Music

The teaching of Music is based upon the fact that it is a creative and social art to be enjoyed.

The teaching of music is based upon the fact that it is a creative and social art to be enjoyed. The progressive strands of music are interwoven with our BRAVE curriculum to give children the opportunity to enjoy musical experiences through listening, singing, movement and dance and by playing tuned and un-tuned instruments. The music program Charanga is used to support the delivery of music across the school.

At Westgate Hill, we are keen to show our singing skills and do so through in our school choirs, Year 2 choir, years 3 and 4 choir and years 5 and 6 choir. We also encourage our children to learn the recorder in years 2, 5 and 6. All choirs and recorder lessons are led by teaching staff and occur during lunchtimes.

During this academic year 2025 – 2026, Years 3,5 and 6 will have the opportunity to play Samba drums and Years 3 to 6 will learn the ukulele in weekly whole class sessions. The Hub and the Treehouse will have weekly SEND music sessions. Years 4 will have weekly specialist singing sessions. EYFS and Years 1 and 2 will be taking part in Djembe drumming sessions. EYFS and Year 1 children will be engaged in the exciting, ‘First Thing Music’ project that will run all year and engage, support, enhance their learning through music. All of these sessions are led by specialist music teachers from Newcastle Music Service.

Pupils from years 3 to 6 have the chance to play the guitar and violin. These lessons take place after school on a Wednesday and Thursday and are taught by specialist music teachers from Newcastle Music Service, who teach and give pupils the best opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in this area of the curriculum.

In the Autumn term, all children across the school will be enjoying a ceilidh dance music experience where they will get to learn about the heritage of Ceilidh and immerse themselves in the music and dance. At the end of the Autumn term, we will be welcoming the Newcastle Music Service Rockband to perform to perform to us, giving the children an experience of listening to live music.

Year 3 will also be having weekly singing lessons where they will be learning a wide range of music from around the world, supported by elements of the Kodaly methodology. The children will learn how to use their voices healthily, explore elements of musicianship and most importantly have fun!

Music therapy sessions will be used to support certain pupils during the year. These sessions will help form healthy coping skills, develop problem-solving skills, reduce perceived levels of pain as well as improve physical coordination, motor functions and movement.        

This year, we are offering a fantastic opportunity for parents and children to learn a musical instrument together. These sessions will be open to Years 1 and 2 children and parents to learn to play the Djembe and glockenspiel and Years 3 to 6 children and parents to learn to play the ukulele and keyboard. These exciting musical sessions will be held on a weekly basis.

We also have links with Northumbria University and host music students each year. This is the perfect opportunity to share our learning and to inspire future music teachers. We are also supporting a PhD music student over the next three years, who will use our music provision as part of their research. As a Lead Music School for the North East, we also work with music leads across England and Wales.

Giving the children an opportunity to perform to a variety of audiences is also imperative to our musical learning. The performances give our children the chance to share their musical experiences and learning. Performances to parents and carers take place regularly throughout the year.

Music Mark Award

Westgate Hill Primary School is honoured to hold the Music Mark award, recognising our vibrant, inclusive, and community-focused approach to music education. Our after-school Djembe and Ukulele clubs, delivered in partnership with Newcastle Music Service, bring pupils, parents, and staff together through the universal language of music. These clubs celebrate cultural diversity and foster strong family bonds by encouraging shared musical learning experiences across generations. With over 94% of our pupils speaking English as an additional language, these sessions transcend linguistic barriers, promoting unity, confidence, and well-being. Supported by our dedicated Music Coordinator and Senior Leadership Team, these thriving clubs exemplify our commitment to inclusivity, creativity, and the profound impact of music on personal and community development. Our success has led to the expansion of musical opportunities, including glockenspiel and keyboard clubs, further enriching our school’s musical life and reinforcing our role as a lead primary school within Newcastle Music Service and the North East Music Hub.

https://www.musicmark.org.uk/news/celebrating-pupil-and-parent-music-clubs-at-westgate-hill-primary/

MOBO Award Ceremony

The MOBO awards, (Music of Black Origin), came to Newcastle this year and we were asked if we would like to perform. Year 6 took up the gauntlet and learnt the song, ‘God gave me feet for dancing’ by the Esra Collective. All of the schools involved can be seen on the montage that was played at the beginning of the award ceremony. It was received with a standing ovation!