A new music curriculum for primary schools across the nation

A brand-new set of publicly-funded music teaching resources for primary schools across the UK has been released through a national partnership led by Oak National Academy, music charity Bristol Beacon and Amplify Education, working closely with schools, teachers, artists and cultural organisations.

The resources mark a significant step forward for music education at Key Stages 1 and 2. They provide a comprehensive suite of teaching resources designed to help primary schools deliver high-quality music education and inspire the next generation with a lifelong love of music.

The 18-month development process brought together Oak National Academy, Bristol Beacon and Amplify Education’s education specialists, working in close partnership with a network of primary schools, teachers, pupils, artists and cultural organisations.

In total, the partnership created 36 learning units, with six units per year group across Key Stages 1 and 2. Each unit contains six lessons, resulting in 216 lessons overall.

Thanks to Bristol Beacon’s unique role as a music education hub based in a concert venue, it was able to draw on its extensive network of world-class artists and organisations to help bring the curriculum to life – with contributors including the Royal Ballet & Opera, Paraorchestra, National Children’s Orchestra, beatboxer and vocal artist Jason Singh, composer and sitar player Jasdeep Singh Degun, composer Debbie Wiseman, London Symphony Orchestra, musician and author Professor Nate Holder and more.

The resources are published on Oak National Academy’s website under Crown copyright, making them free to access for every primary school nationwide.

They have been downloaded more than 15,000 times by nearly 5,000 teachers since the launch.

Adam Kent, Bristol Beacon’s director of Creative Learning and Engagement, said: “We’re delighted to have worked in partnership to create these new music education resources for primary schools to use all across the country. Many primary schools no longer have access to specialist music teachers, and non-specialist teachers can lack confidence or experience to teach music, so these new resources address this by providing structured, adaptable, high-quality lessons that any teacher can use.”

Over the past decade uptake of the music GCSE has fallen 43%. At the same time the number of school music teachers has reduced by around a 1,000, compared with a decade ago, placing growing pressure on schools. Together, these trends have real implications for who gets to keep music in their lives, and who doesn’t.

Lucie Bebbington-Lewis, Primary Music Lead at Amplify Education, said: “We’re already hearing from teachers about increased confidence, enjoyment and engagement, as well as the impact of the high-quality media and partnerships that support the lessons. Perhaps most importantly, teachers are telling us they’re seeing children playing the new singing games in the playground — just as it should be. We hope these resources will help begin to reverse the current downward trends in music education, supporting classrooms where teachers feel confident and pupils are thriving.”

Content was carefully aligned with national curriculum requirements for Key Stages 1 and 2, ensuring clear progression, inclusivity and broad musical exposure. Lessons are designed to be engaging and accessible, using practical activities, performance, listening and real-world musical examples, supported by high-quality digital content that works equally well for teachers and pupils.

Rebecca Lundberg, Music Lead at Oak National Academy said: “We’re really excited to share these free music resources with primary school teachers across the country. Working with Bristol Beacon and Amplify Education, we’ve created an inclusive, creative curriculum that helps children build a lifelong connection with music with plenty of opportunities for performing, composing and engaged listening. We hope these resources help bring fresh energy to music lessons, boosting teachers’ confidence and making music even more enjoyable for pupils.”

Discover the full curriculum resources

Find out more about the Curriculum

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