Everything you need to know about Music at Upton Junior School

"Ah music. A magic beyond all we do here."
​J. K. Rowling.

Music is enjoyed and valued by all pupils at Upton Junior School. Our music curriculum offers a diverse range of exciting activities that help children develop their performing, composing, and listening skills. These activities explore music from different styles and cultures, providing pupils the opportunity to learn a variety of instruments. 

At Upton Junior School, we understand that pupils grow as musicians individually and develop at their own pace. Tasks are therefore tailored to suit individual needs with the aim of all pupils achieving good or better progress. Pupils will leave Upton Junior School with an excellent foundation of musical skills and knowledge required for Key Stage 3, GCSE and beyond!

Music at Upton Junior School was further recognised when we were presented with a Music Mark award during the 2020 – 2021, 2022 - 2023, and 2023 - 2024 academic year. Music Mark awards are given to schools who provide opportunities for pupils to access and engage with a high-quality music education, whilst offering and delivering a broad and balanced curriculum.

Meet Our Instrumental Team!

Mr. Potter has been a dedicated music educator for over a decade, bringing with him a wealth of experience in both curriculum music and one-to-one instrumental teaching. As the Music Co-ordinator at Upton Junior School, he plays a key role in shaping the school’s vibrant musical life.

Known for his energy, expertise, and unwavering commitment, Mr. Potter boasts a 100% pass rate in graded music exams. Many of his students have gone on to achieve outstanding results at GCSE level and beyond.

Remarkably, some of his current junior school pupils—who began lessons in Year 3—are already preparing for Grade 5, which is two levels above GCSE standard. His engaging teaching style and dedication to each student’s progress make him a highly valued and much-loved member of our school community.

This is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to begin their musical journey on the drum kit under expert guidance. However, spaces are limited, so if you would like your child to take part, please complete and return an application form as soon as possible.

Miss Morgan graduated from the University of Southampton with a BA (Hons) in Music, specialising in performance.

She has been teaching in local schools across all age groups, from junior to secondary, for nearly 10 years with great success. An extremely skilled instrumentalist, Miss Morgan has achieved Grade 8 on numerous instruments and currently teaches violin, clarinet, piano, and saxophone. She also leads chamber groups and string ensembles.

Fun facts: During university, she was principal clarinetist of the Symphonic Wind Orchestra and performed in both the Sinfonietta and Symphony Orchestra. She also gained orchestral management experience and had the amazing opportunity to perform with members of the London Sinfonietta.

Miss Morgan was also a keen singer and performed with the Bournemouth Symphony Children’s Choir in concerts, operas, and recordings — and you might still catch her singing around the music block! 🙂

Mrs. Baxter has been a dynamic force at Upton for the past year, bringing energy, passion, and a love of performance to every lesson. She’s loved every moment of working with the students, watching their confidence soar and their talents take centre stage.

A graduate with a National Diploma in Musical Theatre, Mrs. Baxter went on to tour internationally with a renowned jazz band—an experience that brings a real spark of showbiz magic to her teaching.

With over a decade of experience in stage schools, she knows how to inspire young performers to push boundaries, believe in themselves, and shine in the spotlight.

At Upton Junior School, Mrs. Baxter also leads the choir, which is renowned for its exciting and energetic performances that captivate every audience.

In her sessions, students develop vocal range, control, and stage presence—all in a fun, encouraging environment where creativity and confidence thrive.

A graduate of Glamorgan University, Mr M. Potter has been teaching professionally for fifteen years, and has significant industry experience performing live and recording with several bands. 

Tuition is informative, enjoyable, and rewarding. Mr M. Potter’s lessons at Upton are all one to one, so you can be assured your child is getting bespoke tuition tailored around them.

Mr M. Potter has a 100% student pass rate for all guitar, bass and ukulele exams to date, and his guitar teaching company is now a registered exam centre for Trinity Rock & Pop exams. Students can submit their exam digitally - no more having to face a scary examiner behind a desk! Full support for recording and exam submission is included in Mr Potter’s lessons. Instrumental exams are by no means compulsory, but are encouraged.

During his years of teaching, Mr M. Potter has built up a reputation for his commitment to student progress, and finds continued motivation in helping young players build their confidence and unleashing their inner rock star!

Many of Mr M. Potter’s students take their playing to a professional standard, and often study music at higher education level.

Mr M. Potter looks forward to continuing to share his experience and expertise with students at Upton Junior School.

Mr Stockley graduated from Sheffield University with a BA (Hons) in Popular Music and has been teaching and performing ever since. With over 23 years of experience—including nearly 14 years at Upton Junior School—he has taught across a wide range of educational settings, from primary schools through to college and university. He brings a strong commitment to music education and a proven ability to engage and inspire students of all ages and abilities, from their very first lesson through to GCSE and further progression.

Over the years, Mr Stockley has developed a flexible and adaptive teaching style that responds to each student’s individual needs. He understands that no two learners are the same and tailors his approach to suit each student's pace, interests, and learning preferences. Whether students are preparing for graded exams, building sight-reading skills, or simply learning to play their favourite songs for fun, he supports them every step of the way—with a 100% pass rate in guitar and ukulele grades to date.

Mr Stockley teaches both acoustic and electric guitar, with the aim of making learning enjoyable, accessible, and rewarding for all.

His drive to improve student engagement led him to create Level Up!, a series of guitar books for young beginners. Based on a video game concept, the Level Up! books encourage progression through stages, allowing students to earn points and unlock coloured guitar belts (similar to karate belts).

In addition to teaching, Mr Stockley is an active performer. He regularly gigs with Evertide, a multi-award-winning acoustic duo he formed with his wife, performing at weddings and private events across the country.

Knowledge Organisers:

Music at Upton Junior School