Education Scotland has teamed up with Children’s Classic Concerts to develop the Roving Reviewers education resource for primary schools.

Roving Reviewers aims to help children to learn the difference between fact and opinion, find their voice and articulate their unique thoughts and feelings through listening, writing and communicating.

The resource shows children how they can become reviewers by encouraging them to explore their own opinions and learning how to communicate them effectively. Learners will watch and listen to professional performances and consider the thoughts and images the music conjures up in their imagination. They are then encouraged to share whether they liked or disliked the performance and to explain the reasons why.

Ollie Bray, Strategic Director at Education Scotland, said:

“It has been fantastic to work alongside Children’s Classic Concerts to develop the Roving Reviewers resource. This is a tool which is suitable for learners at first and second level, and can help increase their confidence in forming their own opinions and also overcoming challenges in expressing their views to others. The resource is designed to be used flexibly with individuals, groups or classes to support learning in and across expressive arts and literacy, and no previous musical experience or instruments are required.”

Catherine Earnshaw, Creative Producer at Children’s Classic Concerts, said:

“Children’s Classic Concerts exists to give children in Scotland, and their families, access to the highest quality professional live and digital music experiences. We know that music can ignite creativity and build confidence in learning and that the Expressive Arts are a valuable tool in helping every child to tap into their potential across the whole curriculum. This resource pack has been designed to work flexibly in any Primary classroom and meet Literacy outcomes through music activities.”

Find out more about Roving Reviewers by visiting our music and literacy in primary classrooms webpage.