Intent

We value Art and Design as an important part of the children’s entitlement to a broad and balanced curriculum. The intent is to ensure all pupils produce creative, imaginative work. Children have the opportunity to explore their ideas and record their experiences, as well as exploring the work of others and evaluate different creative ideas.  Children will become confident and proficient in a variety of techniques including drawing, painting, 3D, collage and printing, demonstrating their skills in different ways.  Children will develop their knowledge of artists, architects and designers.

Implementation

The teaching and implementation of the Art and Design is based on the National Curriculum and linked to topics to ensure a well-structured approach to this creative subject. Children can take their experiences of the world and transform them through art, making new connections and relationships through their inventive minds. Their knowledge, memories and fantasies all feed their imagination. Art allows children to explore, build on and record their own creative and imaginative ideas. Children develop their interest and curiosity about art and design through lessons which build on prior learning to extend children’s skills and knowledge progressively. A variety of stimuli are used for example: subjects for observational representations including bikes, flowers and rocks; the works of famous artists, for example Claude Monet, Andy Goldsworthy, Jackson Pollock, Henri Matisse; historical events, for example The Blitz; and from the traditions of other cultures , for example the Ancient Maya and Ancient Greeks. Skills are developed over time through gradually including more aspects of the techniques available in the medium children are working with. Sketching, for example, needs a knowledge of different graphite pencil grades, working with line, shape, tone, shading, texture and techniques such as hatching and cross hatching. Children have the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts and preferences gradually developing the language to articulate the reasons behind their thoughts clearly.

Impact

The Art and Design curriculum will lead to children making progress over time across key stages relative to their individual starting point. Art activities help improve a child's memory and concentration skills, develop decision-making and critical thinking skills, enhance communication and listening skills, but also encourage focus and discipline. They can also help a child to improve self-esteem and social skills. Art reflects cultural values, beliefs and identity and help children to appreciate the many different communities that make up our world. Art chronicles our own lives and experiences over time and helps children to realise aspects of our shared history.

Our Art and Design curriculum will also lead pupils to be enthusiastic Art and Design learners, evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice, their final pieces and sketchbooks. We ensure that children who are achieving well, as well as those who need additional support, are identified, and additional provision and strategies put in place where needed. Achievements are celebrated in classrooms and around school and through connections with our local community and further afield through activities including National incentives, awareness weeks and competitions. We aim to develop future artists and designers alongside their appreciation of the art and design around them.