Music education may be in a parlous state in all too many schools but not, I am glad to say, in all. Here are Year 2 at Highgate Primary School at the bottom of North Hill wielding their trusty recorders with a will. Followed by Year 4 and then Year 5 at Monday morning’s assembly singing their hearts out.
Elsewhere on Monday morning a one to one piano lesson was taking place. All children learn to play the recorder in Year 2 and are then, in Year 4, are given the chance to learn the piano, violin, trumpet or clarinet.
Meanwhile Year 3 were rehearsing Meadowsong, a 20 minute long performance during which the children sing and dance four songs exploring the plants that grow and the creatures that live in wild meadows. The final show will include music from four violinists and at least six drummers.
And back in the asssembly hall Year 6 were rehearsing their end of term performance of the ever reliable Bugsy Malone.
How wonderful if one could report such a wealth of musical activity in all state primary schools. But sadly Highgate Primary is a bit of an outlier. And not only in music.
Founded in 1877 as Highgate Board School for the Poor, by the early 21st century the school was very much the poor relation to those wealthier and more successful schools up the hill. But when William Dean (known universally by staff and pupils as William) took over in 2008 he set about reversing that perception. And gradually, over the last 15 years, he has done so. (2024 OFSTED rating – ‘Outstanding’.)
The school now offers not only music but a wide range of what they call ‘enrichment activities.’ Art , including special projects taught by artists, happens in the school’s dedicated art studios. Fulfilling the requirement to teach a foreign language, the children learn Mandarin and are given the chance to explore Chinese culture. (The school has been awarded the status of ‘Confuscius Classroom’ – only one of a handful of primary schools in th UK to achieve such recognition.).
Wonder of wonders, they not only teach DT (Design Techonology – eg how to put together a pizza) but have a dedicated kitchen where, from the Reception class onwards, the children actually learn to cook. And not only to cook as the school has a plot in the Highgate Allotments just up the road so that they can also learn to grow the food that they are going to cook.
Younger children get the chance to take part in Forest Schools while sports include weekly PE, organised games (football, athletics, tag rugby, hockey, badminton, cricket or American football), after schools sports clubs, access to the Haringey Sport Partnership plus swimming for year 4 onwards.
The school also runs ‘Early Bird’ and ‘Night Owls’ clubs for children who need them and a family and a toddler play and stay centre.
The school has a close relationship with the Blanche Neville School for the Deaf children next door (you may have noticed teachers signing during some of the music videos above) with a number of Blanche Neville children being involved in Highgate Primary activities. It also has a relatively high proportion of SEN (Special Educational Needs) children who are embedded in the school and given the space and support that they need to thrive. Again you may have noticed a couple of children ‘wandering free’ during the music rehearsals, doing ‘their own thing’ without disrupting either the class or other childrens’ activities.
All of this does not, of course, come cheap and central government funding restrictions, for SEND children as well as other projects, means that Highgate Primary constantly struggles for funds. So they have a super keen Parent School Association who are active in raising funds to enable the school to continue to offer such a diverse and exciting range of activities. For more see their Support us page.
So, other primary schools – please take note of what can be done….
More percussion
You may remember that back in April I was waxing lyrical about a collaboration between historical performance ensemble Figure and percussionist James Larter – see the bottom of this post. It was yet another reimagining, but a very exciting one, of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. And, if you are free on Thursday evening, 3rd July, James and Figure will be performing the piece again at the curiously named World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens in Battersea – tickets here.
Sadly I am otherwise engaged but having been to an exciting preview evening at St Pancras Clock tower last week, I have already pencilled November 6th in the my diary for the world premiere of James’ new concerto for percussion, Toros, at Sinfonia Smith Square – you can book here.
July 5th and 6th
Meanwhile, there are still a few tickets left for both Ellen and Declan’s oboe and guitar concert next Saturday and for our Vauxhall Band Basset horn concert on Sunday.
Book here for Ellen & Declan on Saturday – £15 to include a glass (or several) of wine.
Book here for the Basset Horns on Sunday – £30 to include supper and wine
For other events see our Upcoming Events page.
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