Art Curriculum Intent

Through a high-quality art and design curriculum, we aim to engage, inspire and enable high quality visual arts teaching and learning. We aim for our curriculum to ensure children understand they have a creative entitlement; to develop creative thinking skills and to ensure they learn through art, as well as about art.

We believe that art and design offers opportunities for children to develop their individuality, creativity, self-esteem and confidence. Art enables children to express themselves in a creative, imaginative manner. They can explore, express and communicate their feelings whilst gaining knowledge and experiences of the wider world. We believe that the art curriculum should engage, inspire and challenge, enabling every child to have the knowledge and skills to experiment and create their own artistic projects regardless of any barriers to their learning. We aim to build knowledge and understanding for children beyond that which is technical and factual by enabling experiential knowledge, building self-knowledge and nurturing traits in learners which will hold them in good stead whichever direction their learning takes them.

Learning in art and design is built through a weaving and layering and revisiting of experiences. Our curriculum balances repeated practice and skill building with new experiences - with a variety of materials and scales - in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and collaborative working. As pupils progress, they are supported to think critically to develop an understanding of how the creative arts reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. We promote diversity by exposing the children to a range of artists from different eras and cultures

Art Curriculum Implementation

The National Curriculum forms the basis of teaching and learning and dictates the curriculum content for Art. The ‘progression of knowledge and skills’ document is used as support for planning to ensure that critical knowledge is sequentially built on. Children have discrete art and design lessons and are also given opportunities for using and extending art knowledge and skills in other areas of the curriculum. In group and individual work, pupils can investigate, explore and develop ideas and techniques. They are also involved in evaluating their work, celebrating success and identifying areas for improvement. Art activities are differentiated to ensure that all pupils can access the tasks and have an appropriate level of challenge. We ensure that children also have access to a breadth of artists from different cultures and times. Cross curricular opportunities for further learning and development in the arts are built into planning of all subjects as a means of enhancing the children’s learning opportunities. These may be in the form of visiting performing arts groups, museums, galleries and other venues.

In the EYFS there is continuous provision of art and design opportunities: these activities make important contributions to children’s development in the areas of Expressive Arts and Design and Communication and Language. They are also important in children’s Personal, Social and Emotional development. Art is covered in art lessons, continuous provision and as a means of communication and learning in other curriculum areas. Summative and formative assessment is used for gap analysis. Additional provision is planned for those children who require support.

Art Curriculum Impact

Our Art and Design curriculum ensures that children:

• use a variety of media and skills with expertise to create pieces of art works that they are proud of
• can capture, feelings emotions and use a variety of art forms to express themselves
• use art to create for a sense of purpose that allows them to record their experiences, use their imaginations and explore their ideas
• are free to be reflective, adapt and make changes to their learning in a safe environment allowing all to succeed
• use art to support and develop their wellbeing and explore their skills
• have access to a wide variety of artists and a wide variety of projects
• are encouraged to have the freedom to create art and give them independence to be inspired
• have an extensive base of artistic knowledge, skill and vocabulary

Subject Progression Map

Subject progression maps can be found here