Art and Design                                                         Exploring - Creating - Expressing

‘The artist is not a special kind of person; rather each person is a special kind of artist’ 

Ananda Coomaraswamy, historian of Indian art

Intent

Our art curriculum is planned to inspire, develop confidence and foster enjoyment of creative processes. Art offers the freedom to play, experiment and explore; nurturing curiosity and creativity without constraint, which is unique to this subject. Art offers strong links to wellbeing and mindfulness, and allows pupils to become immersed in a process, thought or idea.

‘Art should be like a holiday: something to give a man the opportunity to see things differently and change his point of view.’    

Paul Klee, artist

The National Curriculum provides the frame for pupils learning, with links made to our own school priorities which further develop our pupil’s perspective and understanding of the world around them. Pupils will:

• Learn about important images and significant artists, globally, nationally and locally, for example, Henri Rousseau, Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Tuff, Jackie Morris and Colin Smithson
• Learn to create personal sketch books which allow them the freedom to explore their own unique ideas 
• Experiment in a range of media and art techniques, including drawing, painting, collage, textiles, 3D work and printmaking
• Explore, through a range of projects, the key elements of art: line, shape, form, texture, pattern, colour and composition 

Implementation

Art units of work have been created by a specialist teacher to allow children the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge of art as set out in the National Curriculum, further enhanced with links to our school priorities - for example learning about our local flora and fauna and exploring opportunities to learn about diversity. These units cover the key elements of art across a breadth of media, with strong cross curricular links which offer context, purpose and enrichment of learning. Use of subject specific progression grids ensure that learning is built upon as children move through the school, consolidating previous experience. 

‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.’    Van Gogh, artist

Our school is well resourced with quality art equipment to allow pupils the freedom to explore their ideas in a range of media, without limits or constraint.

Impact

Skills based progression grids are used to inform teachers about children’s progress and to assess learning against national expectations. Sketch book work, final pieces and class discussion will provide the evidence for these judgements.

Subject leaders and class teachers work in collaboration to discuss the impact of units of work, which ensures that learning experiences are relevant, exciting and stimulating, creating a future of young people who are confident, creative artists.

‘We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.’     Bob Ross, artist 

Curriculum progression grid for art

For more information about art and design, please contact our subject leader, Katie Stainsby.