Music in School
Music plays an important part in the life of Sir Robert Hitcham’s Primary School, reflecting the Framlingham community and its strong arts focus.
Music education has a known positive impact on children's Personal Development - including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and has numerous other benefits from helping with behaviour and confidence to encouraging creativity and learning skills that transfer across many subjects.
Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham has an exceptional music programme so the foundations we lay in primary education can be further developed when our children transfer to high school with an already developed passion for music.
“Music enhances the education of our children by helping them to make connections and broadening the depth with which they think and feel.” Yo-Yo Ma
Music in School
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything” Plato
What does Music look like at SRH?
As a school we are passionate about music, believing it essential for pupils’ wellbeing, behaviour and as an aid to learning in other subjects. We have some keen and able musicians on our staff and together with a professional music specialist two days a week, we aim to deliver high quality cross-curricular coverage to all of our pupils.
Singing
Singing is a central component of school life, benefitting heart, soul and wellbeing, whether in daily school assemblies, school services at St Michael’s Church, or specially organised performances and competitions. Teachers use singing as a way to enhance curriculum delivery in the classroom.
Key Stage groups attend weekly singing assemblies delivered by a music specialist who also teaches them music theory. Year 6 pupils celebrate the end of their time at SRH with an annual staged musical, and an annual and hotly contested house singing competition led by staff involves every child in Key Stage 2.
Singing is also central to our acts of school worship. Daily assemblies are structured around songs bringing the Christian message, our Christmas and Easter services are led by pupils in years 3, 4 and 5 while Nursery, reception and KS1 pupils learn traditional Christmas carols to perform in their annual class nativities.
There are a variety of singing clubs and opportunities available to children including a school choir, lunchtime singing club and a wide range of opportunities outside the school including: The Big Sing at Snape, Friday Afternoons, Young Voices at The O2, Christmas Carols on the Market Hill, Singing at Mills Meadow Residential Home, Noye’s Fludde at Thorington Theatre, singing workshops at Thomas Mills High School and Framlingham College.
Many of our children are involved in musical and singing projects within our local community outside of school including Jubilee Opera in Aldeburgh, Sing Praise Choir, Co-op Juniors Theatre company in Ipswich and REVERB Youth Choir.
Instrumental
In recognising the impact learning a musical instrument can have on the holistic development of pupils, we aim for all children to receive a year of instrumental teaching through the Suffolk Music Hub WCIT scheme. Examples of instruments learnt are cellos, clarinets and brass. Instrumental music clubs include recorders percussion and hand chimes, and we also enable children to access instrumental lessons for a wide range of instruments from professional and peripatetic teachers. All children have access to music lessons from Yr. 3 upwards regardless of circumstances.
Each half term, pupils are invited to take part in our whole school celebratory music recitals and performance. Increasing numbers of pupils from Reception up to Year 6 enjoy the chance to share vocal or instrumental solos, mini operettas (inspired by curriculum music lessons) or group work. The supportive and inclusive atmosphere in these assemblies encourages children to perform regardless of previous experience, expertise or confidence.
“Music is the tool to express life—and all that makes a difference.” Herbie Hancock
Music Ark
In 2022 the school was assisted to build a beautiful music hub in the school playground where individuals, groups and whole classes can meet to use instruments, receive music lessons, peripatetic instrumental tuition, and sing in a dedicated space. The Ark has also been used for outdoor concerts and celebrations, and in 2024 we began a pre-school singing group there for parents with toddlers, introducing music to the youngest members of our school family.
SRH Music Ark - take a look at our launch day leaflet
“The music curriculum (at SRH) develops pupils’ love of and appreciation for music. The curriculum also provides pupils with experiences they would not otherwise have. For example, Year 5 pupils have the chance to sing in the chapel of a local college, which they describe as ‘amazing and a great experience’. Ofsted (2023)
Music Curriculum
Click on this link to find out more about our Music Curriculum.
Music Tuition & Music Clubs
Click on this link to see our Music offer for class, group or individual music tuition.