Children from Cropredy Church of England Primary School are set to become folk music stars this summer, thanks to a bold and imaginative curriculum revamp led by their musically passionate headteacher, Will Reeves, who has placed his lifelong passion for music at the heart of learning.
With support from Oxfordshire County Council’s music service, Will has transformed the school’s approach to education, using the village’s rich folk music heritage to bring subjects like history, geography and art to life in new and interactive ways.
Will explains: “Our young people were missing an opportunity by not learning about folk music, which is a huge part of the Cropredy community. I was determined to change that.
“Supported by the county council’s brilliant peripatetic folk teacher and singer, Katie Harris, I shared my dream of the school’s children playing at a major event.
“We put our heads together, used our shared vision and contacts to open doors, and now things have fallen into place, some of our pupils will be performing in front of over 6,000 people at the Fairport Convention in Cropredy.”
The performance marks a high point in a broader curriculum overhaul, where music now serves as a thread running through multiple subjects.
Pupils have explored local history through songs like Red and Gold by Fairport Convention, which tells the story of the 1644 Battle of Cropredy Bridge during the English Civil War, when Parliamentary soldiers failed to capture King Charles I.
Geography and art lessons have also been reimagined, with children heading outdoors to study the canal system that winds through Cropredy, carrying out fieldwork around the waterways and meadows that are so central to the village and its famous festival.
Councillor Sean Gaul, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “For most school children, it’s nerve-racking enough standing up in the school hall, so imagine the jitters, also the incredible excitement, for those lucky Cropredy primary pupils who will be performing in front of thousands of people at the Fairport Convention.
“For most school children, it’s nerve-racking enough standing up in the school hall, so imagine the jitters, also the incredible excitement, for those lucky Cropredy primary pupils who will be performing in front of thousands of people at the Fairport Convention.
“Across Oxfordshire, many pupils supported by our music service have special educational needs and disabilities. Music is a way for them to express themselves, overcome their challenges and provides them with aspirations and goals.
“At Cropredy Church of England Primary School, they’ve taken it to another level. Here music is central to the whole learning and development experience. I congratulate the headteacher and his team for having the foresight and determination to turn a vision into reality for the benefit of young people.”
As the countdown to their performance begins, the pupils of Cropredy are learning more than just melodies and lyrics – they’re discovering confidence, connection, and a deep appreciation of their local heritage through the power of music.
