Helping You Build a Coherent, Ambitious Music Curriculum
A well-designed music curriculum does more than tick boxes—it inspires students, nurtures creativity, and lays a clear foundation for progression. I work closely with secondary schools to ensure that their music curriculum is not only broad, balanced, and inclusive, but also musically rich, relevant, and purposeful.
Curriculum planning shouldn’t feel overwhelming or disconnected from real classroom life. That’s why my approach is collaborative, realistic, and rooted in the needs of your students and staff. Whether you’re developing a new curriculum from scratch or fine-tuning an existing one, I’m here to help you shape something that truly works.
Curriculum Development
This work often includes:
- Reviewing your existing curriculum against national guidance and Ofsted expectations
- Mapping progression in skills, knowledge, and musical understanding across Key Stages 3 to 5
- Ensuring clear alignment between schemes of work and wider school priorities
- Identifying gaps or overlaps in content, and designing a more coherent sequence of learning
- Embedding creativity, inclusivity, and musical diversity throughout
Scheme of Learning Design
Together, we can co-create or refine schemes that:
- Focus on a specific skill (like composition, performance, or listening)
- Explore a particular genre, tradition, or musical concept
- Integrate cross-curricular or whole-school themes
- Develop musicianship progressively over time
- Embed assessment for learning and clear success criteria
- Include opportunities for informal, ensemble-based, and student-led learning
These schemes are always designed with your students in mind—reflecting the context, resources, and strengths of your school and staff.
Flexible, Practical Support
Curriculum and planning support can take many forms:
- One-off curriculum review days
- Longer-term curriculum writing partnerships
- Twilight sessions or CPD for department staff
- Ongoing coaching to support implementation
If you’re preparing for a curriculum deep dive, launching a new KS3 model, or adapting to recent changes in qualifications or staffing, I can help make the process clearer—and lighter.
Let’s Craft a Curriculum That Sings
If you’d like help refining your music curriculum or designing schemes of work that are both inspiring and achievable, let’s have a conversation.
Email me at fionasextonmusic@outlook.com to discuss how we can work together to develop a curriculum that helps every young person grow as a musician.
