New primary music curriculum trialled in Bristol primary school

Learn about the new Oak National Academy Primary Music Curriculum and what one of the first schools to trial it thinks of the framework.

Over an 18-month period, Oak National Academy, Bristol Beacon (music charity) and Amplify Education (education trust including Cathedral Schools Trust and Trust in Learning Academies) worked in partnership to develop a new national primary music curriculum that is a ‘high-quality programme designed to support inclusive, joyful and ambitious music education for all primary pupils.’ St Werburgh’s Primary School, Bristol, is one of the first schools in England to trial the curriculum, and staff and pupils shared their thoughts on how they have found it so far.

Key information about the Oak National Academy Primary Music Curriculum

• The curriculum has been ‘brought to life’ by word-class artists and organisations including: 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.
• As well as artists and organisations, primary schools, teachers and pupils were involved in the development process.
• The curriculum is made up of 36 learning units, broken down into 6 units per year group.
• It has ready-to-use lesson resources to go alongside guidance for delivery, planning and curriculum development.
• The curriculum follows a progressive structure with sequenced lessons and units.
• The lessons are focused on helping pupils develop their musicianship through signing, listening, composing and performing.
• The curriculum also aims to help pupils develop a lifelong connection to music and to nurture their creativity and wellbeing.
• It is aligned with the National Curriculum for England’s primary music standards.

What is the feedback like?

St Werburgh’s Primary School Music lead, Nick Rees, shared positive insights on the structure and content of the curriculum, explaining:

“These lessons are carefully sequenced and really accessible… There is a video that supports each lesson, if you’re not sure about any of the terminology or how a different aspect is taught. They are engaging, they’re exciting, you can tailor the lessons to use in your school setting”.

Pupils from the primary school also talked about how much they enjoyed creating music in their music lessons, with comments like, “Playing instruments, I like that a lot,” and “I really liked when we were singing, because when we were doing it all together, it made a really good ring to it!”

Amplify Education’s primary music lead and co-creator of the curriculum, Lucie Bebington-Lewis, also shared positive feedback:

“Especially after staff meetings, I see staff running off to practice; they are really enthused and excited about what’s on offer… We wanted to put singing at the heart of the curriculum, and the children are going out and playing the games they learn in the playground, which is brilliant. That’s exactly what we hoped to see.”

Learn more

• Summary of the Oak National Academy Primary Music Curriculum
• Introduction to the new curriculum
• KS1 and KS2 primary music curriculum units and explainers 

Are you using the Oak National Academy Primary Music Curriculum? We’d love to hear about your experiences on social media!

References

1. Bristol Beacon (2026) ‘A new music curriculum for primary schools across the nation’. Available at: https://bristolbeacon.org/blog/oak-primary-curriculum/ (Accessed: 18 February 2026)
2. Bristol Beacon (2026) ‘Oak National Academy Primary Music Curriculum’. Available at: https://bristolbeacon.org/music-in-schools/oak-national-academy-primary-music-curriculum/ (Accessed 18 February 2026)
3. Oak National Academy (026) ‘KS1 & KS2 music curriculum’ Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp32jg7xp3lo (Accessed: 18 February 2026)