KS3 Music Curriculum (England)
The whole key stage 3 music programme of study from the national curriculum in England, with statutory and non-statutory parts clearly marked. Tick statements to plan a lesson.
- Years
- Year 7, Year 8, Year 9
- Ages
- 11–14
- Statutory statements
- 6
- Source
- National curriculum in England: music
- Last checked
- 2026-10-20
Current. The government response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review (Nov 2025) says a revised national curriculum will be published by spring 2027 for first teaching from September 2028.
Teaching one year group? Open its TIP: Year 7 Music · Year 8 Music · Year 9 Music.
Key stage 3 6 statutory statements
Introduction to Key stage 3 (official text)
Pupils should build on their previous knowledge and skills through performing, composing and listening. They should develop their vocal and/or instrumental fluency, accuracy and expressiveness, and understand musical structures, styles, genres and traditions, identifying the expressive use of musical dimensions. They should listen with increasing discrimination and awareness to inform their practice as musicians. They should use technologies appropriately and appreciate and understand a wide range of musical contexts and styles.
Pupils should be taught to:
Key stage 3 Statutory
Pupils should be taught to:
- play and perform confidently in a range of solo and ensemble contexts using their voice, playing instruments musically, fluently and with accuracy and expression
- improvise and compose; and extend and develop musical ideas by drawing on a range of musical structures, styles, genres and traditions
- use staff and other relevant notations appropriately and accurately in a range of musical styles, genres and traditions
- identify and use the interrelated dimensions of music expressively and with increasing sophistication, including use of tonalities, different types of scales and other musical devices
- listen with increasing discrimination to a wide range of music from great composers and musicians
- develop a deepening understanding of the music that they perform and to which they listen, and its history
Official documents
- National curriculum in England: music programmes of study (GOV.UK)
- The national curriculum framework for key stages 1 to 4 (GOV.UK)
More
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Department for Education, National curriculum in England: music programmes of study (GOV.UK), © Crown copyright.
Statements in the curriculum lists are copied word for word from GOV.UK; everything else on this page (headings, notes, summaries) is written by us. Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department for Education or the Standards and Testing Agency. Always check the official documents linked on this page.
Questions teachers ask
What is in the KS3 music curriculum?
6 statutory statements in 1 section. Schools must teach the statutory content by the end of the key stage.