Our Vision for Art & Design

Our vision is for all pupils to be engaged and inspired by art and to learn the skills to enable them to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. We want our pupils to be able to express their feelings through art and to have the opportunity to use creativity to lead mentally healthy lives, both now and in the future. We want our pupils to learn to appreciate the work of great artists and understand how art and design reflects and contributes to the history, heritage and culture of our nation and beyond.

Our art and design curriculum aims to break down social and cultural barriers to learning by bringing the subject alive in the classroom by using resources that are inspired by a diverse range of real artists and craftspeople who are experts in their trade. We also endeavour to offer our pupils the opportunity to engage in school workshops lead by artists or aspiring artists.

Our Aims for Art & Design

The aims of Art & Design are to enable pupils to:

• Make their own creative choices and decisions, so that their art outcomes, whilst still being knowledge-rich, are unique and personal..
• Engage in practical lessons that encourage experimental and exploratory learning.
• Be proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design techniques
• Evaluate and analyse creative works using subject specific language
• Know about great artists and the historical and cultural development of their art
• Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National Curriculum for Art and Design

How do we deliver Art & Design

EYFS

In the Foundation Stage, we aim to provide a rich environment in which we encourage and value creativity. The requirements set out in the Statutory Framework for EYFS encourage practical exploration with a variety of materials, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. Children take part in both teacher-led and independent Art and Design activities. The EYFS staff team will plan for children to experience creative opportunities and develop art skills within the EYFS curriculum. The key knowledge and skills identified for EYFS are linked to the KS1 programme of study and is aligned to and informed by the relevant Early Learning Goals.

Years 1 - 6

We have chosen to follow the Kapow Art and Design scheme of work for Years 1-6 because it offers a clear programme of study which meets our vision and enables pupils to meet the National Curriculum end of key stage attainment targets.

The scheme of work incorporates five strands which are revisited in every unit:

• Making skills
• Generating ideas
• Formal elements (line, shape, tone, texture, pattern, colour)
• Knowledge of artists
• Evaluating

In the ‘Art and Design Skills’ and the ‘Formal elements of Art’ units, pupils have the opportunity to learn and practice skills discretely. The knowledge and skills from these units are then applied throughout the other units in the scheme. Key skills are revisited again and again with increasing complexity in a spiral curriculum model. This allows pupils to revise and build on their previous learning.

Curriculum Design in Art & Design 

Art & Design in Early Years Foundation Stage

Foundation Stage children investigate Expressive Art and Design through a topic based approach. Some skills are taught directly, but children are also provided with daily opportunities to access creative arts through play and exploration of a range of materials. The quality and variety of what children see, hear and participate in is crucial for developing their understanding, self-expression, vocabulary and ability to communicate through the arts.

Art & Design in Key stage 1 and 2

In Key Stages 1 and 2, all classes have a scheduled Art and Design lesson each week every other half term (alternated with Design Technology). Lessons are always practical in nature and encourage experimental and exploratory learning, with Key Stage 2 pupils using sketchbooks to document their ideas.

Our Intended Coverage

Our Curriculum Overview shows which of our units cover each of the National curriculum attainment targets as well as each of the strands.

Our Combined Long-term Plan for Art & DT shows how we alternate between the subjects each half-term.

Our Progression of Skills shows the skills that are taught within each year group and how these skills develop to ensure that attainment targets are securely met by the end of each key stage.

Assessment in Art & Design

Art & Design is not the same as other subjects. It does not always have a flight path or a linear path, because we need to value creativity and individuality. Progress is demonstrated through the use of sketchbooks to record ideas, reflections, critical analysis of artists and development of technical skills. Each child is unique and each sketchbook is unique, as this enables learners to develop their independence and creativity. Pick up a book at Peterhouse C of E Primary Academy, flick through it and you will be able to see ideas developing, skills improving and knowledge being recorded. Pupil voice is another prominent assessment tool that we use both in the EYFS and Key Stages 1 & 2. 

The curriculum is designed in such a way that children are involved in the evaluation, dialogue and decision making about the quality of their outcomes and the improvements they need to make. These discussions help children to talk about their own learning journey and have an understanding of how to improve. Observations of pupil progress within each lesson are used to plan subsequent teaching, including targeted support and opportunities for working at greater depth. Knowledge organisers are used in each unit to support assessment.