THE decision to make music a core part of the curriculum at one Bradford school has had a huge positive impact on its pupils.

Wibsey Primary School has taken the bold step to put in place a whole school approach to music and performance, and is reaping the rewards of the decision.

All 690 pupils, from nursery all the way through to Year 6, have music and performance as an integral part of their learning since last September.

The school approached Bradford Music and Arts Service following the appointment of Joanne White as Music Lead, and since it has seen a significant rise in the number of children and staff taking an active interest in music, and an improvement in the quality of performance.

Pupils have been given the chance to use instruments and singing during their lessons, using music as an enjoyable and additional way to learn.

To begin with, children were offered the chance to learn the clarinet, saxophone, flute, cornet, tenor and baritone horn, and guitar, but the list has since been extended to include the recorder, samba, keyboard, percussion and ukelele.

The ukelele was added after Ms White noticed a number of children had received the instrument as a Christmas present.

She said: “We showed a George Formby video and the children who saw it talked about it to their friends.

“Since then, the ukulele group has really taken off and out of the 255 instruments we now hire from the Music & Arts Service, 90 are ukuleles,” she said.

The enthusiasm for music has also rubbed off on teachers, with Carl White, assistant head of BMAS holding a series of training sessions which led to music and singing being woven into mainstream teaching.

Pupils listen to music and then write a story based on the atmosphere of the music.

Younger children sing counting songs and others have even made their own musical instruments, including during one project on African cultures.

A school band has been formed, with 25 regular members, and the school also hosts BMAS’s Jigsaw Ensemble - a beginner band for children just starting out with musical instruments, which includes pupils from Wibsey and other schools.

Pupils also get the chance to work with specialists from BMAS, and the school choir has also seen major growth since the project started.

Initially only open to Years 5 and 6 with just a dozen members, it is now open to Years 2 to 6 and has grown to 68 members, with more expected to join after Christmas.

Nigel Cooper, Wibsey Primary headteacher, said the impact in the last year shows the improtance of music in the curriculum.

He said: “Jo’s passion for music, the enhanced package of support from BMAS and the decision to include more year groups in the instrument groups and School Choir have made a really positive impact on Wibsey Primary.

“Pupils and staff have grown in confidence and there have been improvements in pupil behaviour, attention, concentration and numeracy and language skills.

“Music is also one of the key areas Ofsted takes into account in a broad and balanced curriculum and we can show clear benefits to the school and the children as a result of the changes we have put in place.”

Mr White added: “During a recent monitoring visit, it really became clear what impact music is having within school. Joanne White has played a crucial part.

“Her eye for detail and wider thinking has ensure fair access for children to music, a point of contact for the staff team, a point of contact for parents, a link to the Bradford Music Education Hub as well as organising performances, music trips and trips. She is making a tangible difference within the school.”