Pupils take their cues from music

Pupils start the day with I Feel Good by James Brown

Staff at a Norfolk primary school have started a music-while-you-work experiment in an attempt to improve children's concentration.

The youngsters at North Walsham Infants School in North Walsham are played music tailored to particular activities.

Teachers play James Brown's I Feel Good at the start of the day, the William Tell Overture during tidying-up times and they teach maths to the sound of Mozart.

Head teacher Clare Fletcher said: "It creates almost a signal to the children that when the music starts they should be working and concentrating.

Positive attitude

"We also use rhyming songs, rap and poetry; it helps make learning stick."

The school will evaluate the project at the end of the term to discover which tunes help pupils, who are aged five to seven, accomplish the most.

Norfolk County Council's education authority advisor Roger Eagle said: "It's part of a project we have been doing in Norfolk to develop children's thinking skills.

"It does help children to settle and develop a positive attitude towards learning and doing their best."