Art and Design

Intent – what does the Art and Design curriculum intend to do?

At our school, we intend that children should master Art and Design to such an extent that they can go on to have an appreciation and passion that will continue beyond their time with us.  Our children will be taught Art and Design in a way that ensures progression of skills and follows a sequence to build on previous learning. Art and Design has been built around the principles of evidence-led practice. This is to ensure that pupils are equipped to successfully think, work and communicate like an artist. Unapologetically ambitious, our art curriculum focuses on excellence in this subject through a myriad of media and incredible artists. We inspire pupils to acquire knowledge, as an artist, and enable them to skilfully attempt and apply their understanding. Children will experience a range of cultural capital opportunities and learn about the great artists, architects and designers in history.  We believe that regardless of academic ability, every child can be an artist.

Implementation – how is the curriculum implemented?

We follow a broad and balanced Art and Design curriculum that builds on previous learning and provides both support and challenge for learners. Our Art and Design curriculum is organised into blocks with each block covering a particular set of artistic disciplines, including drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, 3D and collage. Vertical progression in each discipline has been deliberately woven into the fabric of the curriculum so that pupils can revisit key disciplines throughout their Primary journey at increasing degrees of challenge and complexity. Each module will focus on developing different aspects of these competencies.

All classes (Years 1-6) will have an Art and Design lesson scheduled as part of a three-week block per half term, for a complete afternoon. This means that pupils will receive 12 hours of Art and Design teaching and learning per term. Central to the learning modules are activities designed to develop pupils’ oracy and vocabulary skills to enable them to use artistic language meaningfully when talking about their work and the work of others.

Children’s work will be documented in their Art and Design sketch books for reference and assessment. We want to ensure that Art and Design is embedded in our whole school curriculum and that opportunities for enhancing learning by using Art and Design are always taken.

Impact – what progress will children make?

Our children enjoy and value Art and Design and leave with an in-depth knowledge of the great artists, architects and designers in history (making links to a breadth of current or modern) and can explain artistic techniques and processes.   Children will understand and appreciate the value of Art and Design in the context of their personal wellbeing and the creative and cultural industries.  Progress in Art and Design is demonstrated through regularly reviewing and scrutinising children’s work, to ensure that progression of skills is taking place. Namely through:

• Looking at pupils’ sketch books, especially over time as they gain skills and knowledge
• Observing how they perform in lessons
• Talking to them about what they know
• Knowledge captured tasks

The Art and Design curriculum will contribute to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection. As a result, pupils will be able to talk confidently and artistically about their work and share their work with others. Progress will be shown through outcomes and through the important recording of the process leading to them.

Aims of the Art and Design Curriculum

The national curriculum for art and design aims to ensure that all pupils:

• produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences

• become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques

• evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design

• know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms