At Gastrells, we believe that music plays a vital role in developing pupils’ creativity, imagination and self-confidence, while also supporting their wellbeing. Music allows children to explore the world around them and express themselves in a variety of meaningful ways.

We follow the Charanga scheme to structure and plan our music curriculum, ensuring that knowledge and skills are taught progressively, building term by term and year by year as pupils move through the school.

Children at Gastrells benefit from a wide range of hands-on musical experiences. Pupils are given regular opportunities to perform, listen to and evaluate music through first-hand experiences. Every child takes part in a class performance, which includes a variety of musical elements, and all pupils perform in a Christmas carol concert and participate in weekly singing assemblies.

From Year 4 onwards, children also have the opportunity to perform as part of Young Voices, singing in a large-scale concert alongside pupils from other schools. In addition, pupils can access instrumental tuition including piano, violin, guitar, drumming and rock band sessions, alongside visiting workshops delivered by Make Music Gloucestershire.

Through these experiences, we aim to foster a lifelong enjoyment and appreciation of music while developing confidence, collaboration and performance skills.

We are very proud to be recognised as a Music Mark school. The Music Mark Award recognises the wide range of opportunities that are provided for children at Gastrells to share and enjoy music, to learn through music and to develop their musical understanding.