Curriculum Intent

Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality art and design education should engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. They should also know how art and design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. (National Curriculum 2014)

 

In line with National Curriculum objectives for Art, our intent is 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; and
• know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

 

Curriculum Implementation

At St Mary’s, Art and Design is an integral part of our curriculum.  It is embedded into our planning, and taught either discretely or as part of a wider topic. Throughout our curriculum, children are exposed to a mixture of mediums including drawing, sculpture, printing, collage, painting and textiles. Children’s knowledge, skills and understanding within each medium, are built upon as they progress through the Key Stages. Our Art curriculum will develop children’s critical abilities, as well as an understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritages through the study of a diverse range of artists, including Roy Litchenstein, Chila Kumari Singh Burman and Nixiwaka Yawanawá.

Teaching and learning time is managed effectively to allow children to work on sustained pieces of work. In group and individual work, pupils have the opportunity to 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. Pupils with particular talents are given opportunities to extend them. Opportunities for using and extending art skills are built into lessons in other subjects in order to apply their knowledge, skills and understanding.

Our classrooms reflect the children’s sense of pride in their artwork, and this is also demonstrated by creative outcomes across the wider curriculum. The school environment also celebrates children’s achievements in art. The Art curriculum at St Mary’s contributes to children’s personal development in creativity, independence, judgement and self-reflection.