Music is a real strength at St John’s and plays an important role in enriching the lives of our pupils. We are proud to offer a wide range of musical opportunities that enable children to develop their talents, build confidence and experience the joy of performing. Through music, our children learn perseverance, teamwork and creativity while contributing positively to both the school and wider community.

Our school choir is at the heart of our musical provision and performs at a variety of prestigious events and competitions throughout the year. Choir members have represented the school at the Mrs Sunderland Festival, Longwood Sing, the Kirklees Music Festival and Young Voices, and have even had the incredible opportunity to perform at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham. The choir also strengthens our links with the local community by singing alongside the Colne Valley Male Voice Choir and Colne Valley Brass Band at church and various other community events. One of the most treasured highlights of the year is visiting local residential homes at Christmas, where children share the joy of the season through song with residents.

Every child in Year 4 has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument as part of our curriculum. Pupils learn to play the Djembe drum, developing rhythm, listening and performance skills, and those who wish to continue can join our Djembe continuation group, which performs at events across Kirklees. In addition, all Year 6 pupils learn to play the ukulele, giving them valuable experience of melody, harmony and ensemble performance.

We work closely with Musica Kirklees to further enhance our music provision. Through this partnership, many children access instrumental and vocal tuition during the school day, enabling them to develop their individual talents and achieve their musical potential. These opportunities inspire a lifelong love of music and ensure that every child has the chance to participate, perform and succeed.