co-ordination, which supports handwriting skills.
• Music-making in small groups promotes teamwork and the development of leadership skills, as well as being hugely enjoyable.
• Pupils’ confidence can be enhanced if they have opportunities to perform.
• Music-making has social and emotional benefits, helping children to improve their mood and relieve stress

At St Nicholas, we are lucky to be a part of Sing Up Education, where years 2-6 have a specialist teacher come in once a week to teach them music building on the skills learnt alongside the Kapow scheme. We will also be welcoming iRock into school to teach children rock & pop band lessons.

Skills of a music student at St Nicholas:

Listening – an important skill in music allowing pupils to respond to music they hear and perform.

Creativity – singing or playing music is an excellent way to express yourself as we all interpret and approach music differently.

Communication and collaboration – working as part of a team discussing ideas and supporting each other.

Perseverance – learning a new song or an instrument can be frustrating. It can take real perseverance and resilience to not give up, even though at times it can be hard.

 

Choir

Singing is an important part of our school life as a Church school – “To sing, is to pray twice,” St Augustine – and alongside weekly whole school singing practice, we run an after school choir which sings at all of our church services. At Christmas, we invite in the community for carols and cakes and each class sings a mixture of traditional and contemporary songs and this is an occasion enjoyed by both the children and the wider community. As well, we regularly take part in ‘Jam on the Marsh’ where the children perform as a group in the church.