Our curriculum offer in music is broad and is a skills-based, where learning environments are created for pupils so they take incremental steps within the specific areas of pulse, rhythm, pitch, improvisation, expressive elements, interactivity, music literacy and listening. Pupils are assessed regularly, barriers and strategies are identified and targets are set ambitiously.

Every pupil from KS1 to KS4 has access to music activities every week of the academic year. Our curriculum is organised in a three-year rotation that ensures an ambitious coverage as well as the opportunities to revisit and build on prior learning. We are passionate about ensuring smooth transitions between phases so that learning is well-sequenced and we can all aim for the best possible outcomes.

Our pupils experience significant access barriers (financial, cultural and cognitive) into the arts and we endeavour to facilitate this engagement through a broad range of co-curricular experiences. As we are highly specialist provision our catchment area is geographically large. The transport needs of our pupils further limit the appropriateness of any provision scheduled before or after school. For that reason (and as part of the school day), we offer every pupil a range of co-curricular enrichment activities to engage with.

Our co-curricular offer has well-being and creativity at its heart. Our pupils are offered the chance to play and sing, to perform alongside peers and to create within the performing arts, all with a keen sense of self validation, meaningful connection to others and pride in one’s own work.

Every young person has the opportunity to perform at a school show at least once a year. Events are free to pupils and are funded directly from our departmental budget or (where necessary) through especially raised funds. Wherever possible, these events include neurodivergent artists who can provide our pupils with visible, aspirational role models.

St Bernard's School is committed to providing a high-quality remote education that is equivalent, as far as reasonably practicable, to the education pupils would receive in school.

Remote education will:

- Deliver a planned and sequenced curriculum aligned with the school’s curriculum intent

- Support pupils to progress through the curriculum at an appropriate pace

- Include regular opportunities for assessment and feedback

Provision will be regularly reviewed by senior leaders to ensure it remains effective, ambitious and inclusive.

Remote education will be structured to provide pupils with teaching time broadly equivalent to their core teaching in school, adapted as appropriate for age, stage and individual need.

The school’s approach may include:

- Live (synchronous) teaching

- Recorded (asynchronous) lessons

- Independent practice and retrieval activities

- Reading and extended assignments

High-quality external resources, including Oak National Academy, may be used to complement and support curriculum delivery where appropriate.

Free, time-saving teacher resources | Oak National Academy

The school will take all reasonable steps to ensure that pupils can access remote education.

This includes:

- Identifying and addressing barriers to digital access

- Providing printed materials or alternative resources where required

- Supporting families to enable engagement with remote learning

The school will:

- Set clear expectations for pupil engagement and completion of work

- Monitor attendance and participation in remote education

- Provide timely and constructive feedback to support progress

Where engagement is a concern, the school will work proactively with families to re-establish participation.

A designated senior leader will have strategic oversight of remote education provision. Responsibilities include:

- Monitoring the quality and consistency of teaching and learning

- Ensuring alignment with curriculum expectations

- Reviewing pupil engagement and outcomes

Safeguarding remains a priority at all times. The school will ensure:

- Appropriate safeguarding policies and procedures are followed.

- Regular contact is maintained with pupils.

- Any concerns are identified and acted upon promptly in line with statutory guidance.

The school recognises that remote education may present additional challenges for some of our pupils.

To support these pupils, the school will:

• Work collaboratively with parents/carers to identify appropriate provision
• Make reasonable adjustments to enable access to learning
• Consider the level of support required in the home environment
• Utilise external services where these can be accessed remotely

Where it is not possible to deliver aspects of provision remotely, the school will work with the local authority and relevant professionals to determine alternative arrangements that meet statutory duties and support the pupil’s individual needs.