At Alkerden Academy, music is for everyone. Our intent is to provide a rich, inclusive and ambitious musical education that enables every learner to develop creativity, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation of music. Rooted in the Alkerden Heart, our curriculum celebrates diversity, nurtures individual talents, and builds a sense of community through shared musical experiences.

We aim to:

• Ensure all learners, including those with SEND and disabilities, can access and enjoy music.
• Provide a curriculum that is broad, balanced, and sequenced, drawing on the Model Music Curriculum (DfE, 2021) and the National Curriculum for Music.
• Cultivate learners’ cultural capital by exploring music from a wide range of genres, traditions, and time periods.
• Inspire all to participate actively in school and Trust-wide musical life through singing, performance, and enrichment opportunities.

Implementation is enriched by:

• A weekly choir, open to all learners, building confidence and a culture of singing.
• School and Trust-wide performances, including concerts and the annual Aletheia Academies Trust Music Concert.
• Opportunities to perform in assemblies and community events.
• Planned growth of specialist instrumental tuition, enabling individual or small-group lessons.
• Partnerships with the local music hub and music organisations to extend opportunities.

As the school grows, our all-through curriculum will extend into Early Years and Primary phases, starting with singing, movement, and play-based exploration, and building towards music qualifications in the secondary phase.

Adaptations are made to ensure learners with additional needs are fully supported and can flourish in music.

The impact of music at Alkerden Academy will be seen in the joy and confidence of our learners as performers, creators, and listeners. By the time they leave, learners will have:

• A strong understanding of the elements of music and the ability to apply these creatively.
• Experience of performing regularly, both individually and as part of ensembles.
• Knowledge of diverse musical styles, traditions, and cultures, building empathy and global awareness.
• The opportunity to progress to GCSE, A Level, vocational music qualifications, or graded instrumental exams.
• A lifelong love of music and the confidence to engage with it as an expressive art form, a subject of study, and a shared cultural experience.

Above all, music at Alkerden reflects our Alkerden Heart - nurturing learners’ creativity, fostering community, and supporting every individual to flourish.

• Music education: information for parents and young people

• Kent Music

• BBC Bitesize: KS3 Music