Primary Music Magazine
Ofsted Framework changes cause concern
Teachers are worried about the idea of music deep dives
Teachers and schools across England are voicing their concerns over Ofsted’s new ‘Deep Dive’ process of subject inspection. Music is a subject that is causing particular consternation, since it is traditionally an area that primary teachers are trained less rigorously for, and therefore less confident about delivering. As one teacher memorably put it at Arts Connect’s
recent Tea Party event, “If they try to do a deep dive in music at our school they’ll crack their head open on the bottom of the pool!” The deep dive process is still very much in its test phase, but early indications suggest that subject coordinators are being asked questions such as how they ensure full curriculum coverage and progress across the school, and how they cater for SEND.
They are also carrying out joint observations with the inspector and comparing feedback, and then the teachers observed are being asked for their views on music, and about what support and CPD is available to them.
Draft Curriculum for Wales 2020
“Developing creativity, selfconfidence and resilience”
The draft curriculum for Wales due to be implemented in 2022 is now in its final stages of development, following a period of consultation. Currently the curriculum proposals group subjects into six areas of Learning and Experience, including one around Expressive Arts,
which includes art, dance, drama, film and digital media, and music. The idea is that although each of these subjects has its own discrete knowledge and skills, they are grouped together through the creative processes and transferrable skills that they have in common. It
is
hoped
that
the
Expressive Arts area of learning and experience will help learners not only to progress in the individual subjects but to gain appreciation of the cultures of the diverse communities of Wales and the wider world, as well as developing creativity, selfconfidence and resilience.
Still no sign of NPME 2
Will Early Years provision be included in the new National Plan for Music Education?
The current National Plan for Music Education runs out in 2020, and plans have been afoot for a ‘refreshed’ version for some time. However, this document is yet to be released, and this is starting to cause concern to organisations working within the music education
sector in terms of how to plan for next academic year. It is a fair bet to assume that singing and whole class ensemble teaching will still form a big part of the plan, and we also expect to see a renewed emphasis on inclusion and SEND provision.
There are also calls for Early Years provision to be included in the plan However, it remains to be seen exactly which areas of the current plan remain in the refreshed version, and if any new priorities are added for 2020 onwards.
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